Method for processing heavy hydrocarbon oil

Abstract

A process for treating hydrocarbon oil including passing heated oil through a cavitation apparatus to statically induce cavitation treatment of the oil. The oil is passed through the cavitation apparatus in the absence on non-hydrocarbon oil substances such as hydrogen, water or other organic materials and solvents. The cavitation treatment process can increase the API gravity of the hydrocarbon oil and reduce the viscosity of the hydrocarbon oil.

1 . A process for treating a hydrocarbon oil comprising:
 a) providing a flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus having a local constriction;   b) passing a hydrocarbon oil through the local constriction of the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus such that cavitation bubbles are formed, wherein a substance that is not a hydrocarbon oil is not passed through the local constriction of the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus;   c) collapsing the cavitation bubbles under static pressure to treat the hydrocarbon oil;   d) extracting the treated hydrocarbon oil from the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus, wherein the treated hydrocarbon oil has increased API gravity as compared to the hydrocarbon oil prior to passing through the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , the substance that is not a hydrocarbon oil being hydrogen gas. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , the substance that is not a hydrocarbon oil being an organic material. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , the API gravity of the hydrocarbon oil being increased by more than 2 units, the API gravity remaining increased by more than 2 degree for at least 2 weeks. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , the treated hydrocarbon oil having a reduction in viscosity of at least 80 percent. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , passing the hydrocarbon oil through the local constriction of the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus at a pre-determined pressure to achieve a pressure drop across the local constriction of at least 1000 psi. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , the hydrocarbon oil being treated in the absence of ultrasonic cavitation. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus being a static cavitation apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . A process for treating a hydrocarbon oil comprising:
 a) providing a flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus having a local constriction;   b) passing a hydrocarbon oil through the local constriction of the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus such that cavitation bubbles are formed, wherein a substance that is not a hydrocarbon oil is not passed through the local constriction of the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus;   c) collapsing the cavitation bubbles under static pressure to treat the hydrocarbon oil;   d) extracting the treated hydrocarbon oil from the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus, wherein the treated hydrocarbon oil has reduced viscosity as compared to the hydrocarbon oil prior to passing through the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , the substance that is not a hydrocarbon oil being hydrogen gas. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9 , the substance that is not a hydrocarbon oil being an organic material. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , the organic material being an organic solvent or water. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 9 , the viscosity of the hydrocarbon oil being reduced by at least 80 percent, the viscosity remaining reduced by at least 80 percent for at least 2 weeks. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 9 , the treated hydrocarbon oil having an increase in API gravity of at least 2 degree. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 9 , passing the hydrocarbon oil through the local constriction of the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus at a pre-determined pressure to achieve a pressure drop across the local constriction of at least 1000 psi. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 9 , the hydrocarbon oil being treated in the absence of ultrasonic cavitation. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 9 , the hydrocarbon oil being passed through the local constriction of the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus not more than one cycle. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 9 , the hydrocarbon oil being heated to at least 320° C. prior to passing through the local constriction of the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 9 , the static pressure being at least 150 psi. 
     
     
         20 . A process for reducing the viscosity of a heavy hydrocarbon oil comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus having a local constriction;   b) passing a preheated fluid consisting of a heavy hydrocarbon oil at a temperature of at least 320° C. through the local constriction of the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus to form cavitation bubbles;   c) collapsing the cavitation bubbles under static pressure to treat the fluid;   d) extracting the treated fluid from the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus, wherein the treated fluid has viscosity at least 80 percent less than the viscosity of the fluid prior to passing through the flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus.