PARTIAL UPGRADING PROCESS FOR HEAVY OIL AND BITUMEN

摘要

A bitumen and heavy oil upgrading process and system is disclosed for the synthesis of hydrocarbons, an example of which is synthetic crude oil (SCO). The process integrates Fischer-Tropsch technology with gasification and hydrogen rich gas stream generation. The hydrogen rich gas generation is conveniently effected using singly or in combination a hydrogen source, a hydrogen rich vapour from hydroprocessing and the Fischer-Tropsch process, a steam methane reformer (SMR) and autothermal reformer (ATR) or a combination of SMR/ATR. The feedstock for upgrading is distilled and the bottoms fraction is gasified and converted in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. A resultant hydrogen lean syngas is then exposed to the hydrogen rich gas stream to optimize the formation of, for example, the synthetic crude oil. Partial upgrading and the commensurate benefits is detailed as well. A system for effecting the processes is also characterized in the specification.

主权项

1. A process for upgrading heavy oil or bitumen to formulate hydrocarbon byproducts, comprising:
(a) providing a source of heavy oil or bitumen feedstock; (b) treating said feedstock to form a non-distilled bottoms fraction; (c) feeding said bottoms fraction to a syngas generating circuit for formulating a hydrogen lean syngas stream via a partial oxidation reaction, and reacting said syngas in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to synthesize hydrocarbon byproducts; (d) removing at least a portion of partially upgraded synthetic crude oil for transport as a synthesized hydrocarbon byproduct; and (e) adding an external source of hydrogen to said hydrogen lean syngas to optimize the synthesis of hydrocarbons at least one of which is synthetic crude oil.