An open system pyrolysis of a first hydrocarbon source rock sample obtained from a natural system is performed within a pyrolysis chamber by maintaining the pyrolysis chamber at a substantially constant temperature. Hydrocarbons are recovered from the pyrolysis chamber released by the first hydrocarbon source rock sample. A thermo-vaporization is performed within the pyrolysis chamber on the pyrolyzed sample at a substantially constant temperature. A first hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency of hydrocarbon source rock is determined. A second hydrocarbon rock sample is ground to a grain size less than or equal to or less than 250 micrometers. A second pyrolysis is performed on the ground hydrocarbon source rock sample by maintaining the chamber at a substantially constant temperature. A second hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency of the hydrocarbon source rock in the natural system is determined. The first hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency is verified using the second hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency.

An apparatus for improving thermal-mechanical stress resistance in a delayed coking drum having a drum shell. The apparatus includes a support skirt section configured to mount to and to assist in supporting the coking drum above a ground surface. A joining edge joins the support skirt section to an exterior portion of the drum shell. A T-shaped slot is formed in the support skirt section and is located proximate the joining edge. The T-shaped slot may be formed by a vertical slot portion and a horizontal slot portion joined together as a single slot.

An apparatus for improving thermal-mechanical stress resistance in a delayed coking drum having a drum shell. The apparatus includes a support skirt section configured to mount to and to assist in supporting the coking drum above a ground surface. A joining edge joins the support skirt section to an exterior portion of the drum shell. A T-shaped slot is formed in the support skirt section and is located proximate the joining edge. The T-shaped slot may be formed by a vertical slot portion and a horizontal slot portion joined together as a single slot.

An ethylene plant including a cracking furnace for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into a cracked gas stream, and a separation section to provide at least an ethylene-enriched product stream, a hydrogen-enriched fuel stream and a methane-enriched fuel stream from the cracked gas stream. A passage way is provided for feeding at least part of the hydrogen-enriched fuel from the separation section to a burner of the cracking furnace and/or a passage way for feeding at least part of the hydrogen-enriched fuel from the separation section to a burner of a waste heat recovery boiler of a combined cycle gas turbine power plant (CCGT). The CCGT includes a gas turbine, which CCGT is configured to generate electric power and/or to generate high pressure steam to drive a steam turbine forming part of a steam generation circuit of the ethylene plant.

A coke catching apparatus for use in hydrocarbon cracking to assist in the removal of coke and the prevention of coke build up in high coking hydrocarbon processing units. The apparatus includes a grid device for preventing large pieces of coke from entering the outlet of the process refining equipment while allowing small pieces of coke to pass through and be disposed of. The coke catching apparatus can be easily disassembled to be removed from the refining process equipment and cleaned.

A coke catching apparatus for use in hydrocarbon cracking to assist in the removal of coke and the prevention of coke build up in high coking hydrocarbon processing units. The apparatus includes a grid device for preventing large pieces of coke from entering the outlet of the process refining equipment while allowing small pieces of coke to pass through and be disposed of. The coke catching apparatus can be easily disassembled to be removed from the refining process equipment and cleaned.

Disclosed are methods and modular devices for processing hydrocarbon feedstocks. In particular, the methods and modular devices disclosed herein provide for increasing the amounts of light fractions obtainable from a hydrocarbon feedstock.

Disclosed are methods and modular devices for processing hydrocarbon feedstocks. In particular, the methods and modular devices disclosed herein provide for increasing the amounts of light fractions obtainable from a hydrocarbon feedstock.

A thermal cracking apparatus and method includes a body having an inner volume with a longitudinal axis, where a reaction zone surrounds the longitudinal axis. A feedstock process gas is flowed into the inner volume and longitudinally through the reaction zone during thermal cracking operations. A power control system controls electrical power to an elongated heating element, which is disposed within the inner volume. During thermal cracking operations, the elongated heating element is heated to a molecular cracking temperature to generate the reaction zone, the feedstock process gas is heated from the elongated heating element, the power control system uses a feedback parameter for adjusting the electrical power to maintain the molecular cracking temperature at a substantially constant value, and the heat thermally cracks molecules of the feedstock process gas that are within the reaction zone into constituent components of the molecules.

A furnace system includes at least one lower radiant section having a first firebox disposed therein and at least one upper radiant section disposed above the at least one lower radiant section. The at least one upper radiant section has a second firebox disposed therein. The furnace system further includes at least one convection section disposed above the at least one upper radiant section and an exhaust corridor defined by the first firebox, the second firebox, and the at least one convection section. Arrangement of the at least one upper radiant section above the at least one lower radiant section reduces an area required for construction of the furnace system.