Patent ID: 7279017

Claim:
A method for converting heavy oil liquid residuum to a combustible fuel, comprising the steps of: a) providing a source of heavy oil liquid residuum having a viscosity such that said residuum is substantially non flowable; b) applying pressure for the following steps; c) reducing said viscosity of said residuum by preheating in a temperature range sufficient to facilitate flow without thermally degrading said residuum; d) providing a mixing means; e) providing water; f) mixing said water and reduced viscosity residuum from the step of reducing said viscosity in said mixing means to form in said mixing means, an emulsion of predispersed residuum in an aqueous matrix in a size distribution suitable for use as a combustible fuel; and g) maintaining said emulsion under the applied pressure, absent pumping of said emulsion where said pressure is greater than the vapor pressure of said emulsion from steps c) through f) to prevent dehydration of said emulsion while maintaining stability of said emulsion.