Patent ID: 8216520

Claim:
An apparatus for upgrading heavy oil in an environment free of an externally supplied catalyst or externally supplied hydrogen source, the apparatus comprising: a mixing zone operable to combine heavy oil with a water feed at a slightly elevated temperature to create a heavy oil/water mixture, the mixing zone comprising an ultrasonic wave generator; a pre-heating zone that is fluidly connected with the mixing zone, the pre-heating zone operable to heat the heavy oil/water mixture to a temperature up to about 350° C.; a high pressure pumping means, the high pressure pumping means operable to increase pressure of the heavy oil/water mixture to at least the critical pressure of water; and a reaction zone comprising a main reactor having an interior portion, the reaction zone is fluidly connected with the pre-heating zone; the main reactor being operable to withstand a temperature that is at least as high as the critical temperature of water; the main reactor being operable to withstand pressure in excess of the critical pressure of water, the reaction zone being essentially free of an externally-provided catalyst and essentially free of an externally-provided hydrogen source.