INTERGRATED PROCESS FOR IN-FIELD UPGRADING OF HYDROCARBONS
First Claim
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1. An integrated process for in-field upgrading of hydrocarbons comprising:
- passing a hydrocarbon feed into an in-field upgrader from a hydrocarbonaceous production source;
mixing the hydrocarbon feed with a fluid comprising water that has been heated to a temperature higher than its critical temperature in a mixing zone to form a mixture;
passing the mixture to a reaction zone;
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;
withdrawing a single-phase reaction product from the reaction zone;
recovering energy from said reaction product for use in the hydrocarbonaceous production source; and
separating the cooled reaction product into gas, effluent water, converted hydrocarbons and unconverted hydrocarbons.
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Abstract
A process is provided for in-field upgrading of heavy hydrocarbons such as whole heavy oil, bitumen, and the like using supercritical water.
62 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An integrated process for in-field upgrading of hydrocarbons comprising:
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passing a hydrocarbon feed into an in-field upgrader from a hydrocarbonaceous production source; mixing the hydrocarbon feed with a fluid comprising water that has been heated to a temperature higher than its critical temperature in a mixing zone to form a mixture; passing the mixture to a reaction zone; 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; withdrawing a single-phase reaction product from the reaction zone; recovering energy from said reaction product for use in the hydrocarbonaceous production source; and separating the cooled reaction product into gas, effluent water, converted hydrocarbons and unconverted hydrocarbons. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification