US Patent No: 5,935,421

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Continuous in-situ combination process for upgrading heavy oil

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

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Abstract

The invention relates to an integrated, continuous process for the removal of organically bound sulfur (e.g., mercaptans, sulfides and thiophenes) comprising the steps of contacting a heavy oil, sodium hydroxide, hydrogen and water at a temperature of from about 380.degree. C. to 450.degree. C. to partially desulfurize the heavy oil and to form sodium sulfide, contacting said sodium sulfide via steam stripping to convert the sodium sulfide to sodium hydroxide and the sulfur recovered as hydrogen sulfide. The sodium hydroxide is recirculated for reuse. The partially desulfurized, dewatered heavy oil is treated with sodium metal under desulfurizing conditions, typically at a temperature of from about 340.degree. C. to about 450.degree. C., under a hydrogen pressure of at least about 50 psi to essentially desulfurize the oil, and form sodium sulfide. Optionally, the sodium salt generated can be regenerated to sodium metal using regeneration technology. The process advantageously produces essentially sulfur-free product oils having reduced nitrogen, oxygen and metals contents and reduced viscosity, density, molecular weight and heavy ends.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
EXXON RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYFLORHAM PARK, NJ3226

International Classification(s)

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  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Bearden, Roby Baton Rouge, LA 14 391
Brons, Glen Phillipsburg, NJ 11 316
Myers, Ronald D Calgary, CA 14 336

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
EXXON RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY (2)
4,566,965 Removal of nitrogen and sulfur from oil-shale 11 1984
5,160,045 Process for removing elemental sulfur from fluids 12 1991
 
INTEVEP, S.A. (1)
4,927,524 Process for removing vanadium and sulphur during the coking of a hydrocarbon feed 7 1989
 
RESEARCH COUNCIL OF ALBERTA (1)
4,343,323 Pipeline transportation of heavy crude oil 11 1980
 
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION (1)
4,437,980 Molten salt hydrotreatment process 49 1982
 
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (1)
4,310,049 Crude oil desulfurization 7 1979

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
SHELL OIL COMPANY (160)
7,096,942 In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation while controlling pressure 139 2002
7,055,600 In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with controlled production rate 135 2002
7,051,807 In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with quality control 76 2002
7,051,811 In situ thermal processing through an open wellbore in an oil shale formation 24 2002
7,040,398 In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation in a reducing environment 123 2002
7,040,399 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a controlled heating rate 136 2002
7,040,400 In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation using an open wellbore 144 2002
7,032,660 In situ thermal processing and inhibiting migration of fluids into or out of an in situ oil shale formation 149 2002
7,013,972 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a natural distributed combustor 10 2002
7,004,247 Conductor-in-conduit heat sources for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation 151 2002
7,004,251 In situ thermal processing and remediation of an oil shale formation 147 2002
6,997,518 In situ thermal processing and solution mining of an oil shale formation 137 2002
6,994,169 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation with a selected property 126 2002
6,991,032 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a pattern of heat sources 134 2002
6,991,033 In situ thermal processing while controlling pressure in an oil shale formation 62 2002
6,991,036 Thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation 46 2002
6,981,548 In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation 128 2002
6,966,374 In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation using gas to increase mobility 131 2002
6,964,300 In situ thermal recovery from a relatively permeable formation with backproduction through a heater wellbore 147 2002
6,951,247 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using horizontal heat sources 152 2002
6,948,562 Production of a blending agent using an in situ thermal process in a relatively permeable formation 150 2002
6,929,067 Heat sources with conductive material for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation 137 2002
6,923,257 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a condensate 142 2002
6,918,442 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation in a reducing environment 126 2002
6,918,443 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range 140 2002
6,915,850 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation having permeable and impermeable sections 128 2002
6,880,633 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a desired product 164 2002
6,877,555 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation while inhibiting coking 149 2002
7,165,615 In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor-in-conduit heat sources with an electrically conductive material in the overburden 141 2002
7,156,176 Installation and use of removable heaters in a hydrocarbon containing formation 129 2002
7,128,153 Treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation after heating 133 2002
7,114,566 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a natural distributed combustor 151 2002
7,104,319 In situ thermal processing of a heavy oil diatomite formation 141 2002
7,100,994 Producing hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbon containing materials when treating a hydrocarbon containing formation 136 2002
7,090,013 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce heated fluids 145 2002
7,086,465 In situ production of a blending agent from a hydrocarbon containing formation 126 2002
7,077,198 In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation using barriers 158 2002
7,077,199 In situ thermal processing of an oil reservoir formation 146 2002
7,066,254 In situ thermal processing of a tar sands formation 173 2002
7,066,257 In situ recovery from lean and rich zones in a hydrocarbon containing formation 128 2002
7,063,145 Methods and systems for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation in situ with an opening contacting the earth's surface at two locations 142 2002
7,051,808 Seismic monitoring of in situ conversion in a hydrocarbon containing formation 64 2002
7,011,154 In situ recovery from a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation 148 2002
6,991,045 Forming openings in a hydrocarbon containing formation using magnetic tracking 128 2002
6,969,123 Upgrading and mining of coal 153 2002
6,932,155 In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation via backproducing through a heater well 138 2002
8,238,730 High voltage temperature limited heaters 1 2003
8,224,164 Insulated conductor temperature limited heaters 1 2003
8,224,163 Variable frequency temperature limited heaters 0 2003
7,219,734 Inhibiting wellbore deformation during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation 133 2003
7,121,341 Conductor-in-conduit temperature limited heaters 125 2003
7,073,578 Staged and/or patterned heating during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation 155 2003
7,121,342 Thermal processes for subsurface formations 171 2004
8,355,623 Temperature limited heaters with high power factors 0 2005
7,510,000 Reducing viscosity of oil for production from a hydrocarbon containing formation 79 2005
7,490,665 Variable frequency temperature limited heaters 82 2005
7,481,274 Temperature limited heaters with relatively constant current 76 2005
7,431,076 Temperature limited heaters using modulated DC power 89 2005
7,424,915 Vacuum pumping of conductor-in-conduit heaters 89 2005
7,383,877 Temperature limited heaters with thermally conductive fluid used to heat subsurface formations 84 2005
7,370,704 Triaxial temperature limited heater 89 2005
7,357,180 Inhibiting effects of sloughing in wellbores 87 2005
7,353,872 Start-up of temperature limited heaters using direct current (DC) 74 2005
7,320,364 Inhibiting reflux in a heated well of an in situ conversion system 76 2005
7,225,866 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a pattern of heat sources 132 2006
8,224,165 Temperature limited heater utilizing non-ferromagnetic conductor 2 2006
8,070,840 Treatment of gas from an in situ conversion process 17 2006
8,027,571 In situ conversion process systems utilizing wellbores in at least two regions of a formation 21 2006
7,986,869 Varying properties along lengths of temperature limited heaters 24 2006
7,942,197 Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process 31 2006
7,860,377 Subsurface connection methods for subsurface heaters 44 2006
7,831,134 Grouped exposed metal heaters 40 2006
7,575,052 In situ conversion process utilizing a closed loop heating system 76 2006
7,575,053 Low temperature monitoring system for subsurface barriers 76 2006
7,546,873 Low temperature barriers for use with in situ processes 43 2006
7,527,094 Double barrier system for an in situ conversion process 81 2006
7,500,528 Low temperature barrier wellbores formed using water flushing 88 2006
7,360,588 Thermal processes for subsurface formations 82 2006
7,635,025 Cogeneration systems and processes for treating hydrocarbon containing formations 66 2006
7,591,310 Methods of hydrotreating a liquid stream to remove clogging compounds 78 2006
7,584,789 Methods of cracking a crude product to produce additional crude products 76 2006
7,581,589 Methods of producing alkylated hydrocarbons from an in situ heat treatment process liquid 81 2006
7,562,706 Systems and methods for producing hydrocarbons from tar sands formations 82 2006
7,559,367 Temperature limited heater with a conduit substantially electrically isolated from the formation 84 2006
7,559,368 Solution mining systems and methods for treating hydrocarbon containing formations 82 2006
7,556,095 Solution mining dawsonite from hydrocarbon containing formations with a chelating agent 93 2006
7,556,096 Varying heating in dawsonite zones in hydrocarbon containing formations 87 2006
7,549,470 Solution mining and heating by oxidation for treating hydrocarbon containing formations 92 2006
7,461,691 In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation 109 2007
8,083,813 Methods of producing transportation fuel 14 2007
7,912,358 Alternate energy source usage for in situ heat treatment processes 32 2007
7,866,385 Power systems utilizing the heat of produced formation fluid 39 2007
7,793,722 Non-ferromagnetic overburden casing 39 2007
7,785,427 High strength alloys 40 2007
7,683,296 Adjusting alloy compositions for selected properties in temperature limited heaters 58 2007
7,673,786 Welding shield for coupling heaters 57 2007
7,635,023 Time sequenced heating of multiple layers in a hydrocarbon containing formation 71 2007
7,631,689 Sulfur barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations 69 2007
7,610,962 Sour gas injection for use with in situ heat treatment 58 2007
7,604,052 Compositions produced using an in situ heat treatment process 76 2007
7,533,719 Wellhead with non-ferromagnetic materials 85 2007
7,798,221 In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation 46 2007
7,735,935 In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation containing carbonate minerals 49 2007
7,845,411 In situ heat treatment process utilizing a closed loop heating system 38 2007
7,841,401 Gas injection to inhibit migration during an in situ heat treatment process 39 2007
7,730,946 Treating tar sands formations with dolomite 47 2007
7,730,945 Using geothermal energy to heat a portion of a formation for an in situ heat treatment process 48 2007
7,730,947 Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations 47 2007
7,717,171 Moving hydrocarbons through portions of tar sands formations with a fluid 50 2007
7,703,513 Wax barrier for use with in situ processes for treating formations 57 2007
7,681,647 Method of producing drive fluid in situ in tar sands formations 57 2007
7,677,310 Creating and maintaining a gas cap in tar sands formations 43 2007
7,677,314 Method of condensing vaporized water in situ to treat tar sands formations 42 2007
7,673,681 Treating tar sands formations with karsted zones 44 2007
7,644,765 Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure 55 2007
7,635,024 Heating tar sands formations to visbreaking temperatures 67 2007
7,631,690 Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a spiral startup staged sequence 69 2007
7,562,707 Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a line drive staged process 82 2007
7,540,324 Heating hydrocarbon containing formations in a checkerboard pattern staged process 85 2007
7,640,980 Thermal processes for subsurface formations 54 2008
8,381,815 Production from multiple zones of a tar sands formation 0 2008
8,327,681 Wellbore manufacturing processes for in situ heat treatment processes 0 2008
8,042,610 Parallel heater system for subsurface formations 19 2008
7,950,453 Downhole burner systems and methods for heating subsurface formations 32 2008
7,931,086 Heating systems for heating subsurface formations 36 2008
7,849,922 In situ recovery from residually heated sections in a hydrocarbon containing formation 40 2008
7,841,408 In situ heat treatment from multiple layers of a tar sands formation 40 2008
7,841,425 Drilling subsurface wellbores with cutting structures 41 2008
7,832,484 Molten salt as a heat transfer fluid for heating a subsurface formation 41 2008
7,798,220 In situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation after drive process treatment 40 2008
8,276,661 Heating subsurface formations by oxidizing fuel on a fuel carrier 1 2008
8,272,455 Methods for forming wellbores in heated formations 0 2008
8,240,774 Solution mining and in situ treatment of nahcolite beds 1 2008
8,196,658 Irregular spacing of heat sources for treating hydrocarbon containing formations 3 2008
8,162,059 Induction heaters used to heat subsurface formations 7 2008
8,146,661 Cryogenic treatment of gas 10 2008
8,146,669 Multi-step heater deployment in a subsurface formation 8 2008
8,113,272 Three-phase heaters with common overburden sections for heating subsurface formations 0 2008
8,011,451 Ranging methods for developing wellbores in subsurface formations 17 2008
7,866,386 In situ oxidation of subsurface formations 35 2008
7,866,388 High temperature methods for forming oxidizer fuel 36 2008
8,177,305 Heater connections in mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations 7 2009
8,172,335 Electrical current flow between tunnels for use in heating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations 6 2009
8,162,405 Using tunnels for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations 7 2009
8,151,907 Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations 10 2009
8,353,347 Deployment of insulated conductors for treating subsurface formations 0 2009
8,281,861 Circulated heated transfer fluid heating of subsurface hydrocarbon formations 1 2009
8,267,170 Offset barrier wells in subsurface formations 3 2009
8,267,185 Circulated heated transfer fluid systems used to treat a subsurface formation 2 2009
8,261,832 Heating subsurface formations with fluids 3 2009
8,256,512 Movable heaters for treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations 0 2009
8,220,539 Controlling hydrogen pressure in self-regulating nuclear reactors used to treat a subsurface formation 2 2009
7,942,203 Thermal processes for subsurface formations 34 2010
8,434,555 Irregular pattern treatment of a subsurface formation 0 2010
8,327,932 Recovering energy from a subsurface formation 0 2010
8,192,682 High strength alloys 4 2010
8,225,866 In situ recovery from a hydrocarbon containing formation 1 2010
8,233,782 Grouped exposed metal heaters 0 2010
8,151,880 Methods of making transportation fuel 6 2010
8,230,927 Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process 0 2011
 
CHEVRON U.S.A. INC. (16)
8,343,887 Hydroconversion processes employing multi-metallic catalysts and method for making thereof 0 2008
8,206,575 Hydroconversion processes employing multi-metallic catalysts and method for making thereof 0 2008
8,173,570 Hydroconversion processes employing multi-metallic catalysts and method for making thereof 0 2008
8,163,169 Hydroconversion processes employing multi-metallic catalysts and method for making thereof 0 2008
7,910,761 Hydroconversion processes employing multi-metallic catalysts and method for making thereof 0 2008
7,838,696 Hydroconversion process employing multi-metallic catalysts and method for making thereof 1 2008
7,816,298 Hydroconversion processes employing multi-metallic catalysts and method for making thereof 1 2008
7,807,599 Hydroconversion processes employing multi-metallic catalysts and method for making thereof 1 2008
7,803,735 Hydroconversion processes employing multi-metallic catalysts and method for making thereof 0 2008
8,080,492 Hydroconversion multi-metallic catalyst and method for making thereof 0 2009
8,058,203 Hydroconversion multi-metallic catalyst and method for making thereof 0 2009
7,964,524 Hydroconversion multi-metallic catalyst and method for making thereof 0 2009
7,964,525 Hydroconversion multi-metallic catalyst and method for making thereof 0 2009
7,964,526 Hydroconversion multi-metallic catalyst and method for making thereof 0 2009
7,931,799 Hydroconversion multi-metallic catalyst and method for making thereof 0 2009
8,383,543 Hydroconversion multi-metallic catalyst and method for making thereof 0 2010
 
CERAMATEC, INC. (6)
8,012,633 Advanced metal-air battery having a ceramic membrane electrolyte 0 2007
8,012,621 Nickel-metal hydride battery using alkali ion conducting separator 1 2007
8,216,722 Solid electrolyte for alkali-metal-ion batteries 0 2008
8,088,270 Process for recovering alkali metals and sulfur from alkali metal sulfides and polysulfides 1 2008
8,323,817 Alkali metal seawater battery 0 2009
8,159,192 Method for charging a nickel-metal hydride battery 0 2011
 
EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY (6)
7,507,327 Desulfurizing organosulfur heterocycles in feeds with supported sodium 0 2005
7,862,708 Process for the desulfurization of heavy oils and bitumens 0 2008
8,177,963 Partial electro-hydrogenation of sulfur containing feedstreams followed by sulfur removal 0 2008
8,075,762 Electrodesulfurization of heavy oils 0 2008
7,985,332 Electrodesulfurization of heavy oils using a divided electrochemical cell 0 2008
8,404,106 Regeneration of alkali metal reagent 0 2010
 
COMPANY, SHELL OIL (1)
8,191,630 Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations 4 2010
 
ENERGY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF (1)
7,597,147 Temperature limited heaters using phase transformation of ferromagnetic material 76 2007
 
OSAKA GAS CO., LTD. (1)
7,820,037 Desulfurizing agent manufacturing method and hydrocarbon desulfurization method 0 2008
 
PHILLIPS 66 COMPANY (1)
7,378,068 Electrochemical process for decomposition of hydrogen sulfide and production of sulfur 0 2005