Abstract: This invention relates to the recovery of hydrocarbons i.e. to a process and system for the production of synthetic crude oil from unconventional oil sources such as oil sands, oil shale, and similar materials. The process comprises pyrolysing the feedstock in a pyrolysis liquid comprising molten metal(s) or molten salt (s).

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process comprises pyrolysing at a temperature ?700° C. a feedstock comprising hydrocarbon to produce a pyrolysis effluent comprising at least one C2 to C4 olefin and C5+ aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The pyrolysis effluent is contacted with an oleaginous quench stream to reduce the temperature of the pyrolysis effluent to ?400° C. At least first and second streams are separated from the cooled effluent. The first stream comprises at least one C2 to C4 olefin, and the second stream comprises a quench oil having an average boiling point at atmospheric pressure of at least 120° C. At least a portion of the second stream is catalytically hydroprocessed to produce a hydroprocessed stream, which is combined with at least a portion of any remainder of the second stream to form the quench stream.

Abstract: Coke including additives that are accumulated at the yield points or in the regions surrounded by the yield points. For homogeneous distribution, the additives are continuously dosed into the delayed coker during the filling time. The dosing can be carried out by powdery blowing with an inert gas (nitrogen) or also distributed in a slurry consisting of the reaction components and a partial flow of the coker feed (vacuum resid, pytar, decant oil or coal-tar distillates). According to an advantageous form of embodiment, the additives may optionally have a diameter of between 0.05 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 3 mm. Advantageously, the additives can be selected from at least one of acetylene coke, fluid coke, flexi coke, shot coke, carbon black, non-graphitisable carbons (chars), non-graphitic anthracite, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, titanium diboride or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Chemical reactor (10) and method for cracking are disclosed. A process fluid is accelerated with axial impulse impellers (40A, 40B) to a velocity greater than Mach 1 and, in turn, generating a shock wave (90) in the process fluid by decelerating it in a static diffuser (70) having diverging diffuser passages (72). Temperature increase of the process fluid downstream of the shockwave cracks or splits molecules, such as hydrocarbons entrained in the process fluid, in a single pass, through a unidirectional flow path (F), within a single stage, without recirculating the process fluid for another pass through the same stage. In some embodiments, a system involving at least two turbomachine chemical reactors (110) may provide multiple successive stages of one or more axial impulse impellers (40A, 40B), paired with a diverging passage, static diffuser (70).

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method of preparing synthetic fuel using natural gas extracted from a stranded gas field on land or at sea as a raw material through a compact GTL process or a GTL-FPSO process. A parallel-type gas purification unit for controlling a molar ratio of synthetic gas and a concentration of carbon dioxide in the synthetic gas, in which a CO2 separation device and a bypass unit are disposed in parallel, is provided and, thus, the gas purification unit may prepare the synthetic gas by a steam carbon dioxide reforming (SCR) reaction using natural gas having different CO2 contents of various stranded gas fields and then supply the synthetic gas having an optimum composition suitable for a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.

Abstract: An integrated upgrading process for upgrading a heavy oil, the process comprising the steps of introducing a heavy oil to a visbreaker unit; processing the heavy oil in the visbreaker unit to produce a visbreaker product stream; feeding the visbreaker product stream to a fractionator; separating the visbreaker product stream in the fractionator to produce a bottoms stream, a gas oil stream, a naphtha stream, and a gas product stream; feeding the bottoms stream to a supercritical water unit; and processing the bottoms stream in the supercritical water unit to produce an upgraded bottoms stream.

Abstract: A system and method that automatically monitors product use, such as the type and amount of agricultural and/or horticultural product stored in and dispensed from a cartridge over time and/or by geographic location. Monitored data are stored in memory such as a tag on the cartridge and may be transmitted to a server for storage, aggregation, and analysis. The cartridge may be authenticated before being authorized for use for the benefit of a current user in dispensing the product. The cartridge may be refilled after confirmation of authorization codes on the cartridge and refilling equipment tags. The cartridge may be calibrated automatically based on the bulk density or other parameter of the product in the cartridge. Data may be aggregated from a plurality of cartridges automatically. As-applied data from individual cartridges may be used to verify, independent of operator input, treated area coverage and product application rate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and system for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons. A heavy hydrocarbon feed and a non-saline water feed are introduced to a first stage reactor. The first stage reactor is operated under supercritical water conditions to produce an effluent stream. The effluent stream and a saline water feed are combined to produce a mixed stream, where the saline water feed includes an alkali or alkaline earth metal compound. The mixed stream is introduced to a second stage reactor. The second stage reactor is operated under supercritical water conditions to produce a product stream including upgrading hydrocarbons. The second stage reactor is operated at a temperature less than that of the first stage reactor.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure relate to a method of operating a coker unit comprising the steps of: collecting a coker-furnace feed stream; introducing the coker-furnace feed-stream into a coker furnace for producing a coker-drum feed stream; and introducing a hydrogen-donor gas into either or both of the coker-furnace feed stream or the coker-drum feed stream.

Abstract: A feedstock is processed in a coking zone unit to produce at least light gases, coker naphtha, light coker gas oil and petroleum coke. Light coker gas oil, and in certain embodiments hydrotreated light coker gas oil, is subjected to deep hydrogenation to produce a deeply hydrogenated middle distillate fraction. All or a portion of the deeply hydrogenated middle distillate fraction is used as feed to the stream cracking zone to produce light olefins.

Abstract: A feedstock is processed in a coking zone unit to produce at least light gases, coker naphtha, light coker gas oil and petroleum coke. Light coker gas oil, and in certain embodiments hydrotreated light coker gas oil, is subjected to deep hydrogenation to produce a deeply hydrogenated middle distillate fraction. All or a portion of the deeply hydrogenated middle distillate fraction is used as feed to a petrochemicals production complex to produce light olefins.

Abstract: Processes for co-processing a naphtha stream with a light cycle oil stream are disclosed. The processes include hydrocracking the light cycle oil stream under hydrocracking conditions to provide a hydrocracked effluent stream. A naphtha stream is hydrotreated under hydrotreating conditions to provide a hydrotreated effluent stream. The hydrocracked effluent stream and the hydrotreated effluent stream may be passed to a stripping column to recover a stripping bottom stream. The stripping bottom stream may be passed to a main fractionation column to recover an intermediate naphtha stream.

Abstract: Chemical reactors (10) and methods crack hydrocarbons in process fluids by accelerating the process fluid to a velocity greater than Mach 1 with an axial impulse impeller (40) and generating a shock wave (90) in the process fluid by decelerating it in a static diffuser (70) having diverging diffuser passages (72). Temperature increase of the process fluid downstream of the shockwave cracks the entrained hydrocarbons in a single pass, through a unidirectional flow path (F), within a single stage, without recirculating the process fluid for another pass through the same stage. In some embodiments, the turbomachine chemical reactor (110) has multiple successive stages of one or more axial impulse impellers (40A, 40B), paired with a diverging passage, static diffuser (70). Successive stages crack additional hydrocarbons by successively raising temperature of the flowing process fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of producing calcined coke from bio-oil from a biomass feedstock. Also disclosed are calcined cokes produced by such methods having desirable structural characteristics.

Abstract: Partial upgrading processes can include thermal treatment combined with solvent deasphalting, and recycling of certain streams, to process bitumen feedstocks and produce a bitumen product. The thermal treatment can be done so that the feedstock is in liquid phase at conditions below incipient coking conditions. Solvent deasphalting can be done before or after thermal treatment depending on the configuration of the process. Subjecting the bitumen feedstock to a partial upgrading can facilitate viscosity reduction of the bitumen feedstock and can facilitate avoiding the need for the addition of an external source of hydrogen.

Abstract: In-situ upgrading of heavy hydrocarbons includes injecting into a reservoir solvent, an asphaltene precipitant additive and optionally steam, at a ratio of solvent to heavy hydrocarbon between 0.1:1 and 20:1 under reservoir conditions. The additive has C—H, C—C and/or C—O bonds that thermally crack to generate free radicals in the vapor phase after injection. Formed downhole are a blend containing an upgraded hydrocarbon, and precipitated asphaltenes. The upgraded hydrocarbon is produced such that the precipitated asphaltenes remain in the reservoir. The upgraded hydrocarbon has a greater API gravity, lower asphaltene content, and lower viscosity than the heavy hydrocarbon. The precipitated asphaltenes are present in a higher amount than a similar blend not containing the additive.

Abstract: An integrated upgrading process for upgrading a heavy oil, the process comprising the steps of introducing a heavy oil to a visbreaker unit; processing the heavy oil in the visbreaker unit to produce a visbreaker product stream; feeding the visbreaker product stream to a fractionator; separating the visbreaker product stream in the fractionator to produce a bottoms stream, a gas oil stream, a naphtha stream, and a gas product stream; feeding the bottoms stream to a supercritical water unit; and processing the bottoms stream in the supercritical water unit to produce an upgraded bottoms stream.

Abstract: A system to selectively remove metal compounds and sulfur from a petroleum feedstock includes a mixing zone configured to mix a pre-heated water stream and a pre-heated petroleum feedstock to form a mixed stream, a first supercritical water reactor configured to allow conversion reactions to occur to produce an upgraded stream, a carbon dispersal zone configured to mix carbon with a make-up water stream to produce a carbon dispersed water stream, such that the carbon is dispersed in the carbon dispersed water stream, a make-up mixing zone configured to combine the upgraded stream and the carbon dispersed water stream to produce a diluted carbon dispersed stream, the carbon is operable to trap metals present in the upgraded stream, and a second supercritical water reactor configured to allow conversion reactions to occur to produce a carbon dispersed effluent stream.

Abstract: A process for cracking a hydrocarbon stream by: combusting fuel in a gas turbine in the presence of compressed air to produce a flue gas, wherein the flue gas drives a turbine to produce electricity in a coupled generator or work to power a coupled rotating equipment; (a) feeding a first portion of the flue gas to a heat exchanger; (b) feeding ambient air to the heat exchanger to be heated by the first portion of the flue gas to provide heated air; (c) feeding a furnace with fuel and a mixture of a second portion of the flue gas and the heated air obtained by step (c) and (d) cracking the hydrocarbon stream in the furnace.

Abstract: Embodiments for an integrated hydrotreating and steam pyrolysis process for the processing of crude oil comprising recycling the higher boiling point fraction of the upgraded crude oil to increase the yield of petrochemicals such as olefins and aromatics.

Abstract: Spent zeolite equilibrium catalyst from the fluidized catalytic cracker has a useful function as an adsorbent for jet fuel. Redirecting such spent catalyst saves costs for refinery operations in two ways. The first is by avoiding the costs for disposing of such catalyst as hazardous waste. The second is to reduce the cost of procuring sorbent for the jet fuel decontamination process. Since zeolite is primarily silica and conventional sorbents are also silica, zeolite catalysts are chemically similar. And the equilibrium catalyst may be regenerated in the FCC after its becomes saturated with jet fuel contaminants and re-used.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing atmospheric emission of hydrocarbon vapors by flashing off hydrocarbon vapors in an overflow drum where the pressure is ultimately reduced to 0 psig and then flashing off any remaining hydrocarbon vapors in an overflow tank wherein the pressure in the overflow tank is reduced to 0 psig by an overflow ejector.

Abstract: A supercritical water separation process and system is disclosed for the removal of metals, minerals, particulate, asphaltenes, and resins from a contaminated organic material. The present invention takes advantage of the physical and chemical properties of supercritical water to effect the desired separation of contaminants from organic materials and permit scale-up. At a temperature and pressure above the critical point of water (374° C., 22.1 MPa), nonpolar organic compounds become miscible in supercritical water (SCW) and polar compounds and asphaltenes become immiscible. The process and system disclosed continuously separates immiscible contaminants and solids from the supercritical water and clean oil product solution. The present invention creates a density gradient that enables over 95% recovery of clean oil and over 99% reduction of contaminants such as asphaltenes and particulate matter depending on the properties of the contaminated organic material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic cracking catalyst for RFCC process with maximized diesel yield which includes a clay matrix and an inorganic oxide, wherein pores with a diameter greater than 20 ? are controlled, to be greater than 80% by volume of the total pore count of the catalyst, and a method for the preparation thereof.

Abstract: A system is provided that is directed to a steam pyrolysis zone integrated with a hydroprocessing zone including residual bypass to permit direct processing of crude oil feedstocks to produce petrochemicals including olefins and aromatics.

Abstract: A quick release device for at least partially muscle-powered two-wheeled vehicles, having an axle unit and a clamping mechanism. The axle unit includes an axle extending in the axial direction, a locking device at the first end of the axle unit and a fastener at a second end of the axle unit. The clamping mechanism is suitable for mounting and demounting the axle unit to a two-wheeled vehicle. The clamping mechanism has an operating lever and a clamping component, the latter is non-rotatably coupled with the axle unit and is decoupled from the axle unit. The clamping mechanism has an intermediate device with an actuating unit, which ensures in a first position a non-rotatable connection of the clamping component and the operating lever, and in a second position, allows the operating lever to pivot relative to the clamping component while the clamping component is non-rotatably coupled with the axle unit.

Abstract: A system is provided integrating a steam pyrolysis zone integrated with a solvent deasphalting zone and a hydrotreating zone to permit direct processing of crude oil feedstocks to produce petrochemicals including olefins and aromatics.

Abstract: A system is provided integrating a steam pyrolysis zone with a hydrotreating zone and a solvent deasphalting zone to permit direct processing of crude oil feedstocks to produce petrochemicals including olefins and aromatics.

Abstract: A system is provided integrating a steam pyrolysis zone integrated with a solvent deasphalting zone to permit direct processing of crude oil feedstocks to produce petrochemicals including olefins and aromatics.

Abstract: A process and catalyst is disclosed for converting a heavy hydrocarbon feed stream into lighter hydrocarbon products using a two component catalyst. The catalyst comprises iron and molybdenum containing catalyst. Alumina may be a third catalyst component. The molybdenum is present in the heavy hydrocarbon feed stream at about 500 wppm or less and the weight ratio of iron to the molybdenum is less than 5. Much lower concentrations of expensive molybdenum can be used due to the addition of iron in the catalyst.

Abstract: A method to selectively remove metal compounds and sulfur from a petroleum feedstock is provided. The method comprising the steps of feeding a pre-heated water stream and a pre-heated petroleum feedstock to a mixing zone, mixing the pre-heated water stream and the pre-heated petroleum feedstock to form a mixed stream, introducing the mixed stream to a first supercritical water reactor to produce an upgraded stream, combining the upgraded stream and a make-up water stream in a make-up mixing zone to produce a diluted stream, wherein the make-up water stream increases the ratio of water to oil in the diluted stream as compared to the upgraded stream, and introducing the diluted stream to a second supercritical water reactor to produce a product effluent stream. The method can include mixing a carbon with the make-up water stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods for partially upgrading a produced heavy hydrocarbon resource at the production site (at the pad or a central processing facility) using indirect hydrogen addition, comprising a blender for blending the hydrocarbon with a hydrogen donator and a reactor for elevating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to hydrogenate the hydrocarbon to an API level required for pipeline specifications. The partially upgraded hydrocarbon can then be transported by pipeline to a refinery for further processing. The presence of catalysts and on-site hydrogen production equipment conventionally required for upgrading is eliminated. Further, the need for diluent which is conventionally used to enable pipeline ability of produced heavy hydrocarbon is reduced or eliminated, thus reducing the diluent freight cost and the required pipeline volume.

Abstract: Embodiments of a process for producing paraffins from a petroleum-based composition comprising long chain aromatics comprise mixing a supercritical water stream with a pressurized, heated petroleum-based composition to create a combined feed stream, introducing the combined feed stream to a first reactor through an inlet port of the first reactor, where the first reactor operates at supercritical pressure and temperature, cracking at least a portion of the long chain aromatics in the first reactor to form a first reactor product, and then introducing the first reactor product to a second reactor through an upper inlet port of the second reactor operating at supercritical pressure and temperature, where the second reactor is a downflow reactor comprising an upper inlet port, a lower outlet port, and a middle outlet port are provided. The middle outlet product passing out of the middle outlet port comprises paraffins and short chain aromatics.

Abstract: Hydroprocessing can be performed at low pressure using acoustic energy. For example, hydroprocessing a feedstock having one or more hydrocarbon compounds carried in, or mixed with, a transport gas involves flowing the feedstock through a reaction zone in a reactor that has a bulk pressure less than 68 atm and applying acoustic energy through the reaction zone. The hydrocarbon compounds are chemically reacted with a hydrogen source in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the reacting occurs in the reaction zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to decreasing the amount of diluent needed to convert a heavy oil to a bitumen product that can be transported by pipeline. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for partially upgrading heavy oil into a lower viscosity bitumen product.

Abstract: A method of upgrading a heavy crude oil (10) by thermally cracking (12) the heavy crude oil in a cracking vessel to convert a portion to volatile components (14) while simultaneously venting the volatile components from the cracking vessel. Tetrathydrofurfuryl alcohol is optionally added to the heavy crude oil feedstock before or during cracking. The vented volatile components are separated (16) into condensable volatile components (18) and non-condensable volatile components (20). The condensable components are collected and comprise cracked-distilled oil. The cracking residue (48) is removed from the cracking vessel and a cracking residue extract is prepared and mixed with the cracked-distilled oil to produce synthetic crude oil.

Abstract: A process for producing pipeline-ready or refinery-ready feedstock from heavy hydrocarbons using a high-performance solvent extraction process with high local solvent-to-process fluid ratios yet maintaining low overall solvent-to-process fluid ratios, by first performing mild thermal cracking on the heavy hydrocarbons and then separating asphaltene-rich fractions from a resulting thermally affected fluid so that the high solvent-to-oil ratio portion of the process acts only on those asphaltene-rich fractions, and producing a dry, solid asphaltene as an end-product.

Abstract: The invention provides improved apparatus and method for producing a pipeline-ready or refinery-ready feedstock from heavy, high asphaltene crude, comprising a pre-heater for pre-heating a process fluid to a design temperature at or near the operating temperature of a reactor; moving the process fluid into the reactor for conversion of the process fluid by controlled application of heat to the process fluid in the reactor so that the process fluid maintains a substantially homogenous temperature to produce a stream of thermally affected asphaltene-rich fractions, and a stream of vapor. The stream of vapor is separated into two further streams: of non-condensable vapor, and of light liquid hydrocarbons. The thermally affected asphaltene-rich fraction is deasphalted using a solvent extraction process into streams of heavy deasphalted oil liquid, and concentrated asphaltene, respectively.

Abstract: A process for treating heavy oil to provide a treated heavy oil having a reduced density and viscosity, as well as an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %. The process comprises separating the initial heavy oil into a first fraction, which in general contains lower-boiling components, and a second fraction. The second fraction comprises a heavy oil having a p-value of at least 5% greater than the p-value of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction, and the second fraction has an aromaticity that is no more than 5% less than the aromaticity of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction. The second fraction then is upgraded to reduce the density and viscosity of the heavy oil. After the second fraction is upgraded, it is recombined with at least a portion of the first fraction to provide a treated heavy oil having an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %.

Abstract: Process for the fluidized-bed catalytic cracking of a weakly coking feedstock having a Conradson carbon residue equal to or less than 0.1% by weight and a hydrogen content equal to or greater than 12.7% by weight, comprising at least a step of cracking the feedstock, a step of separating/stripping the effluents from the coked catalyst particles and a step of regenerating said particles, the process being characterized in that at least one coking, carbonaceous and/or hydrocarbonaceous effluent having a content of aromatic compounds of greater than 50% by weight, comprising more than 20% by weight of polyaromatic compounds, is recycled to homogeneously distributed and weakly coked catalyst, before regeneration, in order to adjust the delta coke of the process.

Abstract: An integrated process for production of ultra low sulfur products of high octane gasoline, high aromatic naphtha and high Cetane Diesel from high aromatic middle distillate range streams from any cracker units such as Light Cycle Oil (LCO) stream of Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units and subjected to hydrotreating for removal of heteroatoms like sulfur and nitrogen. The effluent from hydrotreating is subjected to hydrocracking at same pressure of hydrotreating step above for selective opening of saturated ring of multi-ring aromatics. The effluent from hydrocracking is separated in CUT-1, CUT 2 in which the monoaromatics and alkylated monoaromatics are concentrated and CUT-3 in which concentration of saturates significantly increased. The CUT-3 is selectively oxidized in selective oxidation step in presence of catalyst, an oxidizing agent and operating conditions such that it results in diesel product with more enhanced Cetane.

Abstract: An enhanced Fischer-Tropsch process for the synthesis of sulfur free, clean burning, green hydrocarbon fuels, examples of which include syndiesel and aviation fuel. Naphtha is destroyed in a hydrogen generator and recycled as feedstock to a syngas (FT) reactor in order to enhance the production of syndiesel from the reactor. A further variation integrates a second hydrogen generator capturing light hydrocarbon gas for conversion to hydrogen and carbon monoxide which supplements the Fischer-Tropsch reactor. The result is a considerable increase in the volume of syndiesel formulated. A system for effecting the process is also characterized in the specification.

Abstract: An improved hydrovisbreaking process for reducing the viscosity of a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock is provided. A substantially single-phase hydrogen-enriched liquid hydrocarbon feedstock is obtained by mixing the feedstock with hydrogen gas and flashing off the excess hydrogen gas. Comparatively smaller reactor vessels can be used without a gas recycle system, thus reducing the capital cost of hydrovisbreaking process. Further the need for cutter stocks can be minimized or eliminated.

Abstract: A method of improving the uniformity of the contacting of a heavy oil feed with FCC cracking catalyst in the feed zone of an FCC cracking riser in which the heavy oil feed is injected into the catalyst in the riser by means of feed injectors located around the riser, the method comprising minimizing the differences in the temperature profile in the oil/catalyst mixture across the feed zone by varying the oil feed rate to the injectors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the alteration of the ratio of the specific gravities of the oil and water phases resulting from the conversion of biomass to liquid products, the reduction of the conductivity and of metals of the product mixture, which each can aid in the removal of solids contained in the oil phase; and a liquid-liquid extraction method for partitioning desirable carbon containing compounds into the oil phase and undesirable carbon containing compounds into the water phase.

Abstract: Reactor assembly for the production of polymers including a fluidized bed reactor and method for operating the reactor assembly.

Abstract: A process for upgrading hydrocarbon oil including mixing hydrocarbon oil with hydrogen gas and heating the hydrogen-enriched hydrocarbon oil before passing the oil through a cavitation apparatus to induce hydrotreating. Hydrotreating is achieved by hydrodynamically generating hydrogen-filled cavitation bubbles and collapsing the bubbles in the hydrocarbon oil under static pressure. The hydrotreating process can increase the API gravity of the hydrocarbon oil and reduce the viscosity of the hydrocarbon oil.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for simultaneously extracting and upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon mixture, said process comprising: i) injecting supercritical or near-supercritical CO2 at a temperature of around the critical temperature and a pressure of from around the critical pressure into a heavy hydrocarbon deposit; and ii) removing a stream of CO2 from the deposit, which stream is charged with a hydrocarbon mixture having a lower average molecular weight than that of the heavy hydrocarbon deposit, wherein the removed CO2 is optionally recovered and either recycled for subsequent re-injection or injected for long-term sub-surface storage.

Abstract: Delayed coking drum quench overflow systems and methods, which relate to removing hydrocarbon particulates from an overflow stream in a delayed coking drum quench operation. In one embodiment, an improved overflow system incorporates one or more filters to remove hydrocarbon particulates from the system before passing through a conventional closed blowdown system.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock upgrading method is provided. The method includes supplying the hydrocarbon feedstock, water and a pre-heated hydrogen donating composition to a hydrothermal reactor where the mixed stream is maintained at a temperature and pressure greater than the critical temperatures and pressure of water in the absence of catalyst for a residence time sufficient to convert the mixed stream into a modified stream. The hydrogen donating composition is pre-heated and maintained at a temperature of greater than about 50° C. for a period of at least about 10 minutes. The modified stream includes upgraded hydrocarbons relative to the hydrocarbon feedstock. The modified stream is then separated into a gas stream and a liquid stream and the liquid stream is separated into a water stream and an upgraded hydrocarbon product stream.