Treated Oils Having Reduced Densities and Viscosities

Abstract

A treated oil, such as a treated heavy oil, which has a viscosity which is lower than the viscosity of the oil prior to the treatment thereof (i.e., the initial oil). The temperature at which 80 mass % of the treated oil has boiled is within 25° C. of temperature at which 80 mass % of the oil prior to the treatment thereof has boiled. Thus, the treated oil and the oil prior to the treatment thereof, have distillation curves or boiling point curves which are the same as or approximate to each other.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A treated heavy crude oil, wherein said heavy crude oil has been treated ex situ, which has a viscosity at 15° C. which is less than the viscosity of said heavy crude oil at 15° C. prior to the treatment thereof, and wherein the temperature at which 80 mass % of the treated heavy crude oil boils is within 25° C. of the temperature at which 80 mass % of the heavy crude oil prior to the treatment thereof has boiled, wherein said heavy crude oil, prior to the treatment thereof, has an API gravity that does not exceed 22.3°. 
     
     
         12 . The treated heavy crude oil of  claim 11  wherein the temperature at which 80 mass % of the treated heavy crude oil has boiled is within 15° C. of the temperature at which 80 mass % of the heavy crude oil prior to the treatment thereof has boiled. 
     
     
         13 . The treated heavy crude oil of  claim 12  wherein the temperature at which 80 mass % of the treated heavy crude oil has boiled is within 10° C. of the temperature at which 80 mass % of the heavy crude oil prior to the treatment thereof has boiled. 
     
     
         14 . The treated heavy crude oil of  claim 11  wherein said treated heavy crude oil has a viscosity at 15° C. which is at least 85% less than the viscosity of said heavy crude oil at 15° C. prior to the treatment thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The treated heavy crude oil of  claim 14  wherein said treated heavy crude oil has a viscosity at 15° C. which is at least 90% less than the viscosity of said heavy crude oil at 15° C. prior to the treatment thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The treated heavy crude oil of  claim 15  wherein said treated heavy crude oil has a viscosity at 15° C. which is at least 95% less than the viscosity of said heavy crude oil at 15° C. prior to the treatment thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The treated heavy crude oil of  claim 16  wherein said treated heavy crude oil has a viscosity at 15° C. which is at least 97% less than the viscosity of said heavy crude oil at 15° C. prior to the treatment thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The treated heavy crude oil of  claim 11  wherein said treated heavy crude oil has a density which is at least 2% less than the density of said heavy crude oil prior to the treatment thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The treated heavy crude oil of  claim 18  wherein said treated heavy crude oil has a density which is at least 2.7% less than the density of said heavy crude oil prior to the treatment thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The treated heavy crude oil of  claim 19  wherein said treated heavy crude oil has a density which is at least 4% less than the density of said heavy crude oil prior to the treatment thereof.