The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 29, 2016
Filed:
Sep. 11, 2012
Applicants:
James A. Dunn, Calgary, CA;
Mainak M. Ghosh, Calgary, CA;
Inventors:
James A. Dunn, Calgary, CA;
Mainak M. Ghosh, Calgary, CA;
Assignee:
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Spring, TX (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
C10G 1/00 (2006.01); C10G 1/08 (2006.01); C10G 31/06 (2006.01); C10G 31/08 (2006.01); C10G 1/04 (2006.01); C10G 21/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
C10G 31/06 (2013.01); C10G 1/045 (2013.01); C10G 1/047 (2013.01); C10G 21/003 (2013.01); C10G 31/08 (2013.01);
Abstract
A bitumen stream is upgraded by heating to near-critical or super-critical conditions in the stream. The bitumen stream may be from a water-based extraction process, an in situ bitumen recovery process, or a solvent-based bitumen extraction process. To achieve an appropriate feed stream composition, water and/or clay may be added. The clay offers a catalytic effect. To achieve an appropriate feed stream composition, water may alternatively be removed.