Resource Technology Associates

John R Larson

Richard L Bain

Joseph J Leto

Dennis D Gertenbach

Daniel W Gillespie

An apparatus is disclosed for improving the transportability of a hydrocarbon stream by reducing its viscosity. The apparatus comprises a reactor vessel useful for providing an incremental amount of heat to a hydrocarbon stream by the introduction of an oxidizing agent into the core portion of the stream. The reactor comprises an influent conduit and an effluent conduit in heat exchange relation with each other, at least one oxidant injection nozzle located in either or both the influent and/or effluent conduits, a conduit to transport oxidant to the nozzles and a valve in the oxidant conduit to control oxidant flow to the nozzles. The reactor can also contain temperature monitors in the influent and/or effluent conduits and an oxidant flow controller device responsive to output from the temperature monitors and adapted to adjust oxidant flow to maintain temperatures in the reactor reaction zone within a preselected range.

Apparatus for thermal treatment of a hydrocarbon stream

A method is disclosed for decoking a vertical tube reactor. The decoking process involves contacting the coke with an oxidizing substance in the presence of a carrier liquid to oxidize the coke and produce carbon dioxide, water and by-products. The post-oxidation temperature is maintained below the critical temperature of the carrier liquid at the local pressure. The conditions of the coke oxidation are maintained in such a manner as to assure that the by-products are substantially suspended or dissolved in the liquid.

Decoking hydrocarbon reactors by wet oxidation

A method is disclosed for reducing the viscosity of a hydrocarbon feed. The feed is heated from an initial temperature to a second temperature and an oxidizing agent is introduced to oxidize components in the feed and provide heat to increase the temperature of the feed to a reaction temperature. The reaction temperature is maintained to produce a reaction product having a lower viscosity than the feed.

Viscosity reduction by direct oxidative heating

A method is disclosed for improving the transportability of a hydrocarbon composition by passing an influent feed stream of composition into a downcomer to provide a hydrostatic column of fluid. The influent stream is heated by heat exchange with an effluent product stream wherein at least one of the streams is in turbulent flow. The feed stream is pressurized by the hydrostatic pressure head to a reaction pressure of at least about 1000 psi. The heated and pressurized feed stream is contacted with an active heat source in a reaction zone to increase the temperature of the feed stream to a reaction temperature of between about 300.degree. C. and the coking temperature of the hydrocarbon composition. The temperature differential between the active heat source and the feed stream in the reaction zone is maintained at less than about 30.degree. C. to provide a treated effluent stream which is brought into heat exchange contact with the influent stream. The treated composition has a lower viscosity than the feed composition.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

John R Larson