Thermal transformations of hydrocarbons, resins, and a mixture of hydrocarbons and resins of heavy petroleum from the Usinskoe oilfield (Russia, Komi) have been studied. Data on the material balance of the process and the composition of gaseous and liquid products of thermolysis have been obtained. The structural characteristics of asphaltenes and resins resulting from thermolysis have been investigated, and changes in the hydrocarbon composition of the thermolysis products have been analyzed. It has been shown that the direction of thermal transformations of hydrocarbons changes in the presence of resins. During thermolysis, the resin degradation reactions facilitate the formation of hydrocarbons and polycondensation reactions give rise to asphaltenes.
