American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. Abstract Molten alkali metal carbonates are catalysts for the gasification of hydrocarbonaceous fuels with steam. The gasification temperature can be varied by changing the melt composition so that a range of products can be made from fuel oil to substitute natural gas. Molten salt gasification can be used for processing of heavy oils and municipal processing of heavy oils and municipal refuse, for coal to SNG, clean power, clean boiler fuel, synthesis gas and ammonia. Heavy oil pyrolysis and cracking in molten salt are discussed in this paper. The status of development is given. Introduction The Kellogg Molten Salt Process under development for the past ten years has been aimed at coal gasification to produce a high Btu pipeline gas and a produce a high Btu pipeline gas and a low Btu boiler and gas turbine fuel. Progress on this process has been Progress on this process has been reported in various publications and is basically covered by U.S. patent 3,252,773, among others. However, initial interest at Kellogg was not for coal gasification but for heavy hydrocarbon conversion. The initial experimental work on this process was done in 1959 and is the subject of U.S. patent 3,252,774. The purpose of this patent 3,252,774. The purpose of this paper is to describe our work on the paper is to describe our work on the processing of heavy oils and to give the processing of heavy oils and to give the status of development of the molten salt process. process. PROCESSING OF HEAVY HYDROCARBONS PROCESSING OF HEAVY HYDROCARBONS It has been known for many years that alkali metal carbonates (lithium, sodium potassium) promote the carbonsteam and carbon-CO2 reactions. When equal parts of the above three alkali metal carbonates are mixed, an eutectic mixture is formed which melts at about 750 degrees F. This melting point then allows operation of a reactor point then allows operation of a reactor over a wide range of temperatures so that the products can be changed almost at will. Shown in Figure 1 is the relationship between molten salt reactor temperature and the range of principal products when a heavy oil is the feed material. As seen in Figure 1 at 900–1000 degrees F, fuel oil, gasoline and lighter materials can be formed. At 1300–1500 degrees F, liquid products are no longer produced but ethylene-propylene are maximized.