A method for cleaning a coke deposit from an internal surface of a process equipment, comprising removing at least a portion of the coke deposit from the internal surface using a flexible pig comprising a plurality of bristles, without damaging a metal protective layer of the internal surface of the process equipment. A flexible pig for cleaning a coke deposit from an internal surface of a process equipment without damaging a metal protective layer of the internal surface, comprising a flexible body formed of a polymeric material, and a plurality of bristles partially encapsulated by the polymeric material of the flexible body.

Described herein are systems and methods for evaluating and mitigating the fouling potential of a given crude oil. The system and methods enable the refiner to rapidly and readily identify the particular mechanisms by which a crude oil may foul, and to select the optimal chemical treatment and/or crude blend to mitigate fouling potential.

Described herein are systems and methods for evaluating and mitigating the fouling potential of a given crude oil. The system and methods enable the refiner to rapidly and readily identify the particular mechanisms by which a crude oil may foul, and to select the optimal chemical treatment and/or crude blend to mitigate fouling potential.

An anti-fouling composition has been developed that provides an advantageous reduction in the fouling of a structural part in a petroleum-refining system including inhibiting deposition of solids in equipment and lines used for crude oil production and processing. The anti-fouling compositions contain a phosphate ester and a polyalkylene ester.

Fouling and/or asphaltene agglomeration (or flocculation) in midstream processes and transportation and in upstream transportation of a hydrocarbon oil is reduced by providing in the oil an additive combination including; (A) a polyalkenyl-substituted carboxylic acid or anhydride, and (B) a metal detergent system comprising a hydrocarbyl-substituted hydroxybenzoate metal salt or a hydrocarbyl-substituted sulfonate metal salt or a mixure of both salts or a complex thereof,
where the mass:mass ratio of (A) to (B) is in the range of 20:1 to 1:20 and the treat rate of the additive is in the range of 5 to 10000 ppm by mass.

This disclosure provides methods for decoking tubular passes of crude oil heaters and processed hydrocarbon heaters. The method permits continued operation of an associated crude oil processing unit or a processed hydrocarbon processing unit receiving crude oil or processed hydrocarbons from the heater during the decoking operation. The decoking operation utilizes dry steam to remove coke from passes within the crude oil heater or processed hydrocarbon heater and dry steam to maintain balanced operation of the crude oil processing unit or processed hydrocarbon processing unit.

This disclosure provides methods for decoking tubular passes of crude oil heaters and processed hydrocarbon heaters. The method permits continued operation of an associated crude oil processing unit or a processed hydrocarbon processing unit receiving crude oil or processed hydrocarbons from the heater during the decoking operation. The decoking operation utilizes dry steam to remove coke from passes within the crude oil heater or processed hydrocarbon heater and dry steam to maintain balanced operation of the crude oil processing unit or processed hydrocarbon processing unit.

Methods and systems for using temperature measurements taken from a compact insulated skin thermowell to optimize a pyrolysis reaction are provided. In the present systems and methods, the upstream temperature and the upstream pressure of a pyrolysis reactor is measured through an adiabatic restriction in the inlet manifold of a parallel tube assembly to provide an absolute upstream temperature and an upstream pressure. The downstream temperature of the pyrolysis reactor is also measured following an adiabatic restriction to provide an absolute downstream temperature. The downstream pressure is then determined by multiplying the absolute upstream pressure with the quotient of the downstream temperature divided by the upstream temperature as taken to the power of k/k1, where k is the ratio of fluid specific heat at constant pressure (Cp) to fluid specific heat at constant volume (Cv).

Methods and systems for using temperature measurements taken from a compact insulated skin thermowell to optimize a pyrolysis reaction are provided. In the present systems and methods, the upstream temperature and the upstream pressure of a pyrolysis reactor is measured through an adiabatic restriction in the inlet manifold of a parallel tube assembly to provide an absolute upstream temperature and an upstream pressure. The downstream temperature of the pyrolysis reactor is also measured following an adiabatic restriction to provide an absolute downstream temperature. The downstream pressure is then determined by multiplying the absolute upstream pressure with the quotient of the downstream temperature divided by the upstream temperature as taken to the power of k/k1, where k is the ratio of fluid specific heat at constant pressure (Cp) to fluid specific heat at constant volume (Cv).

A method for cleaning a coke deposit from an internal surface of a process equipment, comprising removing at least a portion of the coke deposit from the internal surface using a flexible pig comprising a plurality of bristles, without damaging a metal protective layer of the internal surface of the process equipment. A flexible pig for cleaning a coke deposit from an internal surface of a process equipment without damaging a metal protective layer of the internal surface, comprising a flexible body formed of a polymeric material, and a plurality of bristles partially encapsulated by the polymeric material of the flexible body.