Embodiments of the disclosure provide an aqueous reforming system and a method for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons. A hydrocarbon feed and a surfactant stream are combined to produce a first precursor stream. The first precursor stream and an alkali feed are combined to produce a second precursor stream. The second precursor stream and a transition metal feed are combined to produce a catalytic emulsion stream. The catalytic emulsion stream is heated to produce a catalytic suspension and a decomposition gas, where the decomposition gas is separated by a first separator. The catalytic suspension is combined with a preheated water stream to produce an aqueous reformer feed. The aqueous reformer feed is introduced to an aqueous reformer such that the heavy hydrocarbons undergo conversion reactions to produce an effluent stream. The effluent stream is introduced to a second separator to produce a heavy stream and a light stream. The light stream is introduced to a third separator to produce a gas stream, a distillate stream, and a spent water stream. Optionally, a portion of the distillate stream and the hydrocarbon feed can be combined to produce the first precursor stream such that the first precursor stream is in the absence of a surfactant.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a system and method for producing a linear alpha olefin. A disulfide, a hydrogen donating compound, and water are combined to produce a mixture. The mixture is introduced to a reactor operated at a pressure equal to or greater than 22.06 MPa and a temperature equal to or greater than 374 deg. C. to produce an effluent stream. The effluent stream is separated to produce a product stream including the linear alpha olefin. The disulfide can be a compound of formula R—S—S—R′ where R is a first alkyl group having carbon atoms ranging from 1 to 12 and R′ is a second alkyl group having carbon atoms ranging from 5 to 12. The hydrogen donating compound can include a partially hydrogenated multi-ring aromatic compound.

A process for producing an upgraded oil blend, the process comprising the steps of introducing the combined stream to a supercritical reactor, wherein a volumetric ratio of water to oil in the combined stream is in the range between 10:1 and 2:1; reacting the combined stream in the supercritical water reactor to produce a reactor effluent, wherein the oil undergoes conversion reactions in the supercritical reactor such that the reactor effluent comprises upgraded bio-oil and upgraded heavy oil; reducing a temperature of the reactor effluent to produce a cooled effluent; operating the soaker to produce a product effluent, wherein a temperature in the soaker is between 250° C. and 350° C., wherein decarboxylation reactions occur in the soaker; and separating the product effluent in the separation unit to produce and the upgraded oil blend, wherein the upgraded oil blend comprises upgraded bio-oil and upgraded heavy oil.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an aqueous reforming system and a method for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons. A hydrocarbon feed and a surfactant stream are combined to produce a first precursor stream. The first precursor stream and an alkali feed are combined to produce a second precursor stream. The second precursor stream and a transition metal feed are combined to produce a catalytic emulsion stream. The catalytic emulsion stream is heated to produce a catalytic suspension and a decomposition gas, where the decomposition gas is separated by a first separator. The catalytic suspension is combined with a preheated water stream to produce an aqueous reformer feed. The aqueous reformer feed is introduced to an aqueous reformer such that the heavy hydrocarbons undergo conversion reactions to produce an effluent stream. The effluent stream is introduced to a second separator to produce a heavy stream and a light stream. The light stream is introduced to a third separator to produce a gas stream, a distillate stream, and a spent water stream. Optionally, a portion of the distillate stream and the hydrocarbon feed can be combined to produce the first precursor stream such that the first precursor stream is in the absence of a surfactant.

Provided herein are supercritical upgrading reactors and reactor systems for upgrading a petroleum-based composition by using one or more supercritical upgrading reactors and one or more supercritical standby reactors that alternate functions such that the supercritical upgrading reactor is converted to a supercritical standby reactor and the supercritical standby reactor is converted to a supercritical upgrading reactor. The supercritical upgrading reactor upgrades a combined feed stream while a supercritical standby reactor delivers a cleaning fluid into the supercritical standby reactor. The supercritical reactors may have one or more catalyst layers and one or more purging fluid inlets, and the catalyst layers may have differing void volume ratios.

A method of upgrading a petroleum feedstock, the method comprising the steps of introducing a disulfide oil, a water feed, and a petroleum feedstock to a supercritical water upgrading unit, and operating the supercritical water upgrading unit to produce a product gas stream, a product oil stream, and a used water stream.

Supercritical upgrading reactors and reactor systems are provided for upgrading a petroleum-based composition using one or more purging fluid inlets to prevent plugging of the catalyst layer in the reactor. Processes for upgrading petroleum-based compositions by utilizing a reactor having at least one purging fluid inlet are also provided.

A method of producing a product oil stream comprising the steps of mixing the liquid product in the product mixing tank for a mixing residence time to produce a mixed liquid product, maintaining the mixed liquid product in the product separation tank for a separation residence time, separating upgraded hydrocarbons from the mixed liquid product in the product separation tank, where the separation residence time allows the upgraded hydrocarbons to separate from and float on top of a water layer in an inlet section of the product separation tank, operating the product separation tank such that the upgraded hydrocarbons flow over a weir, the weir configured to separate the inlet section from an oil collection section, withdrawing the product oil stream from the oil collection section, where the product oil stream comprises upgraded hydrocarbons, and withdrawing a spent water from the inlet section of the product separation tank.

A method for producing alkene gases from a cracked product effluent, the method comprising the steps of introducing the cracked product effluent to a fractionator unit, separating the cracked product effluent in the fractionator to produce a cracked light stream and a cracked residue stream, wherein the cracked light stream comprises the alkene gases selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylene, and combinations of the same, mixing the cracked residue stream and the heavy feed in the heavy mixer to produce a combined supercritical process feed, and upgrading the combined supercritical process feed in the supercritical water process to produce a supercritical water process (SWP)-treated light product and a SWP-treated heavy product, wherein the SWP-treated heavy product comprises reduced amounts of olefins and asphaltenes relative to the cracked residue stream such that the SWP-treated heavy product exhibits increased stability relative to the cracked residue stream.

A process and a system for conversion of a hydrocarbonaceous feed comprising at least 10 ppmw and less than 10000 ppmw of one or more halides, and at least 20 ppmw and less than 10000 ppmw organically bound nitrogen, to a hydrocarbon product stream by hydrotreatment, in the presence of a material catalytically active in hydrotreatment and an amount of hydrogen, wherein said hydrocarbon product stream comprises an amount of ionic halides and an amount of ammonia, said process including: a) separating in a first separation step at a first separation temperature the mixed product stream to provide an overhead stream and a bottoms stream, b) combining the overhead stream with an amount of wash water and c) separating in a second separation step the combined overhead stream and wash water in a non-polar stream of hydrocarbon product and a polar stream of wash water comprising ammonium halides.