Patent ID: 9238780
Filing Date: 2016-01-19
CPC Classification: C10G

Claim Text:
1. A process for obtaining extracted crude oil (ECO) which is substantially free of impurities including naphthenic acids, calcium, nickel, vanadium, and Conradson Carbon Residue (CCR) from a starting material containing less than 1 wt. % asphaltene selected from the group consisting of low asphaltic crude oils, atmospheric residues of low asphaltic crude oils, and vacuum residues of low asphaltic crude oils; said process comprising the following steps: a) subjecting the starting material to preferential extraction of saturates using at least one solvent by vigorously mixing the starting material with at least one solvent to form a mixture, wherein said solvent is at least one selected from the group consisting of C3 to C7 paraffins, C3 to C7 olefins, C3 to C7 ketones, C3 to C7 ethers, C3 to C7 alcohols and mixtures thereof, and, when present, the proportion of paraffins in said solvent ranges from 70 wt. % to 100 wt. %; b) heating the mixture to a temperature in the range of 50° C. to 140° C. and at a pressure in the range of 4 kg/cm c) separating the top layer from the biphasic mixture; and d) heating the separated top layer to a temperature in the range of 50° C. to 60° C. and at a pressure in the range of 0.1 kg/cm