Abstract: A process for treating a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock is disclosed. The process involves separating the feedstock into a residue component and a light component, the residue component having a lower API gravity than the light component and treating at least a portion of the light component to produce a synthetic transport diluent suitable for combining with at least a portion of the residue component to produce a product which meets applicable criteria for pipeline transport.

Abstract: A process is provided for treating produced water recovered from an oil recovery process. An oil-water mixture is collected from an oil bearing formation. The oil-water mixture is directed to a separator that separates the oil-water mixture to yield produced water and an oil product. The produced water includes water, dissolved organics and dissolved inorganic solids. The produced water is directed to a crystallizer. In the crystallizer, the produced water is concentrated by heating the produced water. Concentrating the produced water causes the organic and inorganic solids to precipitate from the produced water and form solid crystals, including salt crystals. Further, concentrating the produced water in the crystallizer produces an organic melt including the solid crystals. Thereafter, the method or process entails cooling the organic melt such that the organic melt solidifies into an organic solid structure, and wherein substantially no free water is present in the organic solid structure.

Abstract: A process is provided for treating produced water recovered from an oil recovery process. An oil-water mixture is collected from an oil bearing formation. The oil-water mixture is directed to a separator that separates the oil-water mixture to yield produced water and an oil product. The produced water includes water, dissolved organics and dissolved inorganic solids. The produced water is directed to a crystallizer. In the crystallizer, the produced water is concentrated by heating the produced water. Concentrating the produced water causes the organic and inorganic solids to precipitate from the produced water and form solid crystals, including salt crystals. Further, concentrating the produced water in the crystallizer produces an organic melt including the solid crystals. Thereafter, the method or process entails cooling the organic melt such that the organic melt solidifies into an organic solid structure, and wherein substantially no free water is present in the organic solid structure.

Abstract: A process for treating a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock is disclosed. The process involves separating the feedstock into a residue component and a light component, the residue component having a lower API gravity than the light component and treating at least a portion of the light component to produce a synthetic transport diluent suitable for combining with at least a portion of the residue component to produce a product which meets applicable criteria for pipeline transport.

Abstract: A process for treating a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock is disclosed. The process involves separating the feedstock into a residue component and a light component, the residue component having a lower API gravity than the light component and treating at least a portion of the light component to produce a synthetic transport diluent suitable for combining with at least a portion of the residue component to produce a product which meets applicable criteria for pipeline transport.