PETROLEUM UPGRADING PROCESS

摘要

A method and apparatus for upgrading a petroleum feedstock with supercritical water are provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) heating and pressurizing a petroleum feedstock; (2) heating and pressurizing a water feed to above the supercritical point of water; (3) combining the heated and pressurized petroleum feedstock and the heated and pressurized water feed to produce a combined feed; (4) supplying the combined feed to a hydrothermal reactor to produce a first product stream; (5) supplying the first product stream to a post-treatment process unit to produce a second product stream; and (6) separating the second product stream into a treated and upgraded petroleum stream and a water stream.

主权项

1. A system for upgrading a petroleum feedstock, the system comprising:
a petroleum feedstock; a water feed;
means for heating and pressurizing said petroleum feedstock and water feed, wherein said means for heating and pressurizing the water feed are operable to produce a supercritical water; a first hydrothermal reactor, said first hydrothermal reactor in fluid communication with the petroleum feedstock and water feed, and being operable to maintain a reactor temperature and pressure sufficient to maintain water in its supercritical state; a second hydrothermal reactor, said second hydrothermal reactor with an outlet of the first hydrothermal reactor; and a separator in fluid communication with an outlet of the second hydrothermal reactor, said separator configured to separate water and hydrocarbon containing liquids.