Abstract: An extraction process and an apparatus for separating aromatic compounds contained in a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock where the feedstock feed into the lower part of an extraction column is brought into intimate countercurrent contact therein with a third liquid and at least partially with at least one structured packing element (31) of the static mixer type contained in the upper part of the extraction column. Such third liquid (feed to the top of said column) is in the form of a solvent which is immiscible with the feedstock except for being capable of extracting the aromatic compounds. At least part of the extract phase rich in solvent and aromatic compounds is separated by liquid--liquid separation (26), preferably by gravity type decantation, into a phase rich in solvent and essentially depleted of raffinate, which is removed, and a phase rich in raffinate and impoverished in solvent, which is recycled to the extraction step. The extraction process is typically to be used to formulate lubricant oils.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for visbreaking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in the liquid state, whereby the feedstock is brought to an appropriate temperature to cause cracking of at least part of the hydrocarbons present, and is then introduced into the bottom of a soaker (3) wherein it travels from bottom to top, and is then discharged from the top of said soaker (3) and directed to a fractionation unit, the improvement wherein a preferably inert gas is injected into the hydrocarbon feedstock inside the soaker (3), in the vicinity of the soaker side walls, at least at the bottom of the soaker (3) and the gas is injected upward along the side walls of the soaker (3) and flows from bottom to top along said walls co-currently with the hydrocarbon feedstock.

Abstract: A method for reducing the viscosity of a liquid heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprising the steps of bringing said feedstock to a temperature capable of cracking of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons present in said feedstock and introducing said feedstock into a bottom portion of a maturation device (i.e. a "soaker"), where the feedstock is displaced from the bottom upwards, to get evacuated from a top portion of the soaker towards a fractioning unit. The invention also relates to an apparatus comprising a soaker in which are located, transversely to the direction of displacement of the feedstock to be treated, a plurality of annular discs spaced apart from one another, each disc comprising a circular central passage substantially coaxial to the soaker, the treated feedstock circulating from the bottom portion upwards in the soaker through the central passages of the various annular discs.