Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for recovering and processing a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation. The method comprises: (i) mobilizing said hydrocarbon mixture; (ii) recovering said mobilized hydrocarbon mixture; (iii) coking said recovered hydrocarbon mixture to produce decoked hydrocarbon and coke; (iv) combusting said coke to generate steam and/or energy and CO2; (v) upgrading said decoked hydrocarbon by hydrogen addition to produce upgraded hydrocarbon; and (v) adding a diluent to the decoked hydrocarbon prior to upgrading and/or adding a diluent to the upgraded hydrocarbon; wherein said method is at least partially self-sufficient in terms of steam and/or energy and diluent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for recovering and processing a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation. The method comprises: (i) mobilizing said hydrocarbon mixture; (ii) recovering said mobilized hydrocarbon mixture; (iii) deasphalting said recovered hydrocarbon mixture to produce deasphalted hydrocarbon and asphaltenes; (iv) gasifying said asphaltenes in a gasifier to generate hydrogen, steam and/or energy and CO2; (v) upgrading said deasphalted hydrocarbon by hydrogen addition to produce upgraded hydrocarbon; and (vi) adding a diluent to said upgraded hydrocarbon, wherein said method is at least partially self-sufficient in terms of hydrogen and diluent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon mixture, said process comprising: i) dividing said heavy hydrocarbon mixture into at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion comprises 10-45% wt of the heavy hydrocarbon mixture and said second portion comprises 90-55% wt of the heavy hydrocarbon mixture; ii) thermally upgrading said first portion of heavy hydrocarbon mixture in an upgrader to produce a lighter hydrocarbon mixture; and iii) mixing said lighter hydrocarbon mixture with a heavy hydrocarbon mixture to produce an upgraded hydrocarbon mixture, wherein, on entry to said upgrader, the composition of said first portion of heavy hydrocarbon mixture is identical to that of said second portion of heavy hydrocarbon mixture.

Abstract: A steam-based method and system for recovering and processing a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation. Steam is injected into the subterranean formation to mobilize said hydrocarbon mixture, then the mobilized hydrocarbon mixture is recovered, a self-sufficient diluent is added, and the mixture is separated to produce separated water and separated hydrocarbon. The separated hydrocarbon is deasphalted to produce a deasphalted hydrocarbon and asphaltenes, which is combusted in an oxycombustion process to generate steam and/or energy and CO2, and said the steam is injected into the formation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of recovering a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation comprising: (i) injecting an oxygen-rich gas into said formation; (ii) combusting said oxygen-rich gas in said formation thereby heating and reducing the viscosity of said hydrocarbon mixture and generating CO2-rich gas; (iii) recovering said heated hydrocarbon; and (iv) capturing at least a portion of CO2 from said CO2-rich gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a pipelineable hydrocarbon mixture from a crude heavy hydrocarbon mixture comprising: —visbreaking said crude heavy hydrocarbon mixture at a temperature of 350 to 440° C. and a pressure of 20 to 150 bar for 0.5 to 15 minutes to produce a visbroken hydrocarbon mixture; and —mixing said visbroken hydrocarbon mixture with a diluent to produce said pipelineable hydrocarbon mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for recovering and processing a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation. The method comprises: (i) mobilising said hydrocarbon mixture; (ii) recovering said mobilised hydrocarbon mixture; (iii) deasphalting said recovered hydrocarbon mixture to produce deasphalted hydrocarbon and asphaltenes; (iv) gasifying said asphaltenes in a gasifier to generate hydrogen, steam and/or energy and CO2; (v) upgrading said deasphalted hydrocarbon by hydrogen addition to produce upgraded hydrocarbon; and (vi) adding a diluent to said upgraded hydrocarbon, wherein said method is at least partially self-sufficient in terms of hydrogen and diluent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steam-based method and system for recovering and processing a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for recovering and processing a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation. The method comprises: (i) mobilising said hydrocarbon mixture; (ii) recovering said mobilised hydrocarbon mixture; (iii) coking said recovered hydrocarbon mixture to produce decoked hydrocarbon and coke; (iv) combusting said coke to generate steam and/or energy and CO2; (v) upgrading said decoked hydrocarbon by hydrogen addition to produce upgraded hydrocarbon; and (v) adding a diluent to the decoked hydrocarbon prior to upgrading and/or adding a diluent to the upgraded hydrocarbon; wherein said method is at least partially self-sufficient in terms of steam and/or energy and diluent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon mixture, said process comprising: i) dividing said heavy hydrocarbon mixture into at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion comprises 10-45% wt of the heavy hydrocarbon mixture and said second portion comprises 90-55% wt of the heavy hydrocarbon mixture; ii) thermally upgrading said first portion of heavy hydrocarbon mixture in an upgrader to produce a lighter hydrocarbon mixture; and iii) mixing said lighter hydrocarbon mixture with a heavy hydrocarbon mixture to produce an upgraded hydrocarbon mixture, wherein, on entry to said upgrader, the composition of said first portion of heavy hydrocarbon mixture is identical to that of said second portion of heavy hydrocarbon mixture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of recovering a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation comprising: (i) injecting an oxygen-rich gas into said formation; (ii) combusting said oxygen-rich gas in said formation thereby heating and reducing the viscosity of said hydrocarbon mixture and generating CO2-rich gas; (iii) recovering said heated hydrocarbon; and (iv) capturing at least a portion of CO2 from said CO2-rich gas.