UPGRADING HEAVY HYDROCARBON OILS
First Claim
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1. A process for upgrading hydrocarbons comprising,(a) mixing hydrocarbons with a fluid comprising water in a mixing zone to form a mixture;
- (b) passing the mixture to a reaction zone;
(c) reacting the mixture in the reaction zone under supercritical water conditions in the absence of externally added hydrogen for a residence time sufficient to allow upgrading reactions to occur;
(d) withdrawing a single-phase reaction product from the reaction zone; and
(e) separating the reaction product into gas, effluent water, and upgraded hydrocarbon phases.
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Abstract
A process using supercritical water to upgrade a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock into an upgraded hydrocarbon product or syncrude with highly desirable properties (low sulfur content, low metals content, lower density (higher API), lower viscosity, lower residuum content, etc.) is disclosed. The process does not require external supply of hydrogen nor does it use externally supplied catalysts.
76 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for upgrading hydrocarbons comprising,
(a) mixing hydrocarbons with a fluid comprising water in a mixing zone to form a mixture; -
(b) passing the mixture to a reaction zone; (c) reacting the mixture in the reaction zone under supercritical water conditions in the absence of externally added hydrogen for a residence time sufficient to allow upgrading reactions to occur; (d) withdrawing a single-phase reaction product from the reaction zone; and (e) separating the reaction product into gas, effluent water, and upgraded hydrocarbon phases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A process for upgrading hydrocarbons comprising:
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(a) mixing hydrocarbons with a fluid comprising water in a mixing zone to form a mixture; (b) passing the mixture to a reaction zone; (c) reacting the mixture in the reaction zone under supercritical water conditions in the absence of externally added hydrogen and catalyst for a residence time sufficient to allow upgrading reactions to occur; (d) withdrawing a single-phase reaction product from the reaction zone; and (e) separating the reaction product into gas, effluent water, and upgraded hydrocarbon phases. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification