Patent ID: 7001502

Claim:
A process for treating crude oil or partially upgraded crude oil to reduce viscosity or upgrade such oil using hydrogen treatment under reactive conditions, said process comprising: i) heating feed stream of crude oil to about 38° C. to about 316° C. and introducing to said feed stream a first heated side stream containing hydrogen, and mixing said feed and side streams to produce a mixed stream having uniform dispersion of hydrogen molecules in said mixed stream; ii) dividing said mixed stream into a minor mixed stream and a major mixed stream, introducing said minor mixed stream to a primary separating vessel to achieve separation of volatile light ends from hydrotreated heavier ends; iii) introducing to said major mixed stream, prior to entry into said primary vessel, a mixed heavy stream returned from a primary hydrogen treatment zone to quench hydrogen treatment and minimize coke production in said primary vessel; iv) removing volatiles from said primary vessel and directing them to a secondary vessel for further separation; v) removing heavy non-volatiles from said primary vessel and directing said heavy non-volatiles to a primary hydrogen treatment loop where a second heated side stream containing hydrogen is introduced and mixed into said heavy non-volatiles to produce said mixed heavy stream, said mixed heavy stream being heated to an elevated temperature of about 343° C. to about 510° C. followed by additional mixing to enhance hydrogen reactions; and vi) combining said mixed heavy stream with said major mixed stream prior to entry into said primary vessel to quench any coke forming reactions before introduction to said primary vessel.