Abstract: A reactor is provided for the preparation of modified bitumen, which reactor comprises a horizontal housing comprising a cylindrical wall and two side walls, wherein a bitumen inlet has been provided at or near one of the side walls of the housing and a bitumen product outlet has been provided at or near the opposite side wall of the housing, wherein a plurality of inlets for the provision of oxygen-containing gas has been provided in the cylindrical wall of the housing between the bitumen inlet and the bitumen product outlet, which multi-purpose reactor is further provided with a mixer arranged inside the housing comprising at least one rotor rotating within at least one stator having a plurality of openings. The reaction is used to prepare modified bitumen by contacting bitumen in the reactor with a modified elevated temperature and pressure.

Abstract: In a method of hydroprocessing, hydrogen gas for the hydroprocessing reaction is combined with a liquid feed composition comprising a feedstock to be treated and a diluent to form a feed stream, at least a portion of the hydrogen gas being dissolved in the liquid feed composition of the feed stream, with non-dissolved hydrogen gas being present in the feed stream in an amount of from 1 to 70 SCF/bbl of the liquid feed composition. The feed stream is contacted with a hydroprocessing catalyst, within a reactor while maintaining a liquid mass flux within the reactor of at least 5000 lb/hr·ft2 to form a hydroprocessed product.

Abstract: Fluid medium such as light cycle oil, water, FCC slurry and decanted oil, improve this method for vacuum distillation of a petroleum product. The method may be used in the petroleum refining industry for fractionating of petroleum base stock in a vacuum column. The fluid medium prevents the formation of thermoset polymers and the resultant fouling of the wash beds in the vacuum column.

Abstract: Methods are provided for modifying hydrogenation catalysts having silica supports (or other non-alumina supports) with additional alumina, and using such catalysts to achieve unexpectedly superior hydrogenation of feedstocks. The modified hydrogenation catalysts can have a relatively low cracking activity while providing an increased activity for hydrogenation.

Abstract: A process for upgrading residuum hydrocarbons and decreasing tendency of the resulting products toward asphaltenic sediment formation in downstream processes is disclosed. The process may include: contacting a residuum hydrocarbon fraction and hydrogen with a hydroconversion catalyst in a hydrocracking reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the residuum hydrocarbon fraction to lighter hydrocarbons; recovering an effluent from the hydrocracking reaction zone; contacting hydrogen and at least a portion of the effluent with a resid hydrotreating catalyst; and separating the effluent to recover two or more hydrocarbon fractions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a catalyst and process for hydrocracking of heavy hydrocarbon oils having majority portion boiling above 525° C. in the presence of hydrogen. A process comprising first step of converting heavy oil into lighter products in the presence of catalyst and hydrogen in slurry phase is disclosed. The process further comprises recycling of part of liquid products (HVGO) along with fresh heavy oil for improving the product selectivity. This recycled HVGO is having high concentrations of aromatics compounds. The separation of particles generated during the reaction at reactor exit also avoids the chances of choking of downstream sections.

Abstract: Methods for preparing, converting, and/or transporting bitumen are provided. Asphaltene prills, prilling processes, and converted bitumen suitable for transport are disclosed. One method for preparing bitumen for transport comprises: separating asphaltene from the bitumen to generate a deasphalted oil and asphaltene; separating the asphaltene into a first asphaltene fraction and a second asphaltene fraction, the first asphaltene fraction being less soluble in deasphalted oil and the second asphaltene fraction being more soluble in deasphalted oil; and forming an asphaltene prill comprising an inner core comprising the second asphaltene fraction and an outer layer comprising the first asphaltene fraction. Asphaltene prills disclosed herein may comprise an inner core comprising an asphaltene fraction having more solubility in deasphalted oil, and an outer layer comprising an asphaltene fraction having less solubility in deasphalted oil. Methods for the transport of bitumen via a pipeline are disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated process for simultaneous removal and value addition to sulfur and aromatics compounds of gas oil is provided. Process includes the segregation of refractive sulfur and aromatics compounds of gas oil in heavy fraction of gas oil using distillation processing of heavy fraction of gas oil in continuous solvent extraction zone, processing of lighter fraction of gas oil and raffinate of heavy fraction of gas oil in hydrotreating reaction zone operating under mild conditions of temperature and pressure for producing the gas oil with reduced sulfur and aromatic compounds and contact of extract phase generated during continuous extraction with water in mixer settler for generating the pseudo raffinate which can be used as suitable feed to hydrocracker to generate sulfur lean gas oil.

Abstract: A method is provided for recovering mercury from a crude oil into an alkaline ammonium sulfide contacting solution. Soluble mercury complexes in the contacting solution are converted to particulate mercury. The particulate mercury can be recovered by filtering, and the ammonium sulfide in the contacting solution recycled to the aqueous contacting solution.

Abstract: A method for purifying water involves heating impure water in a first reboiler, a second reboiler and a combustion steam generator to ultimately produce about 3 parts by weight of clean water and about 1 part by weight of clean steam for every 4 parts by weight of the impure water. A water treatment system includes a gas-fired combustion steam generator that is operable to produce a hot steam stream. A reboiler is connected in receiving communication with the gas-fired combustion steam generator to receive the hot steam stream. A separator is connected with the reboiler and is operable to separate an output stream from the reboiler.

Abstract: A process for refining a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock containing a) at least two stages of deasphalting in series to separate at least one fraction of asphalt, at least one fraction of heavy deasphalted oil, and at least one fraction of light deasphalted oil, at least one of the stages of deasphalting by a mixture of at least one polar solvent and at least one apolar solvent, the stages of deasphalting being implemented under the subcritical conditions of the mixture of solvents, b) a stage of hydrotreatment of at least a part of the fraction of heavy deasphalted oil, in the presence of hydrogen, c) a stage of catalytic cracking of at least a part of the fraction of light deasphalted oil, alone or in a mixture with at least a part of the effluent originating from stage b).

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for desulfurization of naphtha are provided. In one example, a method comprises fractionating a partially hydrodesulfurized, olefin-enriched naphtha stream in a first vapor-liquid contacting chamber to form a partially hydrodesulfurized, H2S-depleted, olefin-enriched naphtha stream. The partially hydrodesulfurized, H2S-depleted, olefin-enriched naphtha stream is contacted with a hydrotreating catalyst to form an additionally hydrodesulfurized, olefin-enriched naphtha stream. The additionally hydrodesulfurized, olefin-enriched naphtha stream is fractionated in a second vapor-liquid contacting chamber to form a hydrodesulfurized, H2S-depleted, olefin-enriched naphtha product stream. The first and second vapor-liquid contacting chambers are enclosed in a split shell stripper vessel and separated by a dividing wall.

Abstract: A process to treat a heavy hydrocarbon feed in a liquid-full hydroprocessing reactor is disclosed. The heavy feed has a high asphaltenes content, high viscosity, high density and high end boiling point. Hydrogen is fed in an equivalent amount of at least 160 liters of hydrogen, per liter of feed, l/l (900 scf/bbl). The feed is contacted with hydrogen and a diluent, which comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of recycle product stream. The hydroprocessed product has increased value for refineries, such as a feed for an fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit.

Abstract: A process for operating a bitumen froth treatment operation in turndown mode includes adding solvent to bitumen froth to produce diluted bitumen froth and separating it into diluted bitumen and solvent diluted tailings and in response to a reduction in bitumen froth flow recirculating part of the diluted bitumen into the bitumen froth and returning part of the solvent diluted tailings into the step of separating. A method for turndown of separation vessel for PFT includes sustaining the feed flow to vessel; maintaining solvent-to-bitumen ratio in the diluted bitumen froth; and retaining water, minerals and asphaltenes in a lower section of the vessel while sustaining an outlet flow. The use of diluted bitumen derived from PFT as a viscosity modifying agent of the bitumen froth and an associated process are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for the isomerization of a light naphtha with a view to forming high octane number gasolines, said process using a deisopentanizer and a deisohexanizer which are thermally integrated in a manner such as to reduce the consumption of the high temperature utilities employed in the process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of removing metals from hydrocarbon oil, comprising: supplying a feed including hydrocarbon oil; mixing the feed with an aqueous solution including a metal scavenger to prepare a first mixture; separating the first mixture into a first aqueous solution phase and a first hydrocarbon phase and discharging the separated first aqueous solution phase; mixing the separated first hydrocarbon phase with washing water to produce a second mixture; separating the second mixture into a second aqueous solution phase and a second hydrocarbon phase; and recovering the separated second hydrocarbon phase and recirculating the separated second aqueous solution phase.

Abstract: A system integrating heavy fuel coking and chemical looping combustion is provided. The system includes a source of heavy fuel, a cracking reactor into which the fuel and metal oxides are introduced, a fuel reactor in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, and an air reactor in fluid communication with the fuel reactor. In the cracking reactor, the fuel undergoes a cracking reaction forming products and petcoke deposits on the metal oxides. The fuel reactor is configured to gasify metal oxides with petcoke deposits to produce syngas and reduce the metal oxides. The system transports a first portion of the reduced metal oxides to the cracking reactor and a second portion to the fuel reactor. The air reactor is configured to receive reduced metal oxides from the fuel reactor and oxidize them. The system is further configured to transport the oxidized metal oxides to the fuel reactor.

Abstract: A method of extracting bitumen from oil sands having a transition temperature at which the oil sands solidify includes forming formable oil sands into pellets and cooling at least a surface of the pellets sufficiently to prevent the pellets from aggregating; cooling the pellets to below the transition temperature; fracturing the pellets to release the bitumen from the oil sands while maintaining the temperature of the pellets below the transition temperature; and separating the bitumen from the oil sands in a separator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing fluid from a well are described. A first wall portion may define a first region and a second wall portion may define a second region, fluid from said well being let through those regions. Heating of said first wall portion may be performed to release wax from said first wall portion into said fluid at said first flow region. During said heating, cooling of said fluid at said second flow region may be performed to cause wax from said fluid to deposit on said second wall portion.

Abstract: A method to selectively remove metal compounds and sulfur from a petroleum feedstock is provided. The method comprising the steps of feeding a pre-heated water stream and a pre-heated petroleum feedstock to a mixing zone, mixing the pre-heated water stream and the pre-heated petroleum feedstock to form a mixed stream, introducing the mixed stream to a first supercritical water reactor to produce an upgraded stream, combining the upgraded stream and a make-up water stream in a make-up mixing zone to produce a diluted stream, wherein the make-up water stream increases the ratio of water to oil in the diluted stream as compared to the upgraded stream, and introducing the diluted stream to a second supercritical water reactor to produce a product effluent stream. The method can include mixing a carbon with the make-up water stream.