Abstract: A method and apparatus for upgrading heavy oil is described, having a symbiotic relationship between a cracking reactor vessel and a steam reformer vessel. A first portion of an uncracked residue oil stream from the cracking reactor vessel is passed through a heat exchanger positioned within the steam reformer vessel and back to the cracking reactor vessel, such that a heat exchange takes place which heats the uncracked residue oil stream to promote cracking. A second portion of the uncracked residue oil stream from the cracking reactor vessel is injected directly into the steam reformer vessel. That portion of the uncracked residue oil stream not vaporized in the steam reformer vessel is converted into coke which becomes deposited in a fluidized bed of the steam reformer vessel. The fluidized bed activates steam which reacts with the coke to generate hydrogen. Hydrogen from the steam reformer vessel is directed into the cracking reactor vessel to assist with cracking.

Abstract: A method is described for removing carbon dioxide during Liquid Natural Gas production from natural gas at gas pressure letdown stations. The above method removes carbon dioxide from a Liquid Natural Gas production stream by using hydrocarbon fractions taken from a gas for consumption stream as a carbon dioxide stripping adsorption agent for a stripping column used to remove carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A cascading processor is described which includes a processor body having an upper inlet and a lower outlet, such that materials pass by force of gravity from inlet to the outlet. The processor body has a plurality of processing levels which are sequentially vertically spaced progressively downwardly from the inlet to the outlet, such that materials cascade by force of gravity from one processing level to another processing level as the materials pass through the processor body front the inlet to the outlet. This cascading processor was developed for recovery of bitumen front oil sands, but can be used to process oil shales or to process biomasses.

Abstract: A method of upgrading heavy oil in which the heavy oil is preheated to above a boiling point of water to remove water as steam and lighter fractions as vapors. The heavy oil passes downwardly through a series of sequential horizontal heat gradients in a temperature gradient reactor. A temperature of each sequential heat gradient progressively increases so that lighter fractions of the heavy oil vaporize with minimal cracking and heavier heavy oil fractions continue to fall by force of gravity downwards. As they pass through further sequential heat gradients of progressively increasing temperature, they tend to crack into lighter fractions in the presence of nascent hydrogen. Coke, formed from heavier heavy oil fractions generated and deposited on a fluidized catalytic bed a bottom of the temperature gradient reactor, is fluidized with superheated steam. The superheated steam generates the nascent hydrogen required to promote hydrogen reactions by indirect heated steam reforming and water-gas shift reactions.

Abstract: A method for producing liquid natural gas (LNG) includes the following steps. Compressor stations forming part of existing natural-gas distribution network are identified. Compressor stations that are geographically suited for localized distribution of LNG are selected. Natural gas flowing through the selected compressor stations is diverted to provide a high pressure first natural gas stream and a high pressure second natural gas stream. A pressure of the first natural gas stream is lowered to produce cold temperatures through pressure let-down gas expansion and then the first natural gas stream is consumed as a fuel gas for an engine driving a compressor at the compressor station. The second natural gas stream is first cooled with the cold temperatures generated by the first natural gas stream, and then expanded to a lower pressure, thus producing LNG.

Abstract: A cascading processor is described which includes a processor body having an upper inlet and a lower outlet, such that materials pass by force of gravity from inlet to the outlet. The processor body has a plurality of processing levels Which are sequentially vertically spaced progressively downwardly from the inlet to the outlet, such that materials cascade by force of gravity from one processing level to another processing level as the materials pass through the processor body front the inlet to the outlet. This cascading processor was developed for recovery of bitumen front oil sands, but can be used to process oil shales or to process biomasses.