Process embodiments for producing high grade coke and fuel grade coke from residual oil comprises: introducing the residual oil and a first paraffinic solvent having a carbon number C.sub.n to a first solvent deasphalting unit to produce a high quality deasphalted oil (HQDAO) fraction and a first asphalt fraction; passing the HQDAO fraction to a delayed coker to produce green coke; passing at least a portion of the first asphalt fraction and a second paraffinic solvent carbon number of C.sub.n+1 to a second solvent deasphalting unit to produce a low quality deasphalted oil (LQDAO) fraction and a second asphalt fraction; and passing the LQDAO fraction to the delayed coker to produce the fuel grade coke.

Partial upgrading processes can include thermal treatment combined with solvent deasphalting, and recycling of certain streams, to process bitumen feedstocks and produce a bitumen product. The thermal treatment can be done so that the feedstock is in liquid phase at conditions below incipient coking conditions. Solvent deasphalting can be done before or after thermal treatment depending on the configuration of the process. Subjecting the bitumen feedstock to a partial upgrading can facilitate viscosity reduction of the bitumen feedstock and can facilitate avoiding the need for the addition of an external source of hydrogen.

A process to convert asphaltenes found in heavy hydrocarbon sources, remove the converted solid asphaltene portion from the hydrocarbon source at operating conditions and to prepare the separated solid asphaltenes for easier handling, storage or bulk transport, with a minimal amount of heavy hydrocarbon remaining with the asphaltenes to serve as an inherent binder for larger and robust formed solid asphaltene pieces.

Compositions may include an asphaltene dispersant that is the product of a reaction between a polysaccharide having at least two sugar subunits and one or more fatty acid reagents, and a petroleum fluid produced from a subterranean formation and containing asphaltenes therein. The asphaltene dispersant may have a molecular weight of at least 4000 Da. Compositions may further include an aromatic solvent. Methods may include contacting a hydrocarbon fluid with an asphaltene dispersant dissolved in an aromatic solvent, wherein the asphaltene dispersant is the product of the reaction of a polysaccharide and one or more fatty acid reagents. Methods may also include contacting a hydrocarbon fluid with an asphaltene, wherein the asphaltene dispersant is the product of the reaction of a polysaccharide and one or more fatty acid reagents and has a molecular weight of at least 4000 Da.

A process for producing propylene and a low-sulfur fuel oil component, comprising the steps of contacting a heavy feedstock oil with a solvent for extraction separation to obtain a deasphalted oil and a deoiled asphalt; contacting the deasphalted oil and optionally a light feedstock oil with a catalytic conversion catalyst for reaction to obtain a reaction product comprising propylene; separating the reaction product to obtain a catalytic cracking distillate oil, and subjecting the catalytic cracking distillate oil to hydrodesulfurization to obtain a low-sulfur hydrogenated distillate oil, wherein the low-sulfur hydrogenated distillate oil and/or the deoiled asphalt is suitable for use as a fuel oil component. The process allows the conversion of saturated hydrocarbons in the heavy feedstock into propylene, eliminates the use of saturated hydrocarbons in the fuel oil component, and thus has better economic and social benefits.

An apparatus and a method for washing hydrocarbon product vapor are disclosed. The apparatus comprises housing, a first wash zone at a predefined cross-section of the housing for receiving the hydrocarbon product vapor, a plurality of injection units located within the first wash zone at predetermined intervals of the length of the housing for receiving wash oil. The injection units inject oil droplets formed from the received wash oil to contact the vapor and obtain a primary washed hydrocarbon vapor within the first wash zone. Further, a second wash zone is located above and in fluid communication with the first wash zone for receiving the primary washed hydrocarbon vapor. One or more spray headers receive wash oil and spray oil droplets formed from the received wash oil to contact with the primary washed hydrocarbon vapor, thereby forming a secondary washed hydrocarbon vapor.

An apparatus and a method for washing hydrocarbon product vapor are disclosed. The apparatus comprises housing, a first wash zone at a predefined cross-section of the housing for receiving the hydrocarbon product vapor, a plurality of injection units located within the first wash zone at predetermined intervals of the length of the housing for receiving wash oil. The injection units inject oil droplets formed from the received wash oil to contact the vapor and obtain a primary washed hydrocarbon vapor within the first wash zone. Further, a second wash zone is located above and in fluid communication with the first wash zone for receiving the primary washed hydrocarbon vapor. One or more spray headers receive wash oil and spray oil droplets formed from the received wash oil to contact with the primary washed hydrocarbon vapor, thereby forming a secondary washed hydrocarbon vapor.

An integrated process that is operated to create both a higher value pipelineable crude and a higher value carbon fiber product from a lower value common heavy hydrocarbon feedstock where the feedstock is processed in a thermal reactor followed by a solvent deasphalting unit with the liquids being gathered and processed to reduce olefins for pipeline transport and the solids are processed to generate a marketable carbon fiber product with any gases generated throughout the entire process reused in the process or sold.

Provided is an n-heptane production method including: a step of distilling a feed containing C6, C7, and C8+ hydrocarbon components, removing the C8+ and C6 hydrocarbon components, and separating the C7 hydrocarbon component; a step of adding the separated C7 hydrocarbon component to a hydrogenation apparatus and hydrogenating the separated C7 hydrocarbon component; a step of adding the hydrogenated C7 hydrocarbon component to a simulated moving bed (SMB) apparatus and separating the hydrogenated C7 hydrocarbon component into an extract containing n-heptane and a raffinate containing other components; and a step of distilling the extract and separating the n-heptane in an extract column, wherein a purity of the produced n-heptane is 98 wt % or higher.

Provided is an n-heptane production method including: a step of distilling a feed containing C6, C7, and C8+ hydrocarbon components, removing the C8+ and C6 hydrocarbon components, and separating the C7 hydrocarbon component; a step of adding the separated C7 hydrocarbon component to a hydrogenation apparatus and hydrogenating the separated C7 hydrocarbon component; a step of adding the hydrogenated C7 hydrocarbon component to a simulated moving bed (SMB) apparatus and separating the hydrogenated C7 hydrocarbon component into an extract containing n-heptane and a raffinate containing other components; and a step of distilling the extract and separating the n-heptane in an extract column, wherein a purity of the produced n-heptane is 98 wt % or higher.