Abstract

An integrated process that is operated to create both a higher value pipelineable crude and a higher value carbon fiber product from a lower value common heavy hydrocarbon feedstock where the feedstock is processed in a thermal reactor followed by a solvent deasphalting unit with the liquids being gathered and processed to reduce olefins for pipeline transport and the solids are processed to generate a marketable carbon fiber product with any gases generated throughout the entire process reused in the process or sold.

IPC Classes  ?

• D01F 9/12 - Carbon filamentsApparatus specially adapted for the manufacture thereof
• C10G 53/04 - Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by two or more refining processes plural serial stages only including at least one extraction step
• C01B 32/00 - CarbonCompounds thereof

Abstract

Non-condensable gas is used as an alternate to steam at hydrocarbon processing facilities removing any steam requirements thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving profitability through capital and operating cost reductions. The non-condensable gas serves at least two functions sequentially in heavy hydrocarbon processing; firstly, providing the non-condensable gas as a stripping medium to evolve lighter hydrocarbons from the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock followed by secondly directing the same non-condensable gas and any evolved non-condensable gas at operating conditions for use as at least one of heat through combustion or power through electricity generation.

IPC Classes  ?

• C10G 31/06 - Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by methods not otherwise provided for by heating, cooling, or pressure treatment
• C10G 29/02 - Non-metals

Abstract

A process to convert asphaltenes found in heavy hydrocarbon sources, remove the converted solid asphaltene portion from the hydrocarbon source at operating conditions and to prepare the separated solid asphaltenes for easier handling, storage or bulk transport, with a minimal amount of heavy hydrocarbon remaining with the asphaltenes to serve as an inherent binder for larger and robust formed solid asphaltene pieces.

IPC Classes  ?

• C10C 3/14 - SolidifyingDisintegrating, e.g. granulating
• C10C 3/16 - SolidifyingDisintegrating, e.g. granulating by direct contact with liquids

Abstract

A process that catalytically converts olefinic (Alkenes, typically liquid at standard temperature and pressure) material in thermally cracked streams to meet olefin content specifications for crude oil transport pipelines. A thermally cracked stream or portion of a thermally cracked stream is selectively reacted to reduce the olefin content within a reactor operating at specific, controlled conditions in the presence of a catalyst and the absence of supplemental hydrogen. The process catalyst is comprised of a blend of select catalyzing metals supported on an alumina, silica or shape selective zeolite substrate together with appropriate pore acidic components.

IPC Classes  ?

• C10G 29/04 - Metals, or metals deposited on a carrier
• B01J 8/02 - Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particlesApparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
• C10G 29/16 - Metal oxides

Abstract

A system and method of production of hydrocarbons, such as heavy oil or bitumen, by injection of steam, solvent and NCG is provided, which combines the benefits of SAGD, VAPEX, and the use of an additional producer, with specific timing specifications for the initiation of solvent injection prior to inter-chamber fluid communication.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 43/24 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
• E21B 43/16 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
• E21B 43/30 - Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells
• E21B 43/241 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection combined with solution mining of non-hydrocarbon minerals, e.g. solvent pyrolysis of oil shale
• E21B 7/04 - Directional drilling

Abstract

A system and method of production of hydrocarbons, such as heavy oil or bitumen, by injection of steam, solvent and NCG is provided, which combines the benefits of SAGD, VAPEX, and the use of an additional producer, with specific timing specifications for the initiation of solvent injection prior to inter-chamber fluid communication.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 43/24 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection
• E21B 43/241 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection combined with solution mining of non-hydrocarbon minerals, e.g. solvent pyrolysis of oil shale

Abstract

An apparatus and process is provided for improved asphaltene separation from heavy hydrocarbon or bitumen with low process complexity through mass transfer using solvent and counter-current flows, with three sections: an upper DAO/solid-asphaltene separation zone, a middle solvent mixing and segregation zone, and a bottom clarification zone. Solvent mixed with heavy hydrocarbon forms a process feed introduced to the process vessel's upper zone and exposed to counter-current solvent removing DAO from solid asphaltene particles in the feed, the particles fall through the middle zone and are mixed with introduced solvent, which introduced solvent segregates DAO-rich solution in the upper zone (for extraction from that zone) from solvent-rich mixtures in the middle mixing and lower clarification zones. Solvent flows and precipitate movement are controlled to optimize mass transfer in process, resulting in high DAO recovery and dry, solid asphaltene product.

IPC Classes  ?

• C10C 3/18 - Removing in solid form from reaction vessels, containers and the like, e.g. by cutting out, by pressing
• B01D 11/00 - Solvent extraction
• C10C 3/08 - Working-up pitch, asphalt, bitumen by selective extraction

Abstract

A system and method of production of hydrocarbons, such as heavy oil or bitumen, by injection of heat energy in situ is provided, which combines the benefits of SAGP and the use of an additional producer, with specific timing specifications for the initiation of co-injection of non-condensable gas and steam prior to inter-chamber fluid communication.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 43/24 - Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons using heat, e.g. steam injection

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.

IPC Classes  ?

• C10G 21/00 - Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by extraction with selective solvents
• C10C 3/08 - Working-up pitch, asphalt, bitumen by selective extraction
• C10G 1/04 - Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal by extraction

Abstract

Improvements to open-art Solvent Deasphalting (SDA) processes have been developed to reduce capital and operating costs for processing hydrocarbon streams are provided whereby open art SDA scheme is modified to include appropriately placed mixing-enabled precipitators (MEP's) to reduce solvent use requirements in an asphaltene separation step and to increase overall reliability for SDA processes, particularly suitable for Canadian Bitumen. When integrated with a mild thermal cracker, the improved SDA configuration further improves crude yield to be pipeline-ready without additional diluent and for use to debottleneck existing facilities such as residue hydrocrackers and coking units.

IPC Classes  ?

• C10C 3/00 - Working-up pitch, asphalt, bitumen
• C10G 1/00 - Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of improving a heavy hydrocarbon, such as bitumen, to a lighter more fluid product and, more specifically, to a final hydrocarbon product that is refinery-ready and meets pipeline transport criteria without the addition of diluent. A solid asphaltene by-product is created for easy handling and further processing. The invention is targeted to enhance Canadian bitumen, but has general application in improving any heavy hydrocarbon. The process comprises: (a) pre-heating a process fluid in a heater to a designed temperature; (b) moving the pre-heated process fluid to a reactor, and optimally converting asphaltenes in the process fluid within the reactor to produce a stream of thermally affected asphaltene-nch fraction( s), and a stream of non-condensible vapour and lighter liquid hydrocarbon(s); (c) deasphalting the thermally affected asphaltene-nch stream with a solvent extraction process into a stream of heavy deasphalted oil (DAO) and a second stream containing concentrated asphaltene; (d) separating dry thermally affected asphaltene solids from the second stream in a separation unit, recovering the process solvent; (e) a produced refinery feedstock comprising at least one of the produced streams.

IPC Classes  ?

• C10C 3/08 - Working-up pitch, asphalt, bitumen by selective extraction
• C10C 3/10 - Melting
• C10G 1/04 - Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from oil shale, oil-sand, or non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials, e.g. wood, coal by extraction

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 vapour. The stream of vapour is separated into two further streams: of non-condensable vapour, 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. The deasphalted oil liquid and the light liquid hydrocarbons produced are blended to form a pipeline or refinery-ready feedstock.

IPC Classes  ?

• C10G 53/04 - Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by two or more refining processes plural serial stages only including at least one extraction step

Goods & Services

[ Sulphur ] Petroleum and fuels, namely, crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, natural gasoline, gasoline and diesel; coal and fuel oil, natural gas condensate, coke [ electrical power generators for indoor use; electricity generators ] bitumen and asphalt [ Advertising and marketing for others of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Advertising and marketing of electricity for others; Energy management services, namely, providing a service that allows customers to purchase energy at a fixed price, namely, electricity, petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir ] Commodity trading for others of electricity, petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir [ Extraction of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir ] Delivery of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Delivery of electricity for others; Distribution services, namely, delivery of gravel; Transportation of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Transportation of electricity; Storage of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir [ Production of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Generation and production of electricity ] [ Exploration for petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir ]

Goods & Services

[ Sulphur ] Petroleum and fuels, namely, crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, natural gasoline, gasoline and diesel; coal and fuel oil, natural gas condensate, coke [ electrical power generators for indoor use; electricity generators ] bitumen and asphalt [ Advertising and marketing for others of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Advertising and marketing of electricity for others; Energy management services, namely, providing a service that allows customers to purchase energy at a fixed price, namely, electricity, petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir ] Commodity trading for others of electricity, petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir [ Extraction of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir ] Delivery of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Delivery of electricity for others; Distribution services, namely, delivery of gravel; Transportation of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Transportation of electricity; Storage of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir [ Production of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Generation and production of electricity ] [ Exploration for petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not, produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir ]

Goods & Services

(1) Petroleum and fuels, namely crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, natural gasoline, gasoline and diesel; coal and fuel oil, bitumen, natural gas condensate, sulphur, coke and asphalt; Electrical power generators. (1) Exploration for, and extraction and production of, petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances (whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not) produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Transportation of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances (whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not) produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Storage of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances (whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not) produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Marketing, sale and delivery for others of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances (whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not) produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Generation and production of electricity; Transportation of electricity; Marketing, sale and delivery of electricity for others, namely, arranging for the distribution of electricty to others; Trading, buying and reselling of electricity, petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances (whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not) produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Distribution and sale of gravel. (2) Exploration for petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances (whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not) produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir.

Goods & Services

(1) Petroleum and fuels, namely crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, natural gasoline, gasoline and diesel; coal and fuel oil, bitumen, natural gas condensate, sulphur, coke and asphalt; Electrical power generators; Electricity. (1) Extraction and production of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances (whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not) produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas; reservoir; Transportation of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances (whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not) produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Storage of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances (whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not) produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Marketing, sale and delivery for others of petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances (whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not) produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Generation and production of electricity; Transportation of electricity; Marketing, sale and delivery of electricity for others, namely, arranging for the distribution of electricty to others; Trading, buying and reselling of electricity, petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances (whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not) produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas reservoir; Distribution and sale of gravel. (2) Exploration for petroleum, natural gas and related hydrocarbons and all other gases and substances (whether liquid or solid and whether hydrocarbons or not) produced in association with the petroleum and natural gas and related hydrocarbons contained in an oil and gas; reservoir.