Abstract: In a technique for recovering hydrocarbon values from a heavy hydrocarbon-water mixture, the mixture is first delivered through a sub-assembly to remove solid particulates. Then the mixture is delivered through a series of heat exchanger--kettle arrangements in which the mixture is heated above the boiling point of water. Some of the steam formed is allowed to escape through steam removal devices in the heat exchanger. The inside of the heat exchanger includes a plurality of discrete baffles which are unconnected to the heat exchanger and which can be readily removed therefrom. Heating of the mixture continues in the kettles where the bulk of the water is boiled off the mixture. A heavy hydrocarbon oil is recovered in the liquid outlet from the last kettle. The vapors boiled off are recovered and condensed to recover a light hydrocarbon oil and quite pure water.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for handling and treating heavy waste hydrocarbons. The device comprises a pit heater for at least partially liquifying the hydrocarbon waste to render it pumpable. A positive displacement pump has its inlet adjacent the pit heater and pumps and partially liquified material out of a pit and into a heater-blender. In the heater-blender, a relatively high gravity crude oil is mixed with the heavy hydrocarbon waste and the temperature of the mixture is elevated by injecting steam thereinto. The blend exiting from the heater-blender is on the order of 200.degree. F. The hydrocarbon component of the blended material is in the range of 15.degree.-25.degree. API. The blend is discharged into a holding tank which has the capacity for reheating the material if necessary. The blend is withdrawn from the storage tank and processed to break the water-hydrocarbon emulsion and remove the water therefrom.