Abstract: Naphtha desulfurization with reduced product mercaptans is achieved by reacting a naphtha feed containing sulfur compounds and olefins with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrosesulfurization catalyst at reaction conditions including a temperature of from 290-425° C., a pressure of from 60-150 psig, and a hydrogen gas ratio of from 2000-4000 scf/b. It has been found that desulfurizing within these narrow conditions permits deep desulfurization with reduced mercaptan reversion, to produce a naphtha product with low total sulfur and low mercaptan sulfur levels.

Abstract: Aerated bitumen froth obtained from oil sands must be deaerated so that it can be pumped through a pipeline. Mechanical shearing is effective to deaerate bitumen froth to an air content of below 10 volume percent. Mechanical deaeration of bitumen froth can be achieved either by passing the froth through a confining passageway and shearing the froth with an impeller while it is in the passageway or temporarily retaining the aerated froth in a tank and circulating it repeatedly through a pump.

Abstract: A metal salt removal procedure for use with a crude oil flow is disclosed. A small amount of water, and a caustic in the range of 7-12 pH, and preferably 9-12 pH, are injected to form water bubbles surrounded by oil. An ethylene oxide reacted with polypropylene glycol at 350° F. or so yields a water soluble demulsifier added at the rate of a few ppm to the water in oil mix. The added reaction product, a polyol, enables metal salt isolation in the water.

Abstract: A high VI and low pour point lubricant base stock is made by hydroisomerizing a high purity, waxy, paraffinic Fischer-Tropsch synthesized hydrocarbon fraction having an initial boiling point in the range of 650-750° F., followed by catalytically dewaxing the hydroisomerate using a dewaxing catalyst comprising a catalytic platinum component and an H-mordenite component. The hydrocarbon fraction is preferably synthesized by a slurry Fischer-Tropsch using a catalyst containing a catalytic cobalt component. This combination of the process, high purity, waxy paraffinic feed and the Pt/H-mordenite dewaxing catalyst, produce a relatively high yield of premium lubricant base stock.

Abstract: A process for producing a low pour-point oil which permits the production of a lower pour point oil without severer hydrodewaxing conditions is disclosed, which comprises hydrodewaxing a mineral oil fraction, which has been separated from a crude oil by distillation and has a boiling point ranging from 250 to 600° C., at a temperature range of from 250° C. to 500° C. in the presence of a zeolite catalyst; and separating a lighter fraction by distillation.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for preparing a low sulfur motor gasoline utilizing ethanol and caustic extraction.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for preparing an activated catalyst, to the activated catalyst composition and the use thereof in the conversion of hydrocarbon feedstocks, such as isomerisation. The catalyst composition comprising a Group VIII noble metal and a hydrocarbon-substituted aluminum compound on an alumina carrier is activated by contacting it with an inert gas in the absence of hydrogen at a temperature above 400° C., wherein at least when the hydrocarbon-substituted aluminum compound is a non-halide hydrocarbon-substituted aluminum compound, the catalyst composition is contacted with a halogen-containing gas either prior to the treatment with the inert gas or during the treatment with the inert gas, and subsequently cooling down the activated catalyst to ambient temperature in an inert gas optionally containing hydrogen or containing, at a temperature below 400° C.

Abstract: A wide-cut lubricant base stock is made by hydroisomerizing and then catalytically dewaxing a waxy Fischer-Tropsch synthesized hydrocarbon fraction feed and comprises the entire dewaxate having an initial boiling point in the 650-75O° F.+ range. Formulated lubricating oils made by admixing the base stock with a commercial automotive additive package meet all specifications, including low temperature properties, for multigrade internal combustion engine crankcase oils. The waxy feed has an initial boiling point in the 650-750° F. range and continuously boils to an end point of at least 1050° F.+. Lower boiling hydrocarbons produced by the process are separated from the base stock by simple flash distillation. The base stock comprises the entire dewaxate having an initial boiling point in the 650-750° F. range.

Abstract: Diesel fuels or blending stocks having excellent lubricity, oxidative stability and high cetane number are produced from non-shifting Fischer-Tropsch processes by separating the Fischer-Tropsch product into a lighter and heavier fractions, e.g., at about 700° F., subjecting the 700° F.+fraction to hydro-treating, and combining the 700° F.− portion of the hydrotreated product with the lighter fraction that has not been hydrotreated.

Abstract: A process for dewaxing waxy hydrocarbonaceous materials, such as hydrocarbon fuel and lubricating oil fractions to reduce their cloud and pour points comprises reacting the material with hydrogen in the presence of a dewaxing catalyst comprising at least one metal catalytic component and ferrierite in which at least a portion of its cation exchange positions are occupied by one or more trivalent rare earth metal cations. The rare earth ion exchanged ferrierite catalyst has good selectivity for lubricating oil production, particularly when dewaxing a Fischer-Tropsch wax hydroisomerate. Preferably at least 10% and more preferably at least 15% of the ferreirite cation exchange capacity is occupied by one or more trivalent rare earth metal cations.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing high quality Group II and Group III lubricating base oils from a sulfur containing feedstock using mild hydrotreating followed by isomerization/dewaxing followed by hydrogenation over a sulfur resistant hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making an asphalt product having an enhanced flash point and lower volatility, comprising vacuum distilling a blend of a high boiling petroleum fraction having an initial boiling point of at least 270° C. and a crude to produce a product asphalt having a flash of from 265° C. to 300° C.

Abstract: A process for selective hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds such as acetylenic compounds or diolefins is carried out in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one support, at least one metal from group VIII of the periodic table and at least one additional element M selected from the group formed by germanium, tin, lead, rhenium, gallium, indium, gold, silver and thallium. The process is characterized in that the catalyst is prepared using a process in which said metal M is introduced in an aqueous solvent, in the form of at least one organometallic compound comprising at least one carbon-M bond.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of an aqueous tar suspoemulsion by mixing a mixture including (a) a viscous tar composition formed from a tar, from inorganic solids and, optionally, from water, (b) water (W), (c) a surface-active agent (SA) exhibiting an HLB of at least 10 and, optionally, (d) a thickening water-soluble polymer (TWP) with a molecular mass of greater than 10,000, the relative amounts of constituents (W), (SA) and, optionally, (TWP) being such that the viscosity of the (W)+(SA)+optional (TWP) mixture is preferably equal to or greater than the viscosity of the said tar, and then optional dilution of the mixture obtained with water or with an aqueous acidic solution. The process is particularly advantageous when applied to to the residues, containing sulphuric acid, resulting from the synthesis of white oils from petroleum fractions. The present invention further relates to a method for fluidizing acidic tars/sludges including contacting the tar/sludge with sulfuric acid and a surfactant.

Abstract: The invention is the integration of a process of gasifying asphaltenes in a gasification zone by partial oxidation and the process of asphaltene extraction with a solvent. The integration allows low level heat from the gasification reaction to be utilized in the recovery of solvent that was used to extract asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon material. Asphaltenes are extracted from an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon material by mixing a solvent in quantities sufficient to precipitate at least a fraction of the asphaltenes. The precipitated asphaltenes are then gasified in a gasification zone to synthesis gas. The gasification process is very exothermic. The low level heat in the synthesis gas, either directly, or via an intermediate step of low pressure steam, is used to remove and recover the solvent from the deasphalted hydrocarbon material and from the asphaltenes prior to gasification.

Abstract: An integrated hydrotreating/hydrocracking process employs two hydrotreating catalysts of different relative activities in sequence to provide improved products. A more active second catalyst is employed after the first hydrotreating catalyst. The jet fuel fraction recovered from the effluent of the downstream hydrocracking reaction zone has a reduced aromatic hydrocarbon content compared to the prior art.

Abstract: Selective and deep desulfurization of a high sulfur content mogas naphtha, with reduced product mercaptans and olefin loss, is achieved by a two stage, vapor phase hydrodesulfurization process with interstage separation of at least 80 vol. % of the H2S formed in the first stage from the first stage, partially desulfurized naphtha vapor effluent fed into the second stage. At least 70 wt. % of the sulfur is removed in the first stage and at least 80 wt. % of the remaining sulfur is removed in the second stage, to achieve a total at least 95 wt. % feed desulfurization, with no more than a 60 vol. % feed olefin loss. The second stage temperature and space velocity are preferably greater than in the first. The hydrodesulfurization catalyst preferably contains a low metal loading of Co and Mo metal catalytic components on an alumina support.

Abstract: Petroleum wax feeds are converted to high viscosity index lubricants by a two-step hydrocracking-hydroisomerization process in which the wax feed which exhibits branchingis initially subjected to hydrocracking under mild conditions with a conversion to non-lube range products of no more than about 30 weight percent of the feed. The hydrocracking is carried out at a hydrogen pressure of at least 1000 psig (7000 kPa) using an amorphous catalyst which preferentially removes the aromatic components present in the initial feed. The hydrocracked effluent is then subjected to hydroisomerization in a second step using a low acidity zeolite beta catalyst which effects a preferential isomerization on the paraffin components to less waxy, high VI isoparaffins. The second stage may be operated at high pressure by cascading the first stage product into the second stage or at a lower pressure, typically from 200 to 1000 psig.

Abstract: A high temperature naphtha desulfurization process with reduced olefin saturation employs a partially spent and low metals content hydrodesulfurization catalyst having from 2-40% the activity of a new catalyst. The catalytic metals preferably include Co and Mo in an atomic ratio of from 0.1 to 1. The catalyst is preferably at least partially regenerable, has less than 500 wppm of a total of one or more of nickel, iron and vanadium and preferably has no more than 12 wt. % catalytic metal calculated as the oxide. This permits selective deep desulfurization, with reduced olefin saturation, low product mercaptan levels and little or need for downstream mercaptan removal.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing very low sulfur content hydrocarbon streams by contacting a hydrocarbon feedstream with an aqueous alkaline treatment stream which has been regenerated by the biological conversion of sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur. The process is characterized by the step of contacting the partially regenerated aqueous treatment stream with a hydrocarbon wash stream to remove low levels of residual elemental sulfur suspended in the partially regenerated treatment stream.