Method includes heating mixture of heavy oil (API<22.3), water, and catalyst in a reactor to form pyrolyzate vapor condensable to form an oil phase lighter than the heavy oil. The feed mixture can include 100 parts by weight heavy oil, 5 to 100 parts by weight water, and 1 to 20 parts by weight solid catalyst particulates, which can include an oxide or acid addition salt of a Group 3-16 metal on a mineral support. Also, an apparatus for treating the heavy oil includes a mixing zone to prepare the emulsion, a transfer line to a pyrolysis zone; and a control system for the pyrolysis zone. Also, a process includes injecting the pyrolyzate in a treatment fluid into an injection well.

A fluidized catalyst stripping unit for displacing entrained gas from catalyst particles comprising: a vessel housing a two stage cyclonic separation section which comprises one or more primary cyclonic separation devices and one or more secondary cyclones; a stripping section which comprises internals; and an inlet in fluid communication with a catalytic reactor to feed a particulate-fluid suspension to the two stage cyclonic separation section; wherein each primary cyclonic separation device comprises an internal cylindrical surface to separate a major fraction of the particulates from the suspension and form a vortex of reduced particulate content; a particulate discharge outlet from each secondary cyclone to the stripping section; wherein the particulate discharge outlet of the secondary cyclone is submerged in a catalyst bed located above the stripper internals, and wherein the stripping section comprises one or more bubble breaking grids within the catalyst bed and above the stripping internals is provided.

A fluidized catalyst stripping unit for displacing entrained gas from catalyst particles comprising: a vessel housing a two stage cyclonic separation section which comprises one or more primary cyclonic separation devices and one or more secondary cyclones; a stripping section which comprises internals; and an inlet in fluid communication with a catalytic reactor to feed a particulate-fluid suspension to the two stage cyclonic separation section; wherein each primary cyclonic separation device comprises an internal cylindrical surface to separate a major fraction of the particulates from the suspension and form a vortex of reduced particulate content; a particulate discharge outlet from each secondary cyclone to the stripping section; wherein the particulate discharge outlet of the secondary cyclone is submerged in a catalyst bed located above the stripper internals, and wherein the stripping section comprises one or more bubble breaking grids within the catalyst bed and above the stripping internals is provided.

A fluidized catalyst stripping unit for displacing entrained gas from catalyst particles comprising: a vessel housing a two stage cyclonic separation section which comprises one or more primary cyclonic separation devices and one or more secondary cyclones; a stripping section which comprises internals; and an inlet in fluid communication with a catalytic reactor to feed a particulate-fluid suspension to the two stage cyclonic separation section; wherein each primary cyclonic separation device comprises an internal cylindrical surface to separate a major fraction of the particulates from the suspension and form a vortex of reduced particulate content; a particulate discharge outlet from each secondary cyclone to the stripping section; wherein the particulate discharge outlet of the secondary cyclone is submerged in a catalyst bed located above the stripper internals, and wherein the stripping section comprises one or more bubble breaking grids within the catalyst bed and above the stripping internals is provided.

A fluidized catalyst stripping unit for displacing entrained gas from catalyst particles comprising: a vessel housing a two stage cyclonic separation section which comprises one or more primary cyclonic separation devices and one or more secondary cyclones; a stripping section which comprises internals; and an inlet in fluid communication with a catalytic reactor to feed a particulate-fluid suspension to the two stage cyclonic separation section; wherein each primary cyclonic separation device comprises an internal cylindrical surface to separate a major fraction of the particulates from the suspension and form a vortex of reduced particulate content; a particulate discharge outlet from each secondary cyclone to the stripping section; wherein the particulate discharge outlet of the secondary cyclone is submerged in a catalyst bed located above the stripper internals, and wherein the stripping section comprises one or more bubble breaking grids within the catalyst bed and above the stripping internals is provided.

This disclosure relates to methods of thermal carbonization, including heating a petroleum feedstock and a carbonization catalyst to form a sulfur-doped carbon product.