Abstract: A process for upgrading a heavy viscous hydrocarbon, for example, rendering a heavy viscous crude pipelinable, includes visbreaking, distillation and solvent extraction steps. A heavy viscous hydrocarbon is fed through the visbreaker which forms a feed to the distillation step. A heavier fraction from distillation is fed to a solvent extraction unit which produces a fraction which contains resin. At least a portion of the resin containing fraction separated in the solvent extraction unit is recycled and combined with the feed which is to be subject to visbreaking so that the total yield of products, residual and gas-free, is increased. The recycled resin reduces the tendency of the asphaltenes to separate from the oil and thereby reduces the tendency to lay down coke in the visbreaker; this allows higher conversion to upgraded liquid products.

Abstract: A novel catalyst is provided which is effective in removing at least a portion of the sulphur contained in hydrocarbons, without the use of an external hydrogen source. The catalyst is a sulphided mixture, on a catalyst support, of (a) a sulphide of one or more of the transition metals iron, vanadium, molybdenum and copper, (b) a sulphide of either sodium or potassium, and (c) a hydroxide of either sodium or potassium. Sulphur removal with the catalyst is demonstrated with oil sand bitumen, heavy crude oil and asphaltenes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flowmeter for measuring pressure drops indicative of the flowrates of the individual phases in a gas and liquid containing two-phase stream. Elements are provided for creating and measuring a frictional pressure drop in the two-phase flow. Elements are also provided for creating and measuring an acceleration pressure drop in the two-phase flow. Mathematical models are known in two-phase theory for correlating these pressure drop measurements with the flowrates of the individual phases. In a preferred mode of the invention the frictional pressure drop is measured across a twisted tape; the accelerational pressure drop is measured across a venturi downstream of the twisted tape, and the pressure drops are measured by pressure transducers. The meter also preferably measures the static pressure of the two-phase flow.

Abstract: A dry thermal processor is provided for recovering hydrocarbons from oil sand solids. The processor comprises concentric, radially spaced, horizontal inner and outer tubular members connected for rotation together. The inner member provides a substantially open preheat zone and vaporization zone while the outer member provides, in the annular space between the tubular members, a substantially open combustion zone and heat transfer zone. The ends of the outer member are sealed by stationary feed end and product end structures. Advance means move the oil sand solids from the feed end structure through the preheat and vaporization zones to the product end structure and back through the combustion and heat transfer zones. In the preheat zone the oil sands are progressively heated and dehydrated by heat transferred through walls of the inner member from hot solids being dropped thereon in the heat transfer zone.

Abstract: In the apparatus, concentric, radially spaced tubes are secured to each other and rotated about a common horizontal long axis. Selectively placed and configured lift elements repeatedly lift and drop feed material in the two tubes. Advance elements cause the feed material introduced into the feed end of the structure to advance through the inner tube where it is progressively heated, dehydrated and its hydrocarbon content is largely vaporized. The hydrocarbon vapors are removed from the opposite product end of the structure. The remaining solid material falls from the end of the inner tube into a combustion zone in the outer tube. Oxygen supplying means are provided for causing the carbon coatings on the particles in the combustion zone to burn to produce heat employed in the processing of the feed material. The solid particles in the outer tube are moved back toward the feed end by advancing elements.

Abstract: A dry thermal processor for recovering hydrocarbons from oil sand solids comprises concentric, radially spaced, horizontal inner and outer tubular members connected for rotation together. The inner member provides a substantially open preheat zone and vaporization zone while the outer member provides, in the annular space between the tubular members, a substantially open combustion zone and heat transfer zone. The ends of the outer member are sealed by stationary feed end and product end structures. Advance means move the oil sand solids from the feed end structure through the preheat and vaporization zones to the product end structure and back through the combustion and heat transfer zones. Rotation of the inner member causes size reduction of the oil sand feed in the preheat zone, and oversize is discharged directly into the annular space at the second end of the preheat zone.

Abstract: A process is provided for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir of heavy oil containing sands. An injection stream comprising steam, hydrocarbon diluent, and a gas which is gaseous at formation temperature and pressure and soluable in the formation fluids at injection pressure is injected into the reservoir to mobilize the heavy oil, producing a flow of formation fluids which is subsequently produced from the reservoir. Suitable gases include carbon dioxide and oxygen. Naphtha is a preferred diluent. The provision of both diluent and gaseous additives in the steam injection stream is shown to improve conformance within the reservoir to enhance ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons from the reservoir.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus comprising rotating inner and outer concentric tubes. The inner tube provides a vapor zone and the annular space between the tubes provides a combustion zone. Hot particulate solids, such as sand, are advanced along an endless path through the vapor zone, back through the combustion zone and back into the vapor zone. In the vapor zone, oil is sprayed on the hot solids. The mixture is mixed and cascaded to obtain heat transfer from the solids to the oil, thereby generating hydrocarbon vapors and coke deposition on the solids. The vapors are removed by suction from the vapor zone. The coked solids are transferred into the combustion zone and cascaded and lifted and dropped therein to mix with added oxygen. Coke is burned to heat the solids which are then returned to the vapor zone. The vapors generated in the combustion zone are removed by suction.