Abstract: Methods for processing heavy oil feeds are provided comprising first and second hydroconversion reactors at differing hydroconversion conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for upgrading blends of catalytic slurry oil and steam cracker tar to form fuel and/or fuel blending products. The steam cracker tar can optionally correspond to a fluxed steam cracker tar that includes steam cracker gas oil and/or another type of gas oil or other diluent. It has been unexpectedly discovered that blends of catalytic slurry oil and steam cracker tar can be hydroprocessed under fixed bed conditions while reducing or minimizing the amount of coke formation on the hydroprocessing catalyst and/or while reducing or minimizing plugging of the fixed bed, as would be conventionally expected during fixed bed processing of a feed containing a substantial portion of steam cracker tar. Additionally or alternately, it has been unexpectedly discovered that formation of coke fines within steam cracker tar can be reduced or minimized by blending steam cracker tar with catalytic slurry oil.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for slurry hydroconversion of a heavy oil feedstock, such as an atmospheric or vacuum resid, in the presence of an enhanced or promoted slurry hydroconversion catalyst system. The slurry hydroconversion catalyst system can be formed from a) a Group VIII non-noble metal catalyst precursor/concentrate (such as an iron-based catalyst precursor/concentrate) and b) a Group VI metal catalyst precursor/concentrate (such as a molybdenum-based catalyst precursor/concentrate) and/or a Group VI metal sulfided catalyst.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing naphtha boiling range fractions having a reduced or minimized amount of sulfur and an increased and/or desirable octane rating and suitable for incorporation into a naphtha fuel product. A naphtha boiling range feed can be separated to form a lower boiling portion and a higher boiling portion. The lower boiling portion, containing a substantial amount of olefins, can be exposed to an acidic catalyst without the need for providing added hydrogen in the reaction environment. Additionally, during the exposure of the lower boiling portion to the acidic catalyst, a stream of light olefins (such as C2-C4 olefins) can be introduced into the reaction environment. Adding such light olefins can enhance the C5+ yield and/or improve the removal of sulfur from thiophene and methyl-thiophene compounds in the naphtha feed.

Abstract: The invention includes a hydrotreating method for increased CO content comprising: contacting an olefinic naphtha feedstream with a hydrogen-containing treat gas stream and a hydrotreating catalyst in a reactor under hydrotreating conditions sufficient to at least partially hydrodesulfurize and/or hydrodenitrogenate the feedstream, wherein the feedstream and the hydrogen-containing treat gas stream collectively have greater than 10 vppm CO content and/or wherein the reactor inlet sees an average CO concentration of greater than 10 vppm, wherein the hydrotreating catalyst comprises a catalyst having cobalt and molybdenum disposed on a silica-based support, and wherein the hydrotreating conditions are selected such that the catalyst has a relative HDS activity at least 10% greater than an identical catalyst under identical conditions except for a collective CO content of the feedstream and/or hydrogen-containing treat gas being <10 vppm and/or a reactor inlet CO content <10 vppm.

Abstract: A cost effective method for reutilizing exiting refinery equipment associated with either a Reformer Unit or Isomerization Unit by converting such units into units and associated processes for hydrodesulfurizing and cracking naphtha feedstocks into light plant gases and chemical feedstocks. These existing Reformer or Isomerization units and processes can be converted into the processes described herein with very little capital expenditures, essentially utilizing almost all of the existing unit equipment, and with little to no major equipment replacements. The processes disclosed herein also effectively reduce the overproduction of naphtha currently experienced in many modern refineries that have resulted from a reduction in overall demand of gasoline products relative to other refinery products.

Abstract: A reaction inhibitor can be used to reduce catalyst activity at the beginning of a naphtha selective hydrodesulfurization process. The use of the reaction inhibitor can allow greater flexibility in selecting the reaction conditions to accommodate both the start and end of the hydrodesulfurization process. The reaction inhibitor can be removed during the hydrodesulfurization process, possibly in conjunction with modification of the reaction temperature, in order to maintain a substantially constant amount of sulfur in the naphtha product.

Abstract: The invention includes a hydrotreating method for increased CO content comprising: contacting an olefinic naphtha feedstream with a hydrogen-containing treat gas stream and a hydrotreating catalyst in a reactor under hydrotreating conditions sufficient to at least partially hydrodesulfurize and/or hydrodenitrogenate the feedstream, wherein the feedstream and the hydrogen-containing treat gas stream collectively have greater than 10 vppm CO content and/or wherein the reactor inlet sees an average CO concentration of greater than 10 vppm, wherein the hydrotreating catalyst comprises a catalyst having cobalt and molybdenum disposed on a silica-based support, and wherein the hydrotreating conditions are selected such that the catalyst has a relative HDS activity at least 10% greater than an identical catalyst under identical conditions except for a collective CO content of the feedstream and/or hydrogen-containing treat gas being <10 vppm and/or a reactor inlet CO content <10 vppm.

Abstract: A reaction inhibitor can be used to reduce catalyst activity at the beginning of a naphtha selective hydrodesulfurization process. The use of the reaction inhibitor can allow greater flexibility in selecting the reaction conditions to accommodate both the start and end of the hydrodesulfurization process. The reaction inhibitor can be removed during the hydrodesulfurization process, possibly in conjunction with modification of the reaction temperature, in order to maintain a substantially constant amount of sulfur in the naphtha product.

Abstract: A low hydrogen partial pressure process for desulfurizing naphtha in the presence of a hydrodesulfurization catalyst which catalyst is selective for suppressing hydrogenation of olefins and in the presence. This invention also relates to the use of optimum metals loading for achieving a high level of hydrodesulfurization with a low level of olefin saturation.

Abstract: A low hydrogen partial pressure process for desulfurizing naphtha in the presence of a hydrodesulfurization catalyst which catalyst is selective for suppressing hydrogenation of olefins and in the presence. This invention also relates to the use of optimum metals loading for achieving a high level of hydrodesulfurization with a low level of olefin saturation.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrodesulfurization of olefinic naphtha streams containing a substantial amount of organically-bound sulfur and olefins. The olefinic naphtha stream is selectively desulfurized in a hydrodesulfurization reaction stage. The hydrodesulfurized effluent stream is separated into a light and heavy liquid fraction and the heavier fraction is further processed in a mercaptan destruction reaction stage to reduce the content of mercaptan sulfur in the final product.

Abstract: Naphtha hydrodesulfurization selectivity is increased by reducing the amount of COX (CO plus ½ CO2) in the hydrodesulfurization reaction zone to less than 100 vppm. While this is useful for non-selective hydrodesulfurization, it is particularly useful for selectively desulfurizing an olefin-containing naphtha without octane loss due to olefin saturation by hydrogenation. The COX reduction is achieved by removing COX from the treat gas before it is passed into the reaction zone.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrodesulfurization of olefinic naphtha streams containing a substantial amount of organically-bound sulfur and olefins. The olefinic naphtha stream is selectively desulfurized in a first hydrodesulfurization stage. The effluent stream from this first stage is sent to a separation zone wherein a lower boiling naphtha stream and a higher boiling naphtha stream are produced. The lower boiling naphtha stream is sent through at least two more separation zones, each at a lower temperature than the preceding separation stage. The higher boiling naphtha stream, which contains most of the sulfur moieties, is passed to a second hydrodesulfurization stage wherein at least a fraction of the sulfur moieties are removed.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrodesulfurization of naphtha streams containing a substantial amount of olefins and organically bound sulfur. The naphtha stream is selectively hydrodesulfurized by passing it through a first reaction zone containing a bed of a first hydrodesulfurization catalyst, then passing the resulting product stream through a second reaction zone containing a bed of a second hydrodesulfurization catalyst, which second hydrodesulfurization catalyst contains a lower level of catalytic metals than the first hydrodesulfurization catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing a naphtha having a decreased amount of sulfur by selective hydroprocessing a petroleum feedstream comprising cracked naphtha to reduce its sulfur content with minimum loss of octane. The reduced sulfur naphtha stream contains mercaptan sulfur reversion products that are removed preferably by use of an aqueous base solution containing a catalytically effective amount of a phase transfer catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrodesulfurization of naphtha streams containing sulfur and olefins. A substantially olefins-free naphtha stream is blended with an olefins/sulfur-containing naphtha stream and hydrodesulfurized resulting in the substantial removal of sulfur without excessive olefin saturation.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrodesulfurization of naphtha streams containing a substantial amount of olefins and organically bound sulfur. The naphtha stream is selectively hydrodesulfurized by passing it through a first reaction zone containing a bed of a first hydrodesulfurization catalyst, then passing the resulting product stream through a second reaction zone containing a bed of a second hydrodesulfurization catalyst, which second hydrodesulfurization catalyst contains a lower level of catalytic metals than the first hydrodesulfurization catalyst.

Abstract: Naphtha hydrodesulfurization selectivity is increased by reducing the amount of COX (CO plus ½ CO2) in the hydrodesulfurization reaction zone to less than 100 vppm. While this is useful for non-selective hydrodesulfurization, it is particularly useful for selectively desulfurizing an olefin-containing naphtha without octane loss due to olefin saturation by hydrogenation. The COX reduction is achieved by removing COX from the treat gas before it is passed into the reaction zone.

Abstract: A process for decreasing the amount of sulfur in a petroleum stream.