Abstract: A process for solubilizing asphaltic precipitates when extracting water from a hydrocarbon stream with a glycol-water stream by adding a solvent comprised of a bulk aromatic hydrocarbon and an oil-soluble alcohol dispersant to the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A process for reducing the molecular weight of hydrocarbons using NaAlCl.sub.4 is provided wherein the hydrogen to carbon ratio of the liquid product slate is approximately the same as the feed material. The process comprises contacting the feed material with a molten salt of NaAlCl.sub.4 having substantially no excess aluminum chloride or sodium chloride, preferably at a temperature of at least 660.degree. F., and at a pressure above atmospheric, preferably from about 50 psia to about 2000 psia, depending upon the product slate desired. According to the present invention, heavy hydrocarbons are converted to a liquid product slate wherein the product slate has an average molecular weight substantially lower than the average molecular weight of the hydrocarbon feedstock.

Abstract: Petroleum sulfonates are obtained by continuously contacting whole crude oil or topped crude oil with gaseous sulfur trioxide (contains as a diluent sulfur dioxide and light hydrocarbon vapor) in a reaction zone operated at a temperature of 120.degree.-250.degree. F. and a pressure of 3-50 psia. The reaction product is then passed to a vapor-liquid separating stage where a vapor stream is separated and a portion of it is recycled back to the reaction zone; a liquid stream is separated from the separating stage and a portion of it is recycled back to the reaction zone. The remaining portion of the liquid stream is neutralized with a monovalent inorganic base to obtain the petroleum sulfonate. The petroleum sulfonates are particularly useful to recover crude oil from subterranean reservoirs.

Abstract: A hydrogen sulfide gas is converted to sulfur and hydrogen gas by reacting the hydrogen sulfide and with an anthraquinone dissolved in a polar hydrocarbon solvent. The hydrogen sulfide reacts with the anthraquinone to produce sulfur and an anthrahydroquinone. Sulfur is then removed from the solvent. The anthraquinone is regenerated from the anthrahydroquinone yielding hydrogen gas. The anthraquinone is recycled with the solvent to the reaction.

Abstract: A sour liquid hydrocarbon feedstock is desulfurized upon contact with a hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a low sulfur product and a hydrogen sulfide gas by-product. The hydrogen sulfide gas is treated with an anthraquinone which is dissolved in a solvent having a polarity which is greater than 3 Debye units, to produce sulfur and oxygen. The oxygen is used to oxidize a hydrocarbon fuel and produce the hydrogen gas used in the initial desulfurization step.

Abstract: Petroleum sulfonates are obtained by continuously contacting whole crude oil or topped crude oil with gaseous sulfur trioxide (contains as a diluent sulfur dioxide and light hydrocarbon vapor) in a reaction zone operated at a temperature of 120.degree.-250.degree. F. and a pressure of 3-50 psia. The reaction product is then passed to a vapor-liquid separating stage where a vapor stream is separated and a portion of it is recycled back to the reaction zone; a liquid stream is separated from the separating stage and a portion of it is recycled back to the reaction zone. The remaining portion of the liquid stream is neutralized with a monovalent inorganic base to obtain the petroleum sulfonate. The petroleum sulfonates are particularly useful to recover crude oil from subterranean reservoirs.

Abstract: A process for producing lower molecular weight products from higher molecular weight hydrocarbon liquid feedstock components is provided wherein the feedstock is contacted with an optimum catalyst comprising a molten salt of a tetrachloroaluminate. Selection of the optimum catalyst is based on the electronegativity of the tetrachloroaluminate catalyst cation.

Abstract: A process for producing lower molecular weight products from a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock is provided wherein the feedstock is contacted with a molten catalyst system comprising a tetrachloroaluminate catalyst and about 1 to about 25 mole percent water. The reaction is carried out at a pressure of from about atmospheric to about 14,200 kPa and a temperature of from about 350.degree. C. to about 550.degree. C. resulting in increased yields of the lower molecular weight liquid products and lower levels of catalyst residue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing iso-paraffins from aromatic hydrocarbons comprising contacting the aromatic hydrocarbon or aromatic hydrocarbon-containing feed with a molten salt system comprising sodium tetrachloroaluminate (NaAlCl.sub.4) and up to about 25 weight percent hydrogen tetrachloroaluminate (HAlCl.sub.4) at a temperature above about 155.degree. C., i.e. that required to maintain the molten state of said mixture, whereby the ring structure is opened and the aromatic compound is rearranged to an iso-paraffin of the same or substantially the same molecular weight.

Abstract: A process for producing lower average molecular weight products from heavy liquid hydrocarbons is provided comprising contacting the feed material in the presence of a co-catalyst system comprising a molten salt of sodium tetrachloroaluminate (NaAlCl.sub.4) and hydrogen tetrachloroaluminate (HAlCl.sub.4) at a pressure of from about 0.8 to about 140 atm (81 to about 14185 kPa) and a temperature of from about 200.degree. C. to about 550.degree. C.According to the present invention use of the HAlCl.sub.4 as a co-catalyst with NaAlCl.sub.4 results in increased yields of lower average molecular weight products and improved levels of denitrogenation and desulfurization. The elements of the co-catalyst system may be prepared separately and mixed.

Abstract: A process for reducing the molecular weight of hydrocarbons using NaAlCl.sub.4 is provided wherein the hydrogen to carbon ratio of the product slate is approximately the same as the feed material, comprising contacting the feed material with a molten salt of NaAlCl.sub.4 having a ratio of aluminum chloride to sodium chloride of at least 1:1, preferably at a temperature of at least 660.degree. F., and at a pressure above atmospheric, preferably from about 50 psia to about 2000 psia, depending upon the product slate desired. According to the present invention, heavy hydrocarbons are converted to a liquid product slate wherein substantially all of the liquid components exhibit a molecular weight lower than the molecular weight range exhibited by the hydrocarbon feedstock.

Abstract: Flooding hydrocarbon-bearing, subterranean formations with micellar systems containing crude oil sulfonates is improved by extracting wax from the micellar system before it is injected into the formation.

Abstract: Petroleum sulfonates are obtained by treating whole crude oil or topped crude oil or mixtures thereof with sulfur trioxide, removing unreacted hydrocarbon, e.g., by addition of water, and neutralizing the sulfonic acids formed with a base, e.g., sodium or ammonia. The products have particular utility for the preparation of micellar systems for use in secondary-type petroleum recovery.

Abstract: Petroleum sulfonates are obtained by treating whole crude oil or topped crude oil or mixtures thereof with sulfur trioxide, removing unreacted hydrocarbon, e.g., by addition of water, and neutralizing the sulfonic acids formed with a base, e.g., sodium hydroxide or ammonia. The products have particular utility for the preparation of micellar systems for use in secondary-type petroleum recovery.

Abstract: Flooding of a subterranean formation with micellar dispersions containing petroleum sulfonates obtained by sulfonating whole or topped crude oil is improved through the use of a micellar dispersion of a predetermined viscosity containing an amount of cosurfactant in excess of that required to cause the micellar dispersion to have the highest viscosity possible for the particular micellar dispersion with the particular cosurfactant used. Preferably, the cosurfactant is an alcohol and the cosurfactant concentration is sufficiently high to control the micellar dispersion to have a predetermined mobility when injected into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

Abstract: Improved oil recovery is realized by flooding oil-bearing subterranean formations with an aqueous mixture, preferably a micellar dispersion, comprised of at least two different petroleum sulfonates, the sulfonates have an average equivalent weight within the range of about 390-450, and have an aliphatic to aromatic proton (A/AP) ratio within the range of 4-20 moles per mole but the two sulfonates have a difference in their respective A/AP ratio of at least 2.5 moles per mole.

Abstract: Improved oil recovery by flooding subterranean formations with micellar dispersions; comprised of hydrocarbon, water, cosurfactant, electrolyte, and petroleum sulfonate obtained by sulfonating whole or topped crude oil; is obtained by incorporating within the micellar dispersion about 1.5 to about 4.5 wt. % of active sulfonate groups (e.g. --SO.sub.3 NH.sub.4 or --SO.sub.3 Na) which are attached to the petroleum sulfonate. The micellar dispersions of this invention contain an amount of cosurfactant in excess of the amount required to produce a viscosity maximum with the particular micellar dispersion.

Abstract: Petroleum sulfonates useful to impart micellar characteristics to mixtures of hydrocarbon and aqueous medium are obtained by reacting a hydrocarbon gas oil feedstock (average molecular weight 250-700; A/AP aliphatic to aromatic proton) ratio 5-50 moles/mole, 30-100% of the feedstock molecules contain aromatic portions and the A/AP ratio of the aromatic portion being about 3-20 moles/mole) with a solution of EDC (ethylene dichloride) containing 0.1-0.3 lb. liquid SO.sub.3 /lb EDC. The SO.sub.3 concentration is about 0.1-0.3 lb. of SO.sub.3 /lb of gas oil feedstock. Reaction takes place in a back-mix tubular reactor wherein at least about 4 parts of reaction products are recycled per 1 part of reaction products withdrawn and wherein the gas oil feedstock plus recycled reaction products and the SO.sub.3 /EDC streams entering the reaction zone are in turbulent flow. Velocity ratio of the feedstock plus recycled reaction products stream to the SO.sub.3 /EDC stream is at least 4:1, respectively.

Abstract: The injectivity of micellar dispersions containing wax within the hydrocarbon phase is improved by incorporating into this phase about 0.01-10 percent by weight of a low molecular weight paraffinic hydrocarbon. This invention is especially useful with micellar dispersions obtained from petroleum sulfonates that have been cooled, e.g. to about 40.degree.F., and thereafter heated during injection into a subterranean reservoir for secondary or tertiary oil recovery purposes.