초록 ▼

A process for converting heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons which comprises contacting, in a first zone, a heavy hydrocarbon having an API gravity at 25°C. of less than about 20, such as Boscan heavy crude oil and tar sand bitumen, with a liquid comprising water, in the absence of externally

A process for converting heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons which comprises contacting, in a first zone, a heavy hydrocarbon having an API gravity at 25°C. of less than about 20, such as Boscan heavy crude oil and tar sand bitumen, with a liquid comprising water, in the absence of externally added catalyst and hydrogen, while maintaining the first zone at a temperature between about 380°and about 480°C. and at a pressure between about 5000 kPa (about 725 psig, about 49 atm) and about 15,000 kPa (about 2175 psig, about 148 atm), for a time sufficient to produce a uniform reaction mixture; forwarding the uniform reaction mixture to a second zone wherein the temperature and pressure conditions of the first zone are maintained for a time sufficient to separate the uniform mixture into a residue and a phase comprising light hydrocarbons, gas and water, withdrawing the residue and said phase from the second zone; and recovering a light hydrocarbon product having an API gravity at 25°C. of greater than about 20 and substantially free of vanadium and nickel values, i.e., less than 50 ppm, preferably less than 30 ppm, a gaseous product, and a residue is disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

A process for converting heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons which comprises: (a) contacting, in a first zone, heavy hydrocarbons having an API gravity at 25°C. of less than about 20 with a liquid comprising water, in the absence of externally added catalyst and hydrogen, at a temperature bet

A process for converting heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons which comprises: (a) contacting, in a first zone, heavy hydrocarbons having an API gravity at 25°C. of less than about 20 with a liquid comprising water, in the absence of externally added catalyst and hydrogen, at a temperature between about 380°C.-480°C. and at a pressure between about 5000 kPa and about 5,000 kPa (about 2175 psig, about 148 atm), and for a time sufficient to form a uniform mixture; (b) forwarding the uniform mixture to a second zone while maintaining the temperature and pressure conditions of the first zone; (c) maintaining the uniform mixture in the second zone under the temperature and pressure conditions of the first zone, in the absence of externally added catalyst and hydrogen, for a time sufficient to separate the uniform mixture into a residue and a phase comprising light hydrocarbons, gas and water; (d) withdrawing the residue and said phase from the second zone; (e) separating said phase into a gaseous product, a liquid comprising water and light hydrocarbon product having an API gravity at 25°C. of greater than about 20 and substantially free of vanadium and nickel values; and (f) recovering said light hydrocarbon product.