Abstract: A method of controlling asphaltene precipitation in a fluid comprising the addition of a precipitation inhibitor to the fluid containing the asphaltene.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for enhancing demetallation of metals containing hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks by contacting a metals containing hydrocarbonaceous feedstock at a sufficient temperature and pressure with an additive containing a polyoxyalkylene moiety said additive having preferential insolubility in alkane deasphalting solvent to produce an additive treated feedstock; and then contacting the resulting product with an effective deasphalting solvent to produce a deasphalted oil having a decreased metals content and an insoluble metals containing phase.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon source feed is upgraded using a solvent deasphalting (SDA) unit employing a solvent having a critical temperature Tc by initially separating from a first hydrocarbon input stream fractions with an atmospheric equivalent boiling temperature less than about Tf°F. for producing a stream of Tf− fractions and a residue stream (Tf+ stream), where Tf is greater than about Tc−50° F. In the SDA unit, a second hydrocarbon input stream which includes the residue stream is deasphalted for producing a first product stream of substantially solvent-free asphaltenes, and a second product stream containing substantially solvent-free deasphalted oil (DAO). The source feed may be included in either the first or second input streams. The DAO in the second product stream is thermally cracked for producing an output stream that includes thermally cracked fractions and by-product asphaltenes produced by thermally cracking the DAO.

Abstract: The invention is the integration of a process of gasifying asphaltenes in a gasification zone by partial oxidation and the process of asphaltene extraction with a solvent. The integration allows low level heat from the gasification reaction to be utilized in the recovery of solvent that was used to extract asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon material. Asphaltenes are extracted from an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon material by mixing a solvent in quantities sufficient to precipitate at least a fraction of the asphaltenes. The precipitated asphaltenes are then gasified in a gasification zone to synthesis gas. The gasification process is very exothermic. The low level heat in the synthesis gas, either directly, or via an intermediate step of low pressure steam, is used to remove and recover the solvent from the deasphalted hydrocarbon material and from the asphaltenes prior to gasification.

Abstract: A process for the solvent separation of hydrocarbons from tar sand or contaminated soils comprises extracting the hydrocarbons from the sand or soil in a solvent extraction means to form a hydrocarbon rich solvent solution. The rich solvent is separated from the hydrocarbon in a process that utilizes flashing of the solvent in a heated flashing column at ambient pressure. The hydrocarbon is withdrawn from the bottom of the column and the flashed solvent vapors are strategicly withdrawn and passed into a condensation column from which the condensed solvent may be recycled. The flashing column is divided by a series of horizontal, vertically aligned apertured trays. The solution is introduced into the top of the column and the flashing operation is facilitated by the increase in the surface area of the solution as it flows by gravity from tray to tray. The column is maintained at a temperature, preferably above the boiling temperature of the solvent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a synergistic mixture of A from 5 to 99% by weight of a carboxylic acid having more than 4 carbon atoms, an ethercarboxylic acid containing C18-C22-alkyl, C18-C22-alkenyl or C6-C18-alkylaryl substituents, an amidocarboxylic acid, or mixtures thereof, B from 1 to 95% by weight of a phosphoric mono- or diester, or mixtures thereof, which is substituted by C18-C22-alkyl, C18-C22-alkenyl, C6-C18-alkylaryl or alkoxylated groups, where the sum of components A and B is 100% by weight, to crude oils containing such mixtures, and to a process for dispersing asphaltenes in crude oils.

Abstract: The present invention is a slurry-type process for upgrading heavy oils to FCC and S/C feeds under temperature and pressure conditions similar to MSHP, but employing catalysts in concentrations small enough (e.g., <300 ppm Mo on feed) that they need not be recycled.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for improving the separation of resins and asphaltenes from each other and a base residuum during alkane deasphalting by adding a phase separation accelerator to the residuum. The phase separation accelerators include alkyl and alkylaryl alkoxylates, alkylaryl sulfonates, and hetero-atom punctuated fatty polymers.

Abstract: The high aromatic oil provided in the present invention is characterized by that a glass transition point is -45 to -20.degree. C. and an aromatic component measured by Clay-Gel method accounts for 55 to 90% by weight and that a polycyclic aromatic compound measured by IP 346 method accounts for less than 3% by weight based on the whole components of hydrocarbons contained in the oil.This high aromatic oil can suitably be used for various rubber compositions such as tires, rubber vibration insulators and fenders, oil extended synthetic rubbers, printing inks and writing inks.

Abstract: A thermodynamic model is formed which allows determination of the temperature at which waxes or paraffins appear in petroleum fluids, and notably in crudes, as well as the solid fraction that precipitates when the temperature of the petroleum fluid falls below this critical value. A differentiation is established between n-paraffins, iso-paraffins, naphthenes and aromatics. The model utilizes an analytical representation of the fluids by pseudo-components, the physico-chemical parameters of most of them being determined by combination of the corresponding parameters of a certain number of pure hydrocarbons gathered in a database. The model takes account of the non-ideality of the solid, liquid, and gas phases. Two of the pseudo-constituents including the heaviest fractions are represented by two ficticious molecules, each being defined by a molar distribution among various groups which constitute them, and a group contribution method is used to calculate the thermodynamic properties thereof.

Abstract: A petroleum derived oil is subjected to propane deasphalting to yield a solid asphaltene residue. The residue is crushed to 425 micron diameter particle or less at a crushing temperature in the range of 77.degree. F. to 122.degree. F. The asphaltene particles are suspended in a residual petroleum oil emulsion. The resulting suspension comprises 5 wt % to 40 wt % asphaltene particles. The 40 wt % asphaltene suspensions are boiler fuel. The 5 wt % asphaltene suspensions are gasified with a deficit of oxygen to produce synthesis gas. The suspensions are stable and transportable by pumping through a pipeline.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon source feed is upgraded using a solvent deasphalting (SDA) unit employing a solvent having a critical temperature T.sub.c by initially separating from a first hydrocarbon input stream fractions with an atmospheric equivalent boiling temperature less than about T.sub.f .degree. F. for producing a stream of T.sub.f.sup.- fractions and a residue stream (T.sub.f.sup.+ stream), where T.sub.f is greater than about T.sub.c -50.degree. F. In the SDA unit, a second hydrocarbon input stream which includes the residue stream is deasphalted for producing a first product stream of substantially solvent-free asphaltenes, and a second product stream containing substantially solvent-free deasphalted oil (DAO). The source feed may be included in either the first or second input streams. The DAO in the second product stream is thermally cracked for producing an output stream that includes thermally cracked fractions and by-product asphaltenes produced by thermally cracking the DAO.

Abstract: An evaporative solvent recovery section operates on a plurality of liquid product streams including a liquid stream of deasphalted oil and solvent, and a liquid stream of asphaltene and solvent produced by a solvent deasphalting unit. Heat is added to one of the streams for producing a heated liquid product stream that is flashed to produce a stream of vaporized solvent, and a stream of reduced solvent liquid product. The stream of reduced solvent liquid product is further processed, without the addition of a significant amount of heat, to vaporize substantially all of the remaining solvent therein, and heat contained in the stream of vaporized solvent is recovered by expanding the stream in a vapor turbine.

Abstract: The process for the conversion of heavy crude oils or distillation residues to distillates comprises the following steps:mixing the heavy crude oil or distillation residue with a suitable hydrogenation catalyst and sending the mixture obtained to a hydrotreating reactor introducing hydrogen or a mixture of hydrogen and H.sub.2 S;sending the stream containing the hydrotreating reaction product and the catalyst in slurry phase to a distillation zone where the most volatile fractions are separated;sending the high-boiling fraction obtained in the distillation step to a deasphaltation step obtaining two streams, one consisting of deasphalted oil (DAO), the other consisting of asphaltenes, catalyst in slurry phase, possibly coke and rich in metals coming from the initial charge;recycling at least 60%, preferably at least 80% of the stream consisting of asphaltenes, catalyst in slurry phase, optionally coke and rich in metals, to the hydrotreatment zone.

Abstract: A fractioning solvent deasphalting plant applies a solvent whose critical temperature is T.sub.c to a hydrocarbon feed containing asphaltenes and atmospheric distillate having fractions that boil above about T.sub.c -50.degree. F. such that said feed is separated into a substantially solvent-free product stream of atmospheric distillate, a substantially solvent-free product stream containing deasphalted oil substantially free of said atmospheric distillate, and a substantially solvent-free product stream containing asphaltenes substantially free of said atmospheric distillate.

Abstract: A feed stream of asphaltene-containing residual oil is processed by contacting the feed stream with a solvent to form a first primary liquid stream containing deasphalted oil (DAO) and some solvent, and a second primary liquid stream containing asphaltene and some solvent. The first and second liquid streams are heated; and the heated streams are respectively processed to recover the solvent and to produce a DAO product stream substantially free of solvent, and an asphaltene product stream substantially free of solvent. A portion of the DAO product stream is heated to produce a stream of heated DAO, a portion of which indirectly heats the two primary liquid streams.

Abstract: A method of generating power from residual fuel oil that is deasphalted with a flow of process steam to produce a deasphalted oil stream, a pitch stream, and a deasphalting condensate stream. The deasphalted oil stream is burned in a pressurized oxygen-bearing gas to produce a pressurized hot gas stream. This pressurized hot gas stream is expanded in a turbine that produces shaft power and an expanded gas stream. The expanded gas stream is cooled by transferring heat from it to a flow of feed water that becomes steam. A portion of the steam becomes at least part of the flow of process steam used to deasphalt the residual fuel oil, thus integrating the deasphalting and the steam generation.

Abstract: An aromatic solvent together with methods for its preparation are described. A composition includes a paraffin fraction in an amount of from approximately 9 LV % to approximately 15 LV %; a naphthene fraction in an amount of from approximately 35 LV % to approximately 55 LV %; and an alkylbenzene fraction in an amount of from approximately 8 LV % to approximately 16 LV %. The solvent provides advantages in that the high solvency that is typical of an aromatic solvent is combined with a narrow distillation range, a high flash point and higher boiling range that is typical of an aliphatic solvent.

Abstract: A paraffinic solvent is mixed with bitumen froth containing water and solids. Sufficient solvent is added to induce inversion when the mixture is subjected to gravity or centrifugal forces. The emulsion reports to the water phase and a dry bitumen product is obtained.

Abstract: A process and system for converting petroleum residue ("resid") into a liquid product and a solid product. The resid is first mixed with a solvent having a generally nonpolar molecular character. A strong electric field is then applied to the mixture to agglomerate the asphaltenes and other large molecules in the resid. The agglomerates are then separated from the remaining liquid, thereby producing liquid and solid products. The liquid product is useful as a feedstock for petrochemicals and transportation fuels, and the solid product is suitable for combustion as a coal substitute. A portion of the liquid product may be recycled as the solvent.

Abstract: A residuum oil solvent extraction process is improved by using direct fired convection heaters for heating the asphaltene, the solvent-deasphalted oil phase, the deasphalted oil and the stripping steam, instead of hot oil heat exchangers. The convection heaters are fired using recirculated flue gas so that the hot flue gas supplied to the convection heaters has a temperature between 800.degree. F. and 1400.degree. F.

Abstract: Solvent deasphalting apparatus includes a separator that receives two inputs, a heavy hydrocarbon feed and a solvent feed; and the apparatus produces two outputs, an asphaltene/solvent stream and a deasphalted oil/solvent stream. A solvent recovery unit of the apparatus receives the two output streams and produces mainly a substantially solvent-free deasphalted oil product stream, a substantially solvent-free asphaltene product stream, and a recovered solvent stream which is returned to a solvent drum. A pump pumps a substantially constant volume of solvent from the solvent drum into a by-pass line connecting the pump to the solvent drum, and into a connection line connecting the pump to the separator. The amount of solvent flow in the connection line is functionally related to the level of heavy hydrocarbon feed so that solvent in excess of that flowing into the connection line and spills back to the solvent drum through the by-pass line.

Abstract: Power is generated in an organic Rankine cycle turbine by expanding a stream of solvent vapor produced by a flash drum in a deasphalting unit to produce a stream of expanded solvent vapor that is combined with a stream of solvent vapor and steam from a stripper of the deasphalting unit. Heat is extracted from the combined stream by an organic fluid that is vaporized and supplied to a Rankine cycle organic vapor turbine that produces power and expanded organic vapor. The solvent is recovered from the cooled, combined stream and re-used in the deasphalting unit. Heat extracted from products of the deasphalting unit vaporizes an organic fluid that is expanded in an organic vapor turbine that generates power.

Abstract: A large pore (500.degree.-2000.degree. A) ceramic membrane is used to separate asphaltenes from heavy crude oil. Permeate is recycled to the feed for an initial period, during which the pores are deliberately fouled to reduce pore size. This reduction eventually levels off, at which point recycling is terminated and ultrafiltration is continued thereafter at good flux rates with effective asphaltenes removal.

Abstract: A process for deasphalting a residua feedstock by use of a short vapor contact time thermal process unit comprised of a horizontal moving bed of fluidized hot particles. It is preferred that a mechanical means be used to fluidize a bed of hot particles.

Abstract: A process for deasphalting and demetallizing petroleum vacuum distillation residues using dimethylcarbonate (DMC) in the presence of an overpressure of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and comprising:mixing a vacuum distillation residue with dimethylcarbonate (DMC) under a pressure of CO.sub.2, under temperature and pressure conditions such as to maintain the DMC in a prevalently liquid state, and forming a homogeneous solution with the deasphalted oils;cooling the entire system to a temperature such as to form three phases;then venting the gas at this temperature;recovering a deasphalted and partly demetallized primary oil from the light phase;recovering a deasphalted and partly demetallized secondary oil from the intermediate phase;f) recovering the used DMC for its possible reuse.

Abstract: A continuous process for deasphalting and demetallating a residue from crude oil distillation, by means of dimethyl carbonate as extraction solvent, comprises:mixing a residue from crude oil distillation with a recycled liquid stream containing oil and dimethyl carbonate, in order to produce a homogeneous solution;cooling said homogeneous solution and separating a refined light, liquid, phase; an extracted middle phase; and a heavy phase containing asphaltenes;recovering a primary, deasphalted/demetallated oil from said light phase;partially recycling said middle phase to the mixing step, and recovering a secondary deasphalted oil from the residual fraction;recovering asphaltenes from said heavy phase.

Abstract: A process is described for deasphalting and demetalating crude petroleum, or a fraction thereof, containing asphaltenes and metals, in which:said crude petroleum or its fraction is brought in to contact with an organic carbonate, the operation being conducted in the homogeneous liquid phase, until a solid residue rich in asphaltenes and asphaltenic metals precipitates; and said solid residue is separated from the homogeneous liquid phase.After separating, the solid, the homogeneous liquid phase can be cooled to separate an oil-rich refined liquid phase from the extracted liquid phase rich in organic carbonate. The separation of the extracted and refined liquid phases can also be achieved by adding a liquid solvent which is more polar than the carbonate, with or without cooling.

Abstract: A resid hydrotreating process hydrotreats a resid bottoms fraction from the reduction of crude oil. The hydrotreated bottoms fraction is then subjected to deep vacuum reduction and in some cases deasphalted by solvent extraction to produce an oil suitable for use as a catalytic cracking feedstock and a resins fraction suitable for solvating resid in a hydrotreating process.

Abstract: Non-carcinogenic asphalts and asphalt blending stocks are produced from reduced hydrocarbon feedstocks. Such non-carcinogenic products are produced by establishing a functional relationship between mutagenicity index and a physical property correlative of hydrocarbon type for the asphalt or asphalt blending stock and determining a critical physical property level which, when achieved, results in a product having a mutagenicity index of less than about 1.0. Process conditions are established so that a product stream achieving the desired physical property level can be produced. Non-carcinogenic asphalts and asphalt blending stocks are then processed utilizing the conditions so established.

Abstract: A process for the production of high quality lube oil blending stock from atmospheric fractionation residue and waste lubricants by means of contacting the waste lubricant with a hot hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to increase the temperature of this feed stream to vaporize at least a portion of the distillable hydrocarbonaceous compounds thereby producing a distillable hydrocarbonaceous stream which is immediately hydrogenated in an integrated hydrogenation zone. The vaporization of the waste oil is also conducted in the presence of an asphalt residue which is produced in the integrated process. The resulting effluent from the integrated hydrogenation zone provides at least one high quality lube oil blending stock stream.

Abstract: A process for improving the performance of heavy oil refining units in a resid hydrotreating unit equipped for resid hydrotreating. The partially refined resid stream issuing from a train of ebullated bed reactor is first separated into high, medium, and low temperature components. The high temperature component is sent through a flash drum and then fractionated by solvent deasphalting in order to provide oil, resin, and asphaltene fractions. Thus, the asphaltene is eliminated before it can foul downstream equipment. This treatment of the heavy oil product has several benefits as compared to treating the vacuum tower bottoms. Among other things, one of these benefits is to debottleneck the resid hydrotreating unit, especially at the atmospheric tower.

Abstract: A refining process uses a two or four stage solvent separator coupled to receive an incoming feedstream of low sulfur resid and a solvent. In the preferred two stage separator, the mixture at the top of the first separator stage is fed to the second stage separator via a heat exchanger. The mixture at the bottom of the first stage separator includes resins and asphaltenes which are fed to a hydrotreater and then, in turn, to a fractionator. The output from the bottom of this fractionator can be fed back to the resid feedstream of the first stage separator for recycled separation. The material at the top of the second stage separator is fed back through the heat exchanger where it helps heat the mixture fed from the top of the first to the second stage separator, this feedback recovers the solvent for reuse in the first stage. The material settling to the bottom of the second stage separator is fed into a catalytic cracker or processed elsewhere.

Abstract: Deasphalting heavy, asphaltic crudes before significant thermal treatment, even mild treatment which is inherent in, e.g., vacuum distillation, produces deasphalted whole crude with a reduced soluble metal content. This process is especially effective for preparing feedstocks for catalytic cracking units from heavy crudes containing large amounts of Ni and V which are porphyrin coordinated, and which are thermally unstable.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for preparing and treating a heavy oil extraction solvent. A solvent fraction is separated from a crude oil and combined with a slip stream of rerun solvent taken from an extraction process solvent recycle system. The solvent fraction and rerun solvent are fractionated to provide a purified extraction solvent. The purified extraction solvent is then utilized in the heavy oil extraction process.

Abstract: Non-carcinogenic bright stock extracts and/or deasphalted oils are produced from reduced hydrocarbon feedstocks. Such non-carcinogenic products are produced by establishing a functional relationship between mutagenicity index and a physical property correlative of hydrocarbon type for the bright stock extract or deasphalted oil and determining a critical physical property level which, when achieved, results in a product having a mutagenicity index of less than about 1.0. Process conditions are established so that a product stream achieving the desired physical property level can be produced. Non-carcinogenic bright stock extracts and/or deasphalted oils are then processed utilizing the conditions so established. A bright stock extract and a deasphalted oil substantially free from mutagenic activity, as well as processes for their production are also provided herein.

Abstract: An improvement has been found in a process for producing Bright Stock from petroleum residuum by propane deasphalting and solvent refining. The extract of solvent refining is cooled to yield an aromatics-lean secondary raffinate which is recycled to propane deasphalting. An improved yield of Bright Stock is achieved over recycling extract to propane deasphalting.

Abstract: A process for separating a resin phase from a solvent solution containing a solvent, demetallized oil and resin which process comprises: (a) passing the solvent solution over a portion of a generally vertically positioned heat-exchange surface thereby heating the solvent solution to precipitate a resin phase; (b) heating an upper portion of the vertically positioned heat-exchange surface with a circulating hot heat-exchange fluid; (c) passing at least a portion of the resin phase which is precipitated on the upper portion of the vertically positioned downwardly over a lower portion of the vertically positioned heat-exchange surface which lower portion is maintained at a lower temperature than the temperature of the upper portion; (d) recovering the solvent solution having a reduced concentration of resin; and (e) recovering a resin phase.

Abstract: Samples of a petroleum oil stream (e.g. crude oil feed stream to a refinery) are continually monitored to determine incompatible asphaltenes therein and the rate of antifoulant is adjusted in response to changes in the level of incompatible asphaltenes. The method of the present invention employs thin layer chromatographic films for separating incompatible asphaltenes and for measuring an optical property indicative of the incompatible asphaltenes, and for varying antifoulant addition in response to changes of the optical property measured.

Abstract: The invention reduces cracking catalyst fines in decanted oil by mixing the decanted oil (DCO) containing cracking catalyst fines with asphaltene and then treating the DCO-asphaltene mixture with a non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in an extraction unit or in a multi-stage deasphalting unit.

Abstract: The invention reduces cracking catalyst fines in decanted oil by mixing the decanted oil (DCO) containing cracking catalyst fines with asphaltene and then treating the DCO-asphaltene mixture with a non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in an extraction unit or in a multi-stage deasphalting unit.

Abstract: The invention reduces cracking catalyst fines in decanted oil by mixing the decanted oil (DCO) containing cracking catalyst fines with a resid oil and then treating the DCO-resid mixture with a non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in an extraction unit or in a multi-stage deasphalting unit.

Abstract: A method for processing heavy crude oils comprising a) atmospheric distillation of a heavy crude oil having a high content of metals, asphaltenes and sulfur; b) solvent extraction of the atmospheric distillation residue to obtain an extract with characteristics equivalent to those which an atmospheric residue derived from light crude oil and a raffinate fraction, solid at ambient conditions, in which are concentrated the asphaltenes, metals and sulfur present in the original crude oil; c) vacuum distillation of the deasphalted extract, obtaining a light fraction or gas oils with characteristics adequate to be subjected to a secondary conversion process, plus a bottoms fraction or vacuum residue; d) treatment of the vacuum gas oils in a conversion stage and e) subjecting the bottoms of raffinate from the extraction stage to a metallurgical process, in admixture with cokeable coal and coke fines to production of metallurgical coke.

Abstract: A process for refining coal-derived heavy carbonaceous materials such as pitch to remove quinline insolubles therefrom is disclosed. The process comprises providing a coal-derived heavy carbonaceous material from which all the components having normal boiling points of 270.degree. C. or below and all or part of the components having normal boiling points ranging from 270.degree. C. to 360.degree. C. have been removed; heating the heavy carbonaceous material to make it fluid; mixing the heated carbonaceous material with a ketone solvent having a boiling point below 200.degree. C. for a period sufficient to precipitate coarse insoluble particles in the mixture; separating the precipitated particles from the mixture; and removing the ketone solvent from the mixture, leaving a refined, coal-derived heavy carbonaceous material which is suitable for use in the production of high-grade carbon stocks such as needle coke, carbon fibers, high-purity carbon, etc., and for use as an impregnant or binder pitch.

Abstract: The present invention provides a facile method of oil removal from an oil-water emulsion containing suspended solid particulates. In general, the method utilizes a volatile solvent which is liquefied under pressure and forms a two-phase system when in contact with the emulsion.

Abstract: The composition of asphalt pavements can be determined through bitument extraction, employing an alicyclic hydrocarbon as extractant under subcritical conditions. For example, cyclohexane is so employed in conjunction with an apparatus hereof.

Abstract: Non-carcinogenic bright stock extracts and/or deasphalted oils are produced from reduced hydrocarbon feedstocks. Such non-carcinogenic products are produced by establishing a functional relationship between mutagenicity index and a physical property correlative of hydrocarbon type for the bright stock extract or deasphalted oil and determining a critical physical property level which, when achieved, results in a product having a mutagenicity index of less than about 1.0. Process conditions are established so that a product stream achieving the desired physical property level can be produced. Non-carcinogenic bright stock extracts and/or deasphalted oils are then processed utilizing the conditions so established. A bright stock extract and a deasphalted oil substantilly free from mutagenic activity, as well as processes for their production are also provided herein.

Abstract: Heavy resid oils are upgraded by a thermal treatment under liquid coking conditions to evolve two at least partially immiscible liquid phases. The lighter gas oil phase is then separated from the heavier liquid coke phase by decantation.

Abstract: A hydrotreating process if provided in which resid and resins are hydrotreated with hydrogen-rich gases in the presence of a hydrotreating catalyst in an ebullated bed reactor.

Abstract: A solvent extraction process for separating a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock material into its various component parts. The process comprises the utilization of pressure reduction to enhance the separation and recovery of a deasphalted oil product comprising substantially the lower molecular weight hydrocarbon components present in the original heavy hydrocarbon feedstock material.