US3948759A — Visbreaking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in a re…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 134 words

A process for converting a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock at least a portion of which boils above about 650° F. at atmospheric pressure to lighter hydrocarbon materials which comprises contacting said feedstock in the presence of hydrogen with a regenerable alkali metal carbonate molten medium containing from 0.1 to 25 weight percent, calculated as oxide and based on total molten medium, of a glass-forming oxide selected from the group consisting of oxides of boron, phosphorus, vanadium, silicon, tungsten and molybdenum, and thereby suppressing the formation of carbonaceous materials, at a temperature in the range of from about the melting point of said medium to less than about 1000° F. and at elevated pressures for a time sufficient to form lighter hydrocarbon materials and carbonaceous materials, said carbonaceous materials being suspended uniformly throughout the molten medium.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 134 words

A process for converting a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock at least a portion of which boils above about 650° F. at atmospheric pressure to lighter hydrocarbon materials which comprises contacting said feedstock in the presence of hydrogen with a regenerable alkali metal carbonate molten medium containing from 0.1 to 25 weight percent, calculated as oxide and based on total molten medium, of a glass-forming oxide selected from the group consisting of oxides of boron, phosphorus, vanadium, silicon, tungsten and molybdenum, and thereby suppressing the formation of carbonaceous materials, at a temperature in the range of from about the melting point of said medium to less than about 1000° F. and at elevated pressures for a time sufficient to form lighter hydrocarbon materials and carbonaceous materials, said carbonaceous materials being suspended uniformly throughout the molten medium.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the molten mediium is maintained in the range of from about 700° to less than about 1000° F.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process of claim 2 wherein said glass-forming oxide is an oxide of boron.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

The process of claim 2 wherein said alkali metal carbonate is a mixture of sodium carbonate and lithium carbonate or a mixture of sodium carbonate, lithium carbonate and potassium carbonate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process of claim 4 wherein said glass-forming oxide is an oxide of boron.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

The process of claim 1 wherein said molten medium is regenerated after contact with said hydrocarbon feedstock by contacting said molten medium with oxygen, steam, carbon dioxide and mixtures thereof at a temperature in the range of from above about the melting point of said medium to about 2000° F.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen is present in an amount of at least 500 SCF/B based on hydrocarbon feedstock.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

The process of claim 1 wherein carbonaceous materials are formed in an amount less than about 15 wt. %.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 215 words

A process for cracking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprising a component selected from the group consisting of crude oils and residua containing from about 2 to 6 wt. % sulfur to lighter hydrocarbon materials which comprises contacting said heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of hydrogen in an amount of at least 500 SCF/B based on hydrocarbon feedstock with a regenerable alkali metal carbonate molten medium containing from 0.1 to 25 wt. %, calculated as oxide and based on total molten medium, of a glass-forming oxide selected from the group consisting of oxide of boron, phosphorus, vanadium, silicon, tungsten, and molybdenum, and thereby suppressing the formation of carbonaceous materials, at a temperature in the range of from about the melting point of the molten medium to less than about 1000° F. and a total pressure of from about 1000 to about 3000 psig to form predominantly liquid hydrocarbon products and carbonaceous materials, said carbonaceous materials being suspended uniformly in the molten medium, and thereafter gasifying at least a portion of said carbonaceous materials formed during said conversion process by contacting said molten medium containing said carbonaceous materials with oxygen, carbon dioxide, steam or mixtures thereof at a temperature in the range of from about the melting point of said molten medium to about 2000° F.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 215 words

A process for cracking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprising a component selected from the group consisting of crude oils and residua containing from about 2 to 6 wt. % sulfur to lighter hydrocarbon materials which comprises contacting said heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of hydrogen in an amount of at least 500 SCF/B based on hydrocarbon feedstock with a regenerable alkali metal carbonate molten medium containing from 0.1 to 25 wt. %, calculated as oxide and based on total molten medium, of a glass-forming oxide selected from the group consisting of oxide of boron, phosphorus, vanadium, silicon, tungsten, and molybdenum, and thereby suppressing the formation of carbonaceous materials, at a temperature in the range of from about the melting point of the molten medium to less than about 1000° F. and a total pressure of from about 1000 to about 3000 psig to form predominantly liquid hydrocarbon products and carbonaceous materials, said carbonaceous materials being suspended uniformly in the molten medium, and thereafter gasifying at least a portion of said carbonaceous materials formed during said conversion process by contacting said molten medium containing said carbonaceous materials with oxygen, carbon dioxide, steam or mixtures thereof at a temperature in the range of from about the melting point of said molten medium to about 2000° F.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process of claim 9 wherein the temperature of the molten medium during contact with heavy hydrocarbon feedstock is maintained in the range of from about 700° to about 900° F.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The process of claim 9 wherein at least a portion of said heavy hydrocarbon feedstock boils above about 650° F. at atmospheric pressure.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process of claim 9 wherein said glass-forming oxide is an oxide of boron.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 30 words

The process of claim 9 wherein said alkali metal carbonate is a mixture of sodium carbonate and lithium carbonate or a mixture of sodium carbonate, lithium carbonate and potassium carbonate.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process of claim 9 wherein said carbonaceous materials are formed in an amount less than about 10 wt. %.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process of claim 14 wherein hydrogen is present in an amount of at least 1000 SCF/B based on hydrocarbon feedstock.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 26 words

The process of claim 9 wherein said molten medium is regenerated at a temperature in the range of from about 1000° F. to about 1800° F.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process of claim 9 wherein said molten medium contains from about 1-20 wt. %, calculated as oxide and based on total molten medium, of an oxide of boron.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The process of claim 17 wherein said carbonaceous materials are contacted with a gas stream containing from about 10 to about 25 wt. % oxygen.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 11 words

The process of claim 18 wherein said gas stream is air.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process of claim 17 wherein said carbonaceous materials are contacted with steam.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 237 words

A process for cracking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprising a component selected from the group consisting of crude oils and residua that contains 2 to 6 wt. % sulfur and at least a portion of which boils above about 650° F. at atmospheric pressure to lighter hydrocarbon materials which comprises contacting said feedstock in the presence of hydrogen in an amount of at least 1000 SCF/B based on hydrocarbon feedstock with a regenerable alkali metal carbonate molten medium comprising a mixture of lithium and sodium carbonates containing from 1 to 20 wt. %, calculated as oxide and based upon the total molten medium, of an oxide of boron, and thereby suppressing the formation of carbonaceous materials, at a temperature in the range of from about the melting point of the molten medium to less than about 900° F. and a total pressure of from about 1500 to about 2500 psig, to form predominantly liquid hydrocarbon products and carbonaceous materials, at least a portion of said carbonaceous materials formed in said conversion being dispersed uniformly in said molten medium in amounts varying from about 1.0 to 5.0 wt. %, based on total molten medium, and thereafter gasifying at least a portion of said carbonaceous materials in said molten medium by contacting the same with an oxygen-containing gas at a temperature in the range of from above about the melting point of said molten medium to about 2000° F.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 237 words

A process for cracking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprising a component selected from the group consisting of crude oils and residua that contains 2 to 6 wt. % sulfur and at least a portion of which boils above about 650° F. at atmospheric pressure to lighter hydrocarbon materials which comprises contacting said feedstock in the presence of hydrogen in an amount of at least 1000 SCF/B based on hydrocarbon feedstock with a regenerable alkali metal carbonate molten medium comprising a mixture of lithium and sodium carbonates containing from 1 to 20 wt. %, calculated as oxide and based upon the total molten medium, of an oxide of boron, and thereby suppressing the formation of carbonaceous materials, at a temperature in the range of from about the melting point of the molten medium to less than about 900° F. and a total pressure of from about 1500 to about 2500 psig, to form predominantly liquid hydrocarbon products and carbonaceous materials, at least a portion of said carbonaceous materials formed in said conversion being dispersed uniformly in said molten medium in amounts varying from about 1.0 to 5.0 wt. %, based on total molten medium, and thereafter gasifying at least a portion of said carbonaceous materials in said molten medium by contacting the same with an oxygen-containing gas at a temperature in the range of from above about the melting point of said molten medium to about 2000° F.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process of claim 21 wherein said carbonaceous materials are formed in an amount less than about 5 wt. %.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process of claim 22 wherein hydrogen is present in an amount of at least 1500 SCF/B based on hydrocarbon feedstock.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 24 words

The process of claim 21 wherein hydrogen is present in an amount ranging from about 1500 to about 3000 SCF/B based on hydrocarbon feedstock.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process of claim 21 wherein the temperature ranges from about 740° to about 830° F.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The process of claim 21 wherein the light hydrocarbon materials contain a substantial amount of lube oil components.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-04-06	1979-10-06	1980-04-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-04-06	1983-10-06	1984-04-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-04-06	1987-10-06	1988-04-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Visbreaking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in a regenerable molten medium in the presence of hydrogen

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