Method and apparatus for processing hydrocarbons

Abstract

A method and apparatus break down compounds, typically hydrocarbons, through oxidation. The compounds may still be in-situ or in a man-made location. The method for the processing of hydrocarbons within a location, provides for: a) introducing two electrodes into the location containing the hydrocarbons; b) providing connections between a voltage source and the electrodes; c) applying a voltage of a first polarity to the connections for a first period of time, under the control of a voltage controller; d) applying a voltage of a second, reversed, polarity to the connections for a second period of time, under the control of the voltage controller; e) repeating steps c) and d); steps c), d) and e) promoting the generation of free radicals thereby promoting a reduction in the length of the carbon chain and/or a reduction in the sulphur content and/or a reduction in the heavy metal content of the hydrocarbons.

1 . A method for the processing of hydrocarbons within a location, the method comprising:
 a) introducing at least two electrodes into the location, the location containing the hydrocarbons;   b) providing connections between a voltage source and the at least two electrodes;   c) applying a voltage of a first polarity to the connections for a first period of time, under the control of a voltage controller;   d) applying a voltage of a second, reversed, polarity to the connections for a second period of time, under the control of the voltage controller;   e) repeating steps c) and d) a plurality of times;   steps c), d) and e) promoting a reduction in the length of the carbon chain for one of more species present in the hydrocarbon and/or a reduction in the sulphur content of the hydrocarbons and/or a reduction in the heavy metal content of the hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbons are within a volume of material at the location, with the volume of material being a matrix, the matrix being a mixture of liquids and solids, including the hydrocarbons and the surrounding rock. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the location is a man-made location for hydrocarbons extracted by human activity, the location being selected from the group:
 a location built to contain the hydrocarbons;   a storage location;   a transport location;   a conduit through which hydrocarbons pass;   a processing location.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the voltage is the voltage necessary to achieve a voltage of greater than 0.2V/m across the separation between the electrode of one potential and the electrode of a different potential which is closest to that electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the voltage applied is in the form of a voltage pulse profile, the voltage pulse having a first section during which the voltage is at a maximum value, the voltage pulse profile having a first reversed section during which the voltage is at a maximum value, but of opposing polarity. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a defined current pulse profile is provided. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the defined current pulse profile includes a first section, a second section following on directly from the first section and a third section, wherein a fourth section intermediate the second section and the third section of the defined current pulse profile is also provided. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the defined current pulse profile has a first section having a start current value and an end current value, the first section start current value being zero and the first section end current value being the maximum current for the defined current pulse profile 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the defined current pulse profile has a second section having a start current value and an end current value, the second section start current value being the maximum current for the defined current pulse profile, with the current declining between the second section start current value and the second section end current value, the second section end current value being a declined current value. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the defined current pulse continues at that declined current value for a fourth section of a current pulse profile, with the fourth section intermediate the second section and the third section of the defined current pulse profile. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the third section has a start current value and an end current value, the third section start current value is less than the maximum current for the defined current pulse profile and/or is the declined current value and the third section end current value is zero. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the defined current pulse profile has a first section which lasts for a first time period, the first time period being less than 0.5 ms. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the second section of the defined current pulse profile has a duration of between 10 ms and 500 ms. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the duration of the fourth section is greater than 500 ms. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the third section lasts for a third time period, the third time period being less than 0.5 ms. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the first section and/or second section have a current value in excess of the fourth section current value due to the discharge of the charge provided to the volume or material or a part of the volume of material during the immediately previous fourth reversed section. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the second section and/or the second reverse section include a current above the declined current value due to the voltage applied causing the one or more of the species to be treated and/or one or more components of the material, particularly of the matrix, to become charged according to the natural capacitance of the system. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the fourth section provides the, or a part of the, pulse during which the volume of material or a part of the volume of material becomes charged with the charge which contributes to the second reversed section of the current pulse profile. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method promotes oxidisation by generating free radicals within the location. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a first API value at a first time and the hydrocarbon has a second API value at a second time which is after the first time, the second API value being greater than the first API value, without the hydrocarbon being blended and/or mixed and/or contact with any further hydrocarbons of a different composition. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a first viscosity value at a first time and the hydrocarbon has a second viscosity value at a second time which is after the first time, wherein the second viscosity value is less than the first viscosity value, without the hydrocarbon being blended and/or mixed and/or contact with any further hydrocarbons of a different composition. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a first sulphur content at a first time and the hydrocarbon has a second sulphur content at a second time which is after the first time, the second sulphur content being less than the first sulphur content, without the hydrocarbon being blended and/or mixed and/or contact with any further hydrocarbons of a different composition. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a first heavy metal content at a first time and the hydrocarbon has a second heavy metal content at a second time which is after the first time, the second heavy metal content being less than the first heavy metal content, without the hydrocarbon being blended and/or mixed and/or contact with any further hydrocarbons of a different composition. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for the processing of hydrocarbons within a location, the apparatus including comprising:
 a) at least two electrodes, the at least two electrodes being introduced into the location, the location containing the hydrocarbons;   b) connections between a voltage source and the at least two electrodes;   c) a voltage controller for applying a voltage of a first polarity to the connections for a first period of time;   d) the voltage controller applying a voltage of a second, reversed, polarity to the connections for a second period of time;   e) the voltage controller repeating steps c) and d) a plurality of times;   steps c), d) and e) promoting a reduction in the length of the carbon chain for one of more species present in the hydrocarbon and/or a reduction in the sulphur content of the hydrocarbons and/or a reduction in the heavy metal content of the hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         25 . A method of calibrating the operating conditions to be used in a method of processing hydrocarbons within a location, the method comprising:
 a) introducing at least two electrodes into the location, the location containing a sample of the hydrocarbons for processing;   b) providing connections between a voltage source and the at least two electrodes;   c) applying a voltage of a first polarity to the connections for a first period of time, under the control of a voltage controller;   d) applying a voltage of a second, reversed, polarity to the connections for a second period of time, under the control of the voltage controller;   e) detecting the current arising within the sample or volume of material;   f) varying one or more characteristics of the voltage;   g) detecting the current arising within the sample or volume of material with the revised characteristics of the voltage;   h) further varying one or more characteristics of the voltage until a defined current pulse profile is detected.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the sample is a sample taken from the location for which processing is to be applied and/or the sample is a sample of material believed to have or having equivalent properties to the volume of material. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the detected current varies according to one or more of the circuit resistance, the electrical conductivity of the material, the electrical conductivity of the matrix within the material, the electrical conductivity of the fluid within the material and/or one or more species within the material, and/or the number of electrodes provided within the material and/or the positions and/or separations of the electrodes within the material. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claims 25 , wherein the defined current pulse profile includes a first section, a second section following on directly from the first section and a third section, wherein a fourth section intermediate the second section and the third section of the defined current pulse profile is also provided. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the defined current pulse profile has a first section having a start current value and an end current value, the first section start current value being zero and the first section end current value being the maximum current for the defined current pulse profile 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the defined current pulse profile has a second section having a start current value and an end current value, the second section start current value being the maximum current for the defined current pulse profile, with the current declining between the second section start current value and the second section end current value, the second section end current value being a declined current value. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the defined current pulse continues at that declined current value for a fourth section of a current pulse profile, with the fourth section intermediate the second section and the third section of the defined current pulse profile. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the third section has a start current value and an end current value, the third section start current value is less than the maximum current for the defined current pulse profile and/or is the declined current value and the third section end current value is zero.