Abstract: Flash chemical ionizing pyrolysis (FCIP) process. The FCIP includes mixing an iron source material, an alkali or alkaline earth metal chloride source material, an aqueous phase, and an oil component to form a feed emulsion; introducing the feed emulsion into an FCIP reactor at a temperature greater than about 400° C. up to about 600° C., a pressure from 10 to 50 psia and a residence time of 0.1 to 10 seconds, to form an FCIP effluent; and condensing a liquid ionizing pyrolyzate (LIP) from the effluent. The feed emulsion can be free of added solids other than the iron source material, the alkali or alkaline earth metal chloride source material, and any sediment in the oil component.

Abstract: Flash chemical ionizing pyrolysis (FCIP) process. The FCIP includes mixing an iron source material, an alkali or alkaline earth metal chloride source material, an aqueous phase, and an oil component to form a feed emulsion; introducing the feed emulsion into an FCIP reactor at a temperature greater than about 400° C. up to about 600° C., a pressure from 10 to 50 psia and a residence time of 0.1 to 10 seconds, to form an FCIP effluent; and condensing a liquid ionizing pyrolyzate (LIP) from the effluent. The feed emulsion can be free of added solids other than the iron source material, the alkali or alkaline earth metal chloride source material, and any sediment in the oil component.

Abstract: Flash chemical ionizing pyrolysis (FCIP) at 450° C.-600° C. forms liquid ionizing pyrolyzate (LIP) that can be blended in oil feedstock for thermal processes to promote conversion of heavier hydrocarbons to reduce resid/coke yields and/or increase yields of liquid hydrocarbons and isomerates. A front-end refinery process modifies crude oil with LIP for distillation to reduce resid/coke yields and/or increase liquid oil yields. A downstream process modifies a heavy oil stream such as resid with LIP and the LIP-modified stream can be thermally processed to reduce resid/coke yields and/or increase liquid oil yields. FCIP of the LIP blends also improves quality and/or yields of the liquid pyrolyzate product. Finely divided FCIP solids can contain FeCl3 supported on NaCl-treated calcium bentonite. A process for preparing the FCIP solids treats iron with HCl and HNO3 to form acidified FeCl3 of limited solubility, loads the FeCl3 on NaCl-treated bentonite, and heat-treats the material at 400° C.-425° C.

Abstract: Flash chemical ionizing pyrolysis (FCIP) at 450° C.-600° C. forms liquid ionizing pyrolyzate (LIP) that can be blended in oil feedstock for thermal processes to promote conversion of heavier hydrocarbons to reduce resid/coke yields and/or increase yields of liquid hydrocarbons and isomerates. A front-end refinery process modifies crude oil with LIP for distillation to reduce resid/coke yields and/or increase liquid oil yields. A downstream process modifies a heavy oil stream such as resid with LIP and the LIP-modified stream can be thermally processed to reduce resid/coke yields and/or increase liquid oil yields. FCIP of the LIP blends also improves quality and/or yields of the liquid pyrolyzate product. Finely divided FCIP solids can contain FeCl3 supported on NaCl-treated calcium bentonite. A process for preparing the FCIP solids treats iron with HCl and HNO3 to form acidified FeCl3 of limited solubility, loads the FeCl3 on NaCl-treated bentonite, and heat-treats the material at 400° C.-425° C.

Abstract: An emulsion and system for catalytic pyrolysis can include a mixture of 100 parts by weight heavy oil, 5 to 100 parts by weight water, and 1 to 20 parts by weight solid catalyst particulates, which can include an oxide or acid addition salt of a Group 3-16 metal on a mineral support, such as ferric chloride on bentonite. Also, a pyrolysis system can include a charge of the emulsion, a transfer line to supply the emulsion to a pyrolysis chamber, a combustion gas source to supply a combustion gas to heat the pyrolysis chamber, a control system to maintain the pyrolysis chamber at a temperature, pressure and residence time to form a pyrolyzate vapor phase, and a vapor line to receive the pyrolyzate vapor phase from the pyrolysis chamber.

Abstract: An emulsion and system for catalytic pyrolysis can include a mixture of 100 parts by weight heavy oil, 5 to 100 parts by weight water, and 1 to 20 parts by weight solid catalyst particulates, which can include an oxide or acid addition salt of a Group 3-16 metal on a mineral support, such as ferric chloride on bentonite. Also, a pyrolysis system can include a charge of the emulsion, a transfer line to supply the emulsion to a pyrolysis chamber, a combustion gas source to supply a combustion gas to heat the pyrolysis chamber, a control system to maintain the pyrolysis chamber at a temperature, pressure and residence time to form a pyrolyzate vapor phase, and a vapor line to receive the pyrolyzate vapor phase from the pyrolysis chamber.

Abstract: Method includes heating mixture of heavy oil (API<22.3), water, and catalyst in a reactor to form pyrolyzate vapor condensable to form an oil phase lighter than the heavy oil. The feed mixture can include 100 parts by weight heavy oil, 5 to 100 parts by weight water, and 1 to 20 parts by weight solid catalyst particulates, which can include an oxide or acid addition salt of a Group 3-16 metal on a mineral support. Also, an apparatus for treating the heavy oil includes a mixing zone to prepare the emulsion, a transfer line to a pyrolysis zone; and a control system for the pyrolysis zone. Also, a process includes injecting the pyrolyzate in a treatment fluid into an injection well.

Abstract: Method includes heating mixture of heavy oil (API<22.3), water, and catalyst in a reactor to form pyrolyzate vapor condensable to form an oil phase lighter than the heavy oil. The feed mixture can include 100 parts by weight heavy oil, 5 to 100 parts by weight water, and 1 to 20 parts by weight solid catalyst particulates, which can include an oxide or acid addition salt of a Group 3-16 metal on a mineral support. Also, an apparatus for treating the heavy oil includes a mixing zone to prepare the emulsion, a transfer line to a pyrolysis zone; and a control system for the pyrolysis zone. Also, a process includes injecting the pyrolyzate in a treatment fluid into an injection well.

Abstract: A method to reclaim and purify an oil bound to a substrate, and a reclaimed oil obtained thereby having, relative to the oil in the bound liquid in the substrate, a lower aromatic content, improved rheological properties, improved handling properties, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method to recover oil from an oil bearing substrate, and a reclaimed oil produced thereby having improved properties relative to the oil originally present in the substrate. Fluids comprising the recovered oil are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method to upgrade oil wherein an oil containing material is heated with a catalyst in a turbulent environment of less than about 1 volume percent oxygen to produce a vapor phase comprising an upgraded oil. Also disclosed is a thermal desorption process in which an oil contaminated substrate is contacted with an acidic reagent to form a peptizate, and the peptizate is mixed with a combustion effluent gas under turbulent conditions at a temperature above 200° C. to form the catalyst for the oil upgrading method.

Abstract: A method to recover oil from an oil bearing substrate, and a reclaimed oil produced thereby having improved properties relative to the oil originally present in the substrate. Fluids comprising the recovered oil are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method to upgrade oil wherein an oil containing material is heated with a catalyst in a turbulent environment of less than about 1 volume percent oxygen to produce a vapor phase comprising an upgraded oil. Also disclosed is a thermal desorption process in which an oil contaminated substrate is contacted with an acidic reagent to form a peptizate, and the peptizate is mixed with a combustion effluent gas under turbulent conditions at a temperature above 200° C. to form the catalyst for the oil upgrading method.

Abstract: A method to reclaim and purify an oil bound to a substrate, and a reclaimed oil obtained thereby having, relative to the oil in the bound liquid in the substrate, a lower aromatic content, improved rheological properties, improved handling properties, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering oil from oil-containing sorbents, such as drill cuttings obtained from drilling with an oil-based mud. The method includes peptizing the substrate with an acid reagent and direct thermal desorption with combustion effluent gases at high temperature under turbulent mixing conditions. Another method disclosed includes upgrading the oil in the substrate to improve one or more of the properties of the recovered oil relative to the oil in the substrate, such as, lower aromatics content, lower sulfur content, lower functional group content, higher saturates, higher viscosity, higher viscosity index, and any combination thereof. The apparatus provides for efficient recovery of oil from the substrate with a short residence time, high throughput, low residual oil content in the treated solids and/or high percentage of oil recovery. The apparatus may be transported to a remote location for on-site treatment of drill cuttings or other oil-containing solids.

Abstract: An emulsion treating unit and process. A subcooled boiling zone in the unit comprises a heat transfer surface to contact an emulsion at a temperature in excess of the saturation temperature of an aqueous phase in the emulsion, wherein the boiling zone is atmospherically vented. The unit also provides means for recovering an oil-rich layer from adjacent a vapor-liquid interface; and means for recovering an aqueous-rich layer from below the oil-rich layer. The process provides operation of the treating unit to heat an emulsion in the subcooled boiling zone, wherein the boiling zone is atmospherically vented, recovering an oil-rich layer and recovering an aqueous-rich layer from below the oil-rich layer. In one embodiment the boiling zone comprises a heat transfer surface having a temperature in excess of the saturation temperature of the aqueous-rich layer, wherein the vapor-liquid interface is subcooled with respect to the saturation temperature of the aqueous layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering oil from oil-containing sorbents, such as drill cuttings obtained from drilling with an oil-based mud. The method includes peptizing the substrate with an acid reagent and direct thermal desorption with combustion effluent gases at high temperature under turbulent mixing conditions. Another method disclosed includes upgrading the oil in the substrate to improve one or more of the properties of the recovered oil relative to the oil in the substrate, such as, lower aromatics content, lower sulfur content, lower functional group content, higher saturates, higher viscosity, higher viscosity index, and any combination thereof. The apparatus provides for efficient recovery of oil from the substrate with a short residence time, high throughput, low residual oil content in the treated solids and/or high percentage of oil recovery. The apparatus may be transported to a remote location for on-site treatment of drill cuttings or other oil-containing solids.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering oil from oil-containing sorbents, such as drill cuttings obtained from drilling with an oil-based mud. The method includes peptizing the substrate with an acid reagent and direct thermal desorption with combustion effluent gases at high temperature under turbulent mixing conditions. Another method disclosed includes upgrading the oil in the substrate to improve one or more of the properties of the recovered oil relative to the oil in the substrate, such as, lower aromatics content, lower sulfur content, lower functional group content, higher saturates, higher viscosity, higher viscosity index, and any combination thereof. The apparatus provides for efficient recovery of oil from the substrate with a short residence time, high throughput, low residual oil content in the treated solids and/or high percentage of oil recovery. The apparatus may be transported to a remote location for on-site treatment of drill cuttings or other oil-containing solids.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering oil from oil-containing sorbents, such as drill cuttings obtained from drilling with an oil-based mud. The method includes peptizing the substrate with an acid reagent and direct thermal desorption with combustion effluent gases at high temperature under turbulent mixing conditions. Another method disclosed includes upgrading the oil in the substrate to improve one or more of the properties of the recovered oil relative to the oil in the substrate, such as, lower aromatics content, lower sulfur content, lower functional group content, higher saturates, higher viscosity, higher viscosity index, and any combination thereof. The apparatus provides for efficient recovery of oil from the substrate with a short residence time, high throughput, low residual oil content in the treated solids and/or high percentage of oil recovery. The apparatus may be transported to a remote location for on-site treatment of drill cuttings or other oil-containing solids.

Abstract: An emulsion treating unit and process. A subcooled boiling zone in the unit comprises a heat transfer surface to contact an emulsion at a temperature in excess of the saturation temperature of an aqueous phase in the emulsion, wherein the boiling zone is atmospherically vented. The unit also provides means for recovering an oil-rich layer from adjacent a vapor-liquid interface; and means for recovering an aqueous-rich layer from below the oil-rich layer. The process provides operation of the treating unit to heat an emulsion in the subcooled boiling zone, wherein the boiling zone is atmospherically vented, recovering an oil-rich layer and recovering an aqueous-rich layer from below the oil-rich layer. In one embodiment the boiling zone comprises a heat transfer surface having a temperature in excess of the saturation temperature of the aqueous-rich layer, wherein the vapor-liquid interface is subcooled with respect to the saturation temperature of the aqueous layer.