The present application relates to a process for production of hydrocarbons comprising the steps of converting a feed stream comprising alcohols, ethers or mixtures hereof over a metal-containing zeolite based catalyst, active in dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons, in a conversion step thereby obtaining a conversion effluent, separating said effluent to obtain an aqueous process condensate stream, a liquid hydrocarbon stream and a gaseous stream, removing part of the hydrogen formed in the conversion step, and
recycling at least part of the gaseous and/or liquid hydrocarbon stream to the conversion step.

A process for producing blown asphalt comprising the steps of mixing a heated hydrocarbon stream and a supercritical water in to produce a mixed stream, operating the supercritical water reactor to produce a reactor effluent, reducing the temperature of the reactor effluent in the cooler to produce a cooled effluent, feeding the cooled effluent through a depressurizing device to produce a depressurized stream, separating the depressurized stream in the flash drum to produce a light fraction stream and a heavy fraction stream, the heavy fraction stream contains a maltene fraction, an asphaltene fraction, and water, introducing the heavy fraction stream to a storage tank, withdrawing an oxidizing reactor feed from the storage tank, introducing the oxidizing reactor feed to an oxidation reactor, and operating the oxidation reactor at an oxidation temperature and an oxidation pressure to produce a product effluent that comprises an oxidized asphaltene fraction.

A method for preventing or removing water soluble fouling located downstream of an oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) reactor is described. The method employs the introduction of water upstream of fouling locations, either continuously or intermittently, which acts to solubilize and carry away fouling material. The method has the advantage of being applicable for use while an ODH process is ongoing, circumventing the need for a costly shutdown.

An apparatus for hydrocarbon conversion, the apparatus including a reactor and a reactor insert secured and disposed within an interior cavity of the reactor, is described. The reactor is configured to permit addition of a feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon at an upstream end of the reactor and to permit discharge of a product stream at a downstream end of the reactor. The reactor insert is configured to provide heat to the interior cavity to promote conversion of hydrocarbons as the feed stream moves from the upstream end of the reactor to the downstream end of the reactor. The products of the conversion reaction are discharged at the downstream end as part of the product stream. A method for hydrocarbon conversion using the apparatus is also described.

Hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks are processed to produce useful intermediates or products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can process a petroleum-containing feedstock, such as oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, and other naturally-occurring and synthetic materials that include both hydrocarbon components and solid matter, to obtain a useful intermediate or product.

The subject process enhances catalytic activity for demetallization and desulfurization of a residue feed stream by injecting water into the feed and hydrotreating in two stages with interstage separation. Water injection improves the demetallation activity of the HDM catalyst and separating vapor comprising hydrogen sulfide from the demetallized effluent improves the activity of the HDS catalyst. We have discovered that the water injection and hydrogen sulfide removal together provide a profound synergetic effect.

A process for producing blown asphalt comprising the steps of mixing a heated hydrocarbon stream and a supercritical water in to produce a mixed stream, operating the supercritical water reactor to produce a reactor effluent, reducing the temperature of the reactor effluent in the cooler to produce a cooled effluent, feeding the cooled effluent through a depressurizing device to produce a depressurized stream, separating the depressurized stream in the flash drum to produce a light fraction stream and a heavy fraction stream, the heavy fraction stream contains a maltene fraction, an asphaltene fraction, and water, introducing the heavy fraction stream to a storage tank, withdrawing an oxidizing reactor feed from the storage tank, introducing the oxidizing reactor feed to an oxidation reactor, and operating the oxidation reactor at an oxidation temperature and an oxidation pressure to produce a product effluent that comprises an oxidized asphaltene fraction.

Processes for the production of transportation fuel from a renewable feedstock. A catalyst is used which is more selective to hydrodeoxygenate the fatty acid side chains compared to decarboxylation and decarbonylation reactions. A gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen can be supplied to the conversion zone. Water may also be introduced into the conversion zone to increase the amount of hydrogen.

A process is provided for preparing a hydrocarbon stream for oligomerization. The process strips dimethyl ether from an olefin stream using a stripping column. Lighter olefins such as C3? olefins are also removed. The C4+ olefins can then be sent for further processing including selective hydrogenation followed by oligomerization.

A process for extracting crude oil from a solid, oil bearing diatomaceous earth. In the process includes the step (a) of mixing crude oil-bearing diatomaceous earthwith a heated solvent such as toluene to reduce the size of the oil-bearing diatomaceous earthand release crude oil into the solvent, step (b) of adding water to the size reduced solid and solvent mixture of step (a) to yield a mixture of crude oil+solvent+water+sized reduced diatomaceous earth, step (c) of passing the mixture of crude oil+solvent+water+sized reduced diatomaceous earthfrom step (b) through a cyclone separator to remove residual solids and to yield crude oil+solvent; and step (d) of passing the crude oil+solvent mixture of step (c) through a solvent stripper to remove solvent from the crude oil and to yield substantially diatomaceous earthand solvent free crude oil.