Method for production of hydrocarbon diluent from heavy crude oil
OwnerMalcolm T. McCantsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of producing hydrocarbon diluent from heavy crude oil, comprises pre-heating the crude oil to produce a heated crude oil, separating in a separator vessel by flashing the heated crude oil to produce a first vapor fraction and a first liquid fraction, thermally cracking in a cracking unit at least a portion of the first liquid fraction to produce a first liquid effluent, quenching the first liquid effluent, introducing at least a portion of the quenched first liquid effluent into a separator, condensing the first vapor fraction, and separating in a separator vessel the condensed vapor fraction to produce the hydrocarbon diluent and gas.
Claims13
A method of producing a hydrocarbon diluent from heavy crude oil comprising the steps of:
- a) pre-heating the crude oil to produce a heated crude oil;
- b) separating in a separator vessel by flashing the heated crude oil to produce a first vapor fraction and a first liquid fraction;
- c) thermally cracking in a cracking unit at least a portion of the first liquid fraction to produce a first liquid effluent;
- d) quenching the first liquid effluent with the preheated crude oil to produce a quenched, first liquid effluent;
- e) introducing at least a portion of the quenched first liquid effluent into a separator;
- f) condensing the first vapor fraction;
- and,
- g) separating in a separator vessel the condensed vapor fraction to produce a liquid hydrocarbon diluent middle fraction characterized by having a boiling range consisting essentially of about 400.degree.-700.degree. F. and a gas whereby said middle fraction is free from steam, naphtha or other condensed and non-condensed hydrocarbon gases.
A method for producing a hydrocarbon diluent from a heavy crude oil comprising the steps of:
- a) preheating a crude oil to produce a heated crude oil;
- b) providing a separator vessel for flashing a liquid hydrocarbon into a vapor hydrocarbon fraction and a liquid hydrocarbon fraction;
- c) providing a cracking unit for thermocracking a liquid hydrocarbon fraction to produce a liquid hydrocarbon effluent;
- d) providing recycle means for directing a liquid hydrocarbon fraction from a separator vessel into a cracking unit and for introducing at least a liquid hydrocarbon effluent from a cracking unit into a separator vessel;
- e) directing the heated crude oil into the separator vessel for separation by flashing into a vapor hydrocarbon fraction and a liquid hydrocarbon fraction;
- f) directing at least a portion of the liquid hydrocarbon fraction from the separator vessel into the cracking unit for thermocracking to produce a liquid hydrocarbon effluent;
- g) quenching the entire liquid hydrocarbon effluent with preheated crude oil to produce a quenched, intermixed effluent stream having a temperature intermediate of the liquid hydrocarbon effluent and the preheated crude oil and sufficiently high for subsequent flashing without the need for additional heating prior to subsequent separation;
- h) introducing the quenched, intermixed effluent stream into the separator vessel for separation by flashing into a vapor hydrocarbon fraction and a liquid hydrocarbon fraction;
- i) condensing the vapor hydrocarbon fraction;
- and
- j) separating in a separation vessel the condensed vapor hydrocarbon fraction to produce a liquid hydrocarbon diluent middle fraction characterized by having a boiling range consisting essentially of about 400.degree. to 700.degree. F. and the gas whereby the middle fraction is free of steam, naphtha or other condensed and non-condensed hydrocarbon gases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.