Petroleum upgrading process
First Claim
1. A method for upgrading of petroleum feedstock, comprising the steps of:
- providing a pressurized and heated petroleum feedstock, wherein said petroleum feedstock is maintained at a temperature of between about 10°
C. and 250°
C. and a pressure of at least about 22.06 MPa;
providing a pressurized and heated water feed, wherein said water feed is maintained at a temperature of between about 250°
C. and 650°
C. and a pressure of at least about 22.06 MPa;
combining said pressurized and heated petroleum feedstock and said pressurized and heated water feed to form a combined petroleum and water feed stream;
supplying the combined petroleum and water feed stream to a hydrothermal reactor to produce a first product stream, wherein said reactor is maintained at a temperature of between 380°
C. and 550°
C., the combined petroleum and water feed stream being maintained within the hydrothermal reactor for a residence time operable to crack hydrocarbons present in the combined petroleum and water feed stream;
transferring the first product stream to a post-treatment device to produce a second product stream, wherein said post-treatment device is maintained at a temperature of between about 100°
C. and 300°
C., wherein water present in the post-treatment device is maintained in a liquid phase;
collecting the second product stream from the post treatment device, the second product stream comprising hydrocarbon product and water, wherein the hydrocarbon product has a reduced sulfur content relative to the petroleum feedstock.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for upgrading a petroleum feedstock with supercritical water are provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) heating and pressurizing a petroleum feedstock; (2) heating and pressurizing a water feed to above the supercritical point of water; (3) combining the heated and pressurized petroleum feedstock and the heated and pressurized water feed to produce a combined feed; (4) supplying the combined feed to a hydrothermal reactor to produce a first product stream; (5) supplying the first product stream to a post-treatment process unit to produce a second product stream; and (6) separating the second product stream into a treated and upgraded petroleum stream and a water stream.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for upgrading of petroleum feedstock, comprising the steps of:
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providing a pressurized and heated petroleum feedstock, wherein said petroleum feedstock is maintained at a temperature of between about 10°
C. and 250°
C. and a pressure of at least about 22.06 MPa;providing a pressurized and heated water feed, wherein said water feed is maintained at a temperature of between about 250°
C. and 650°
C. and a pressure of at least about 22.06 MPa;combining said pressurized and heated petroleum feedstock and said pressurized and heated water feed to form a combined petroleum and water feed stream; supplying the combined petroleum and water feed stream to a hydrothermal reactor to produce a first product stream, wherein said reactor is maintained at a temperature of between 380°
C. and 550°
C., the combined petroleum and water feed stream being maintained within the hydrothermal reactor for a residence time operable to crack hydrocarbons present in the combined petroleum and water feed stream;transferring the first product stream to a post-treatment device to produce a second product stream, wherein said post-treatment device is maintained at a temperature of between about 100°
C. and 300°
C., wherein water present in the post-treatment device is maintained in a liquid phase;collecting the second product stream from the post treatment device, the second product stream comprising hydrocarbon product and water, wherein the hydrocarbon product has a reduced sulfur content relative to the petroleum feedstock. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for upgrading petroleum, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) providing a heated and pressurized a petroleum feedstock; (2) providing a water feed, wherein said water feed is in the supercritical state; (3) combining the heated and pressurized petroleum feedstock and the supercritical water feed to produce a combined petroleum and supercritical water feed; (4) supplying the petroleum and supercritical water combined feed to a hydrothermal reactor to produce a first product stream; (5) supplying the first product stream to a post-treatment device to produce a second product stream, wherein said post-treatment device is maintained at a temperature of between about 100°
C. and 300°
C., wherein water present in the post-treatment device is maintained in a liquid phase; and(6) separating the second product stream into an upgraded petroleum stream and a water stream, wherein said upgraded petroleum stream has a reduced sulfur content relative to the petroleum feedstock. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for upgrading a petroleum feedstock, comprising the steps of:
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providing a petroleum feedstock and water mixture to a reaction zone, wherein said reaction zone is maintained at a temperature and pressure that is greater than about the supercritical point of water, and said reaction zone does not include externally supplied hydrogen; allowing the petroleum feed and the supercritical water to contact in the reaction zone for a first reaction time to produce a first reactor product stream, wherein the reaction time is operable to upgrade at least a portion of the petroleum feedstock; supplying the first reactor product stream to a second reactor and contacting the first reactor product stream with a hydrocarbon upgrading catalyst to produce a second reactor product stream that includes upgraded hydrocarbons, wherein the second reactor is maintained at a temperature below 300°
C. and pressure that is less than the critical pressure of water, wherein water present in the post-treatment device is maintained in a liquid phase, and wherein the reaction product and catalyst are contacted for a second reaction time that is sufficient to remove at least a portion of sulfur containing compounds present reaction product; andseparating the second reactor product stream into an upgraded hydrocarbon product stream and a water stream.
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Specification