Abstract: High energy (e.g., ultrasonic) mixing of a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock and reactants comprised of an oxidation source, catalyst and acid yields a diesel fuel product or additive having substantially increased cetane number. Ultrasonic mixing creates cavitation, which involves the formation and violent collapse of micron-sized bubbles, which greatly increases the reactivity of the reactants. This, in turn, substantially increases the cetane number compared to reactions carried out using conventional mixing processes, such as simple mechanical stirring. Alternatively, an aqueous mixture comprising water and acid can be pretreated with an oxidation source such as ozone and subjected to ultrasonic cavitation prior to reacting the pretreated mixture with a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils and residuum utilizing a combination of thermal and acidic treatment. Further, the invention describes a method for making a water-in-oil emulsion, or a solids-stabilized water-in-oil emulsion with a reduced viscosity. The emulsion can be used in enhanced oil recovery methods, including using the emulsion as a drive fluid to displace hydrocarbons in a subterranean formation, and using the emulsion as a barrier fluid for diverting flow of fluids in the formation.

Abstract: A method of reducing hydrolysis in a hydrocarbon stream comprising adding to a hydrocarbon stream containing a chloride compound which undergoes hydrolysis at elevated temperatures in the presence of water to form hydrochloric acid, an effective amount of a treating agent that is at least one overbased complex of a metal salt and an organic acid complexing agent, the treating agent being added to hydrocarbon stream when the stream is at a temperature below which any substantial hydrolysis of the chloride containing compound occurs.

Abstract: The invention is a low viscosity oil composition derived from crude oils and crude oil residuum comprising dispersed asphaltene salts in a hydrocarbon continuous phase.

Abstract: Metal hydride compounds, which are prepared by mixing together from about 1 to about 10 parts by molecular weight of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, tin, and zinc; from about 1 to about 3 parts by molecular weight of an alkali metal hydroxide; and from about 5 to about 10 parts by molecular weight of water and allowing this mixture to stand for a time sufficient to form a metal hydride, can be used for making fuel additives, treating sour gas, enhancing oil refining, extracting oil from tar sands and shale, increasing production of hydrogen from a hydrogen plant, treating oil and gas wells to enhance production, eliminate PCBs, cleaning soil contaminated by hydrocarbons and/or heavy metals, controlling odors, cleaning polluting stack emissions, extracting edible and essential oils, and eliminating bacteria, fungicides, and parasites from vegetation.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils and residuum utilizing a combination of thermal and acidic treatment. Further, the invention describes a method for making a water-in-oil emulsion, or a solids-stabilized water-in-oil emulsion with a reduced viscosity. The emulsion can be used in enhanced oil recovery methods, including using the emulsion as a drive fluid to displace hydrocarbons in a subterranean formation, and using the emulsion as a barrier fluid for diverting flow of fluids in the formation.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils and residuum utilizing a combination of acid and sonic treatment.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils and residuum utilizing a combination of acid and sonic treatment.

Abstract: A metal spring with embedded constrained layer damping provides effective damping of a supported load. A continuous load bearing tube is provided with an inner diameter and an outer diameter with a plurality of constraining layer tube sections concentric with the load bearing tube and spaced along the load bearing tube. A damping layer of a viscoelastic material contacts facing surfaces of the continuous load bearing tube and the constraining layer tube sections so that shear strains are induced in the viscoelastic material from relative rotation of the load bearing tube and the constraining layer sections to provide damping of an applied load. In one embodiment, the constraining layer tube sections and damping are within the load bearing continuous tube and the continuous tube is sealed at each end to permit use of the spring in a vacuum environment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing the concentration of amines in hydrocarbon fluids and process streams by generating therein a nitrosating agent. The nitrosating agent will react with the amines to form innocuous by-products under refinery process conditions.

Abstract: A process is described for removing chlorides from crude oils, including heavy oils and bitumens. The process steps comprise (1) mixing a non-ionic surfactant with the crude oil, (2) bubbling a gas into the crude oil-surfactant mixture to form a froth, (3) centrifuging the frothed mixture to obtain a chloride containing sediment and an oil product of reduced chloride content and (4) collecting the oil product.

Abstract: A process for reducing asphaltene content of crude oil and oil-containing materials to improve rheological properties of crude oils enhancing the water-extractabilities of sulphur and metals contained in them. The process employs the cold cracking effect of a binary acid solution containing, preferably, hydrochloric acid and oleic acid. The process is particularly applicable to the exploitation of heavy and ultra-heavy oil deposits, to oil recovery from oil-containing tar sand, shale or clay and to the cleaning of oil tanks, garments and clogged oil-pipelines.

Abstract: According to the invention, the oil is passed through a pulverulent material, such as an earth or clay, in the presence of an acid. The pulverulent material can be placed beforehand on a filter or can be mixed with the oil before filtration. If necessary, the oil is recycled through the filter up to complete decontamination.Application to the radioactive decontamination of oils used in the nuclear industry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reprocessing, particularly the dehalogenation, of oil products which involves a) treating the oil product at temperatures up to about 150.degree. C. with an effective amount of an aqueous solution of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a strong acid, a salt of a weak base and a strong acid and precursors thereof; b) treating the oil product of step (a) at increased temperatures with at least one halogen binding agent; and c) separating water and/or the solids from the treated oil product of step (b).

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feeds are upgraded by contacting same, at elevated temperature and in the presence of hydrogen, with a self-promoted catalyst prepared by heating one or more water soluble catalyst precursors in a non-oxidizing atmosphere in the presence of sulfur at a temperature of at least about 200.degree. C. The precursors will be one or more compounds of the formula ML(Mo.sub.y W.sub.1-y O.sub.4) wherein M is one or more promoter metals selected from the group consisting essentially of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and mixtures thereof, wherein O.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1 and wherein L is a nitrogen containing, neutral multidentate, chelating ligand. In a preferred embodiment the ligand L will comprise one or more chelating alkyl di or triamines and the non-oxidizing atmosphere and to form the catalyst will comprise H.sub.2 S.

Abstract: A process for catalytic hydroconversion of heavy petroleum feedstocks containing preasphaltenes to produce lower-boiling hydrocarbon liquid products. In the process, an inorganic acid is added to the reactor effluent residual fraction boiling above about 950.degree. F. to produce substantial precipitation of the preasphaltene materials. The clarified overhead fraction is recycled to the reaction zone, and the precipitated preasphaltene material is passed to further processing, such as coking to recover additional light oils. The reactor can advantageously be an upflow ebullated catalytic bed type and may use fine size catalyst for increased hydroconversion.