The present invention relates to methods of treating heavy crude oil on the surface or in situ. The methods of the present invention include: (a) mixing the heavy crude oil with a solvent; (b) subjecting the mixture to ultrasonic vibrations; and (c) subjecting mixture treated with ultrasonic vibrations to microwave energy.

A method to remove a metals impurity from a petroleum feedstock for use in a power generating process is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing a heated feedstock with a heated water stream in a mixing device to produce a mixed stream; introducing the mixed stream to a supercritical water reactor in the absence of externally provided hydrogen and externally provided oxidizing agent to produce a reactor effluent comprising a refined petroleum portion; cooling the reactor effluent to produce a cooled stream; feeding the cooled stream to a rejecter configured to separate a sludge fraction to produce a de-sludged stream; reducing the pressure of the de-sludged stream to produce a depressurized product; separating the depressurized product to produce a gas phase product and a liquid product; separating the liquid product to produce a petroleum product, having a reduced asphaltene content, reduced concentration of metals impurity, and reduced sulfur.

A method to remove a metals impurity from a petroleum feedstock for use in a power generating process is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing a heated feedstock with a heated water stream in a mixing device to produce a mixed stream; introducing the mixed stream to a supercritical water reactor in the absence of externally provided hydrogen and externally provided oxidizing agent to produce a reactor effluent comprising a refined petroleum portion; cooling the reactor effluent to produce a cooled stream; feeding the cooled stream to a rejecter configured to separate a sludge fraction to produce a de-sludged stream; reducing the pressure of the de-sludged stream to produce a depressurized product; separating the depressurized product to produce a gas phase product and a liquid product; separating the liquid product to produce a petroleum product, having a reduced asphaltene content, reduced concentration of metals impurity, and reduced sulfur.

A simplified process is provided for creating hybrid crude oils and hybrid crude fractions with characteristics superior to the original. The process uniquely combines gases with crude oil or crude fractions in an effervescent turbulent manner at low temperatures and pressures and without the further aid of catalysts. The process breaks large chain hydrocarbons into smaller chain hydrocarbons, molecularly combines carbon, hydrogen, and/or hydrocarbon molecules from the gases with and into hydrocarbon molecules of the crude or crude fraction, and separates contaminants and impurities.

A simplified process is provided for creating hybrid crude oils and hybrid crude fractions with characteristics superior to the original. The process uniquely combines gases with crude oil or crude fractions in an effervescent turbulent manner at low temperatures and pressures and without the further aid of catalysts. The process breaks large chain hydrocarbons into smaller chain hydrocarbons, molecularly combines carbon, hydrogen, and/or hydrocarbon molecules from the gases with and into hydrocarbon molecules of the crude or crude fraction, and separates contaminants and impurities.

A process for treating heavy oil to provide a treated heavy oil having a reduced density and viscosity, as well as an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %. The process comprises separating the initial heavy oil into a first fraction, which in general contains lower-boiling components, and a second fraction. The second fraction comprises a heavy oil having a p-value of at least 5% greater than the p-value of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction, and the second fraction has an aromaticity that is no more than 5% less than the aromaticity of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction. The second fraction then is upgraded to reduce the density and viscosity of the heavy oil. After the second fraction is upgraded, it is recombined with at least a portion of the first fraction to provide a treated heavy oil having an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %. The separation of the initial heavy oil into first and second fractions enables one to achieve improved reduction of the density and viscosity of the treated heavy oil while maintaining the olefin content at an acceptable level.

A process for treating heavy oil to provide a treated heavy oil having a reduced density and viscosity, as well as an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %. The process comprises separating the initial heavy oil into a first fraction, which in general contains lower-boiling components, and a second fraction. The second fraction comprises a heavy oil having a p-value of at least 5% greater than the p-value of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction, and the second fraction has an aromaticity that is no more than 5% less than the aromaticity of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction. The second fraction then is upgraded to reduce the density and viscosity of the heavy oil. After the second fraction is upgraded, it is recombined with at least a portion of the first fraction to provide a treated heavy oil having an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %. The separation of the initial heavy oil into first and second fractions enables one to achieve improved reduction of the density and viscosity of the treated heavy oil while maintaining the olefin content at an acceptable level.

A fuel refinery system comprising a particulate filter adapted to remove particulates from fuel flowing through the fuel conduction system, a water filter adapted to remove water from fuel flowing through the fuel conduction system following its passage through the particulate filter, a magnetic field of sufficient strength to further refine the fuel flowing through the fuel conduction system following its passage through the water filter, a catalyst injector configured to inject the catalyst from a catalyst tank into the fuel flowing through the fuel conduction system following its passage through the magnetic field, a dispensing conduit configured to conduct the fuel from the fuel refinement apparatus following injection of the catalyst.

A mobile diesel fuel refinery system comprise a particulate filter adapted to remove particulates from diesel fuel flowing through the diesel fuel conduction system, a water filter adapted to remove water from diesel fuel flowing through the diesel fuel conduction system following its passage through the particulate filter, a magnetic field of sufficient strength to further refine the diesel fuel flowing through the diesel fuel conduction system following its passage through the water filter, a catalyst injector configured to inject the catalyst from a catalyst tank into the diesel fuel flowing through the diesel fuel conduction system following its passage through the magnetic field, a dispensing conduit configured to conduct the diesel fuel from the diesel fuel refinement apparatus following injection of the catalyst.

Methods are provided for forming lubricant base stocks from feeds such as vacuum resid or other 510 C.+ feeds. A feed can be deasphalted and then catalytically and/or solvent processed to form lubricant base stocks, including bright stocks that are resistant to haze formation.