Abstract: Apparatus for producing pellets from hot heavy hydrocarbon or asphaltene, in accordance with the present invention, includes flow means that supplies the hot heavy hydrocarbon or asphaltene through a conduit to its outlet; and pellet producing medium or means that breaks up the liquid stream of the hot asphaltene flowing out of the outlet of the conduit and produces pellets of asphaltene. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a reservoir or container that collects the pellets of heavy hydrocarbon or asphaltene together with some fluid producing a slurry; and transporting means that transports the slurry to the required location. Preferably, the fluid is liquid water. In addition, the pellet producing medium preferably is liquid water.

Abstract: Upgrading of a hydrocarbon feed containing sulfur, metals, and asphaltenes involves applying the feed to a distillation column for producing a substantially asphaltene-free, and metal-free fraction and a non-distilled fraction containing sulfur, asphaltenes, and metals. At least some of the substantially asphaltene-free, and metal-free distillate fraction is converted to a hydrogen donor diluent. The non-distilled fraction is processed in a solvent deasphalting unit for producing a deasphalted oil stream and an asphaltene stream. After a combined stream is formed from the hydrogen donor diluent and the deasphalted oil stream, the combined stream is thermally cracked forming a thermally cracked stream that is applied to the distillation column.

Abstract: Upgrading of a hydrocarbon feed containing sulfur, metals, and asphaltenes involves applying the feed to a distillation column for producing a substantially asphaltene-free, and metal-free distillate fraction and a non-distilled fraction containing sulfur, asphaltenes, and metals. At least some of the substantially asphaltene-free, and metal-free distillate fraction is converted to a hydrogen donor diluent. The non-distilled fraction is processed in a solvent deasphalting unit for producing a deasphalted oil stream and an asphaltene stream. After a combined stream is formed from the hydrogen donor diluent and the deasphalted oil stream, the combined stream is thermally cracked forming a thermally cracked stream that is applied to the distillation column.

Abstract: An evaporative solvent recovery section operates on a plurality of liquid product streams including a liquid stream of deasphalted oil and solvent, and a liquid stream of asphaltene and solvent produced by a solvent deasphalting unit. Heat is added to one of the streams for producing a heated liquid product stream that is flashed to produce a stream of vaporized solvent, and a stream of reduced solvent liquid product. The stream of reduced solvent liquid product is further processed, without the addition of a significant amount of heat, to vaporize substantially all of the remaining solvent therein, and heat contained in the stream of vaporized solvent is recovered by expanding the stream in a vapor turbine.

Abstract: A feed stream of asphaltene-containing residual oil is processed by contacting the feed stream with a solvent to form a first primary liquid stream containing deasphalted oil (DAO) and some solvent, and a second primary liquid stream containing asphaltene and some solvent. The first and second liquid streams are heated; and the heated streams are respectively processed to recover the solvent and to produce a DAO product stream substantially free of solvent, and an asphaltene product stream substantially free of solvent. A portion of the DAO product stream is heated to produce a stream of heated DAO, a portion of which indirectly heats the two primary liquid streams.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating solvent in a feed of solvent and deasphalted oil produced in a deasphalting process includes a feed line for receiving the feed and constructed and arranged to produce a stream of fluid containing supercritical solvent and deasphalted oil. A substantially horizontally disposed inlet line receives the stream of fluid and is designed to effect two phase laminar flow at the outlet of the inlet line. The two phase laminar flow has a substantially horizontally disposed interface that divides the stream into an upper part containing the lighter supercritical solvent which floats on a lower part containing the heavier deasphalted oil.

Abstract: Power is generated in an organic Rankine cycle turbine by expanding a stream of solvent vapor produced by a flash drum in a deasphalting unit to produce a stream of expanded solvent vapor that is combined with a stream of solvent vapor and steam from a stripper of the deasphalting unit. Heat is extracted from the combined stream by an organic fluid that is vaporized and supplied to a Rankine cycle organic vapor turbine that produces power and expanded organic vapor. The solvent is recovered from the cooled, combined stream and re-used in the deasphalting unit. Heat extracted from products of the deasphalting unit vaporizes an organic fluid that is expanded in an organic vapor turbine that generates power.