Abstract: A process for converting light paraffins (especially C3-C5) to middle distillate and higher boiling range liquid hydrocarbons by (1) oxygen or air oxidation of iso-paraffins to alkyl hydroperoxides; (2) conversion of alkyl hydroperoxides to dialkyl peroxides; (3) radical coupling of paraffins using the dialkyl peroxides as radical initiators forming heavier hydrocarbon products; and (4) fractionation of the heavy hydrocarbon products. The net reaction is catalytically converting light paraffins to heavier hydrocarbons using oxygen or air to effect the conversion.

Abstract: A process for converting light paraffins (especially C3-C5) to middle distillate and higher boiling range liquid hydrocarbons by (1) oxygen or air oxidation of iso-paraffins to alkyl hydroperoxides; (2) conversion of alkyl hydroperoxides to dialkyl peroxides; (3) radical coupling of paraffins using the dialkyl peroxides as radical initiators forming heavier hydrocarbon products; and (4) fractionation of the heavy hydrocarbon products. The net reaction is catalytically converting light paraffins to heavier hydrocarbons using oxygen or air to effect the conversion.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to determine the TAN and TAN as a function of boiling point for a hydrocarbon feedstream using an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer (ESI-MS). The steps of the method include determining the signal as a function of mass from the ESI-MS while minimizing the formation of oligomers and fragmentation of the molecular species in the feedstream and then determining the TAN from the signals. The TAN is also determined as a function of boiling point.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to determine the composition of a hydrocarbon feedstream from a small sample of hydrocarbons including the steps analyzing the sample with a combination of chromatograph and mass spectrometer, and reconciling output from step a) with other analytical measurements to determine to determine the composition of the hydrocarbon feedstream.

Abstract: A method of predicting the composition of hydrocarbon products of a complex carbonaceous material when exposed to specific time and temperature conditions is disclosed. In one embodiment, the material is characterized to obtain elemental, chemical and structural parameters. A representative chemical structure of the material is constructed based on the characterization information. The representative chemical structure is then stochastically expanded to a molecular ensemble chemical structural model that includes heteroatoms. The chemical structural model is coupled to a compositional yield model and the composition of the material products is determined using kinetic modeling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the source of fouling in petroleum thermal conversion process units. More particularly, the invention distinguishes whether fouling occurs due to feed entrainment of small feed droplets or vapor phase condensation.

Abstract: A method of predicting the composition of hydrocarbon products of a complex carbonaceous material when exposed to specific time and temperature conditions is disclosed. In one embodiment, the material is characterized to obtain elemental, chemical and structural parameters. A representative chemical structure of the material is constructed based on the characterization information. The representative chemical structure is then stochastically expanded to a molecular ensemble chemical structural model that includes heteroatoms. The chemical structural model is coupled to a compositional yield model and the composition of the material products is determined using kinetic modeling.

Abstract: The present invention is a process to remove a major portion of metals and coke precursors from a hydrocarbon stream. The steps of the process include contacting the feedstream with a hydrocarbon insoluble adsorbent, recovering the oil which does not adsorb and removing the metals and coke precursors from the adsorbent.

Abstract: A process for heteroatom removal-enhancing hydrogenation of highly refractory aromatic ring structures that involves contacting a highly refractory structure having at least one aryl linkage connecting a first heteroaryl moiety and a moiety selected from the group consisting of an aryl moiety and a second heteroaryl moiety with supercritical water having a temperature of from about 400.degree. C. to about 600.degree. C. in the presence of from about 3.4 MPa to about 18.6 MPa of CO to produce lower molecular weight products having decreased aromatic and heteroatom content. The process has utility for producing more valuable lower molecular weight products having a reduced aromatic heteroatom content from starting materials that are highly refractory and widely considered to be difficult to upgrade such as coals and asphaltenes, and model compounds containing the biaryl linkages.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of decreasing the metals content of metal containing petroleum streams by forming a mixture of the petroleum fraction containing those metals and an essentially aqueous electrolysis medium, and passing an electric current through the mixture at a voltage, pH and time sufficient to remove the metals such as Ni, V and Fe from the stream (i.e. to produce a petroleum fraction having decreased content of the metals). The cathodic voltage is from 0 V to -3.0 V vs. SCE at a pH of from 6 to 14, preferably 7 to 14, most preferably above 7 to 14.The invention provides a method for enhancing the value of petroleum feeds that traditionally have limited use in refineries due to their Ni and V content.

Abstract: A coking process wherein a heavy hydrocarbonaceous chargestock is mixed with a minor amount of coal and preheated to a temperature from about 500.degree. F. up to, but not including, coking temperatures. The pretreated mixture is then reacted in a coking zone at coking conditions.

Abstract: A fluid coking-gasification process for converting heavy hydrocarbonaceous chargestocks to lower boiling products in which calcium silicate is used to mitigate bogging, slagging, or both. The calcium silicate can be added directly to the heavy hydrocarbonaceous chargestock to mitigate both bogging and slagging or it can be added directly into the gasifier to mitigate slagging.

Abstract: The present invention is predicated on the discovery that the addition of certain free radical initiators to thermal conversion processes results in increased thermal conversion rate at a given temperature without any substantial increase in the amounts of gaseous products formed. This permits operating the thermal conversion process at lower temperatures than otherwise practical. Indeed, the present invention is especially useful in thermal cracking processes like fluid coking. In this embodiment, a free radical initiator is added, without the addition of a hydrogen donor diluent, to a feedstock which is thermally cracked in a fluidized bed of particulate solids and at lower temperatures than otherwise employed, thereby increased amounts of liquid products are obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed are hydroconversion processes catalyzed by aromatic-metal chelate compositions which are deficient in hydrogen, are cross-linked, and which are comprised of two or more heteroatoms, wherein at least one of the heteroatoms are part of a 5 to 6 member heterocyclic ring, and wherein the metal constituent is selected from Groups III, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, and VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and the heteroatom is selected from sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Abstract: Disclosed are aromatic-metal chelate compositions which are deficient in hydrogen, are cross-linked, and which are comprised of two or more heteroatoms, wherein at least one of the heteroatoms are part of a 5 to 6 member heterocyclic ring, and wherein the metal constituent is selected from Groups III, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, and VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and the heteroatom is selected from sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enhancing the removal of nitrogen and sulfur from oil-shale which process comprises heating the oil-shale with a basic solution comprised of one or more hydroxides of the alkali metal and alkaline-earth metals.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for converting solid carbonaceous material, such as oil-shale, to a discriminate range of liquid and gaseous products, which process includes treating the carbonaceous material with an inert gas, at relatively short gas and long solids residence times in two or more temperature zones.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enhancing the removal of nitrogen, sulfur, or both from oil-shale. The oil-shale is treated with either (i) steam at a temperature from about 250.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. to remove nitrogen; or (ii) water at a temperature from about 200.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. to remove both nitrogen and sulfur.