The present disclosure provides for processes for producing light hydrocarbons. In an embodiment, a process includes pressurizing the hydrocarbon feed in one or more pumps producing a pressurized hydrocarbon feed and heating the pressurized hydrocarbon feed in one or more heat exchangers to produce a heated hydrocarbon feed. The process includes mixing the heated hydrocarbon feed with water and separating an inter-stage hydrocarbon feed from interstage water. The process includes mixing the inter-stage hydrocarbon feed with water and separating a desalted hydrocarbon feed from outlet water. The process includes pyrolysing the desalted hydrocarbon feed in a steam cracker.

The present disclosure provides for processes for producing light hydrocarbons. In an embodiment, a process includes pressurizing the hydrocarbon feed in one or more pumps producing a pressurized hydrocarbon feed and heating the pressurized hydrocarbon feed in one or more heat exchangers to produce a heated hydrocarbon feed. The process includes mixing the heated hydrocarbon feed with water and separating an inter-stage hydrocarbon feed from interstage water. The process includes mixing the inter-stage hydrocarbon feed with water and separating a desalted hydrocarbon feed from outlet water. The process includes pyrolysing the desalted hydrocarbon feed in a steam cracker.

Processes for preparing a low particulate liquid hydrocarbon product are provided and includes blending a tar stream containing particles with a fluid to produce a fluid-feed mixture containing tar, the particles, and the fluid, and centrifuging the fluid-feed mixture at a temperature of greater than 60° C. to produce a higher density portion and a lower density portion, where the lower density portion contains no more than 25 wt % of the particles in the fluid-feed mixture.

Processes for preparing a low particulate liquid hydrocarbon product are provided and includes blending a tar stream containing particles with a fluid to produce a fluid-feed mixture containing tar, the particles, and the fluid, and centrifuging the fluid-feed mixture at a temperature of greater than 60° C. to produce a higher density portion and a lower density portion, where the lower density portion contains no more than 25 wt % of the particles in the fluid-feed mixture.

Processes for preparing a low particulate liquid hydrocarbon product are provided and includes blending a tar stream containing particles with a fluid to produce a fluid-feed mixture containing tar, the particles, and the fluid, where the fluid-feed mixture contains about 30 wt % or greater of the fluid based on a combined weight of the tar stream and the fluid. The method also includes separating, e.g., by centrifuging, from the fluid-feed mixture a higher density portion and a lower density portion, where the lower density portion contains no more than 25 wt % of the particles in the fluid-feed mixture, based on the weight of the particles in the fluid-feed mixture.

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.

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.

Methods for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed are disclosed. The methods include a hydrocarbon feed having an insolubility number, I.sub.feed, with at least a first fluid to form a fluid-feed mixture; and inducing a centrifugal force to the fluid-feed mixture sufficient to form at least a higher density portion and a lower density portion, said lower density portion having an insolubility number, I.sub.LD, wherein I.sub.LD/I.sub.feed≦0.95. Methods and apparatus for hydroprocessing the treated feed and blending with a fuel oil blend-stock are also described.

Methods for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed are disclosed. The methods include a hydrocarbon feed having an insolubility number, I.sub.feed, with at least a first fluid to form a fluid-feed mixture; and inducing a centrifugal force to the fluid-feed mixture sufficient to form at least a higher density portion and a lower density portion, said lower density portion having an insolubility number, I.sub.LD, wherein I.sub.LD/I.sub.feed≦0.95. Methods and apparatus for hydroprocessing the treated feed and blending with a fuel oil blend-stock are also described.

A heavy petroleum oil feed is upgraded by having its amenability to cracking improved by subjecting the oil to selective partial oxidation with a catalytic oxidation system to partially oxidize aromatic ring systems in the heavy oil. The partially oxidized oil can then be cracked in the conventional manner but at lower severities to lower molecular weight cracking products. The cracking following the partial oxidation step may be thermal in nature as by thermal cracking, delayed, contact or fluid coking or fluid catalytic cracking or hydrogenative as in hydrocracking.