Abstract: A method for removing the mineral sediment from a crude oil processing system which entails filtering a topped crude oil to remove mineral sediment and backwashing the removed sediment using topped crude oil with subsequent recycle of the backwash stream to a point in the process prior to a desalting operation.

Abstract: Arsenic impurities and, optionally, iron impurities are removed from a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream, preferably shale oil, by contacting it with an aqueous solution of a metal chlorate and an acid having a pKa of less than 3.

Abstract: Arsenic impurities are removed from a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream, preferably shale oil, by contacting it with an aqueous solution of a polyacrylamide.

Abstract: An improved process for removing metals from heavy oils and other hydrocarbon feed streams is disclosed. The process includes adding phosphorous acid to the hydrocarbon feed stream under suitable demetallizing conditions. It is believed that phosphorous acid reacts with the metals contained in the hydrocarbon containing feed stream to form oil-insoluble compounds that can be removed from the hydrocarbon containing feed stream by any conventional method, such as filtration, centrifugation, or settling/decantation.

Abstract: Desulfurization and refining of aromatic hydrocarbon fraction containing organic sulfur compounds by catalytic hydrotreating can be performed with a high desulfurization rate (99 wt. % or higher) and without a significant loss (1 mol % or less) of the aromatic components.The improved process is characterized by preliminary sulfurization treatment of the catalyst of Co--Mo system, Ni--Mo system or Ni--Co--Mo system using thiophenes, and hydrotreating of the aromatic hydrocarbon fraction using thus treated catalyst at a relatively high temperature.

Abstract: A heavy hydrocarbon oil comprising constituents boiling above 1050.degree. F. is upgraded by a combination visbreaking or hydrovisbreaking and hydrorefining process in which at least a portion of the hydrorefined bottoms fraction is recycled to the visbreaking zone. The hydrorefining zone is operated at conditions to convert at least a portion of the 1050.degree. F..sup.+ constituents to lower boiling hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for the purification of liquefied coal is disclosed, employing a polarity gradient for fractionation. Maltenic and asphaltenic fractions are isolated. Integration of the fractionation process with additional processes such as distillation, partial oxidation, and catalytic hydrotreating is also disclosed.

Abstract: In the catalytic hydroprocessing of hydrocarbons, a hydrocarbon oil is successively contacted with a first hydroprocessing catalyst in a first reaction zone and a second hydroprocessing catalyst in a second reaction zone. The first catalyst has an average pore diameter at least about 30 angstroms larger than the second catalyst, although both have narrow pore size distributions wherein at least about 90 percent of the total pore volume is in pores of diameter from about 100 angstroms to about 300 angstroms, and with essentially all the pores having diameters greater than 100 angstroms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing contaminants such as arsenic from a hydrocarbonaceous fluid which consists essentially of the crude, or a fraction thereof, obtained from oil shale, solid coal, or tar sands by non-catalytically heat treating the hydrocarbonaceous fluid at a temperature of from about 20.degree. F. to about 600.degree. F. in the presence of an aqueous solution containing an agent that would convert such contaminants into components soluble in the aqueous solution. Particularly suitable agents to be utilized in the above aqueous solution to remove contaminants such as arsenic are ammonium sulfide type compounds. The purified hydrocarbonaceous fluid may be subjected to a catalytic hydrotreating process.

Abstract: Hydrogen partial pressure in the distilled vapor phase in a stripper is maintained sufficienty to allow a smooth distillation processing whereby an efficient crude oil stripping is performed. The distillate overhead thus produced is maintained at a temperature high enough for direct feeding to a subsequent hydrotreating process by means of a reflux cooler installed at the top of the stripper.

Abstract: Polymer precursor materials are vaporized without polymerization or are removed from a raw naphtha fraction by passing the raw naphtha to a vaporization zone (24) and vaporizing the naphtha in the presence of a wash oil while stripping with hot hydrogen to prevent polymer deposits in the equipment.

Abstract: The nitrogen-containing and oxygen-containing contaminants of a mineral oil are converted to the corresponding sulfur compounds by contacting the oil with a fresh catalyst containing metals from Groups VB, VIB and VIII or a deactivated and metals contaminated hydrodesulfurization catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure.

Abstract: A high pour point, high sulfur content gas oil is processed in a combination process wherein the gas oil is first catalytically dewaxed and then hydrodesulfurized in a cascade system which enables the two operations to be integrated through a common hydrogen system and whereby substantial quantities of thermal energy are recovered for reuse resulting in significant energy conservation.

Abstract: Catalytic cracking or steam cracking effluents are desulfurized without substantial decrease of their octane number by subdividing said effluent into two fractions of different boiling ranges, the heavier of which is admixed with hydrogen, the resulting mixture being completely vaporized and fed to a hydrodesulfurization zone containing a first bed of selective catalyst formed of cobalt and molybdenum, or cobalt and tungsten, or nickel and molybdenum or nickel and tungsten deposited on a non-acid carrier, and a second bed of conventional hydrodesulfurization catalyst, the effluent from the hydrodesulfurization zone being cooled down and fractionated to separate a hydrocarbon fraction of the gasoline range which is recombined with the lighter fraction of said effluent.

Abstract: A process of recovering the hydrocarbon values from low organic carbon content deposits comprises the hydrotreating of hydrocarbons from those deposits in the presence of supercritical alkane-containing solv

Abstract: Heavy asphaltenic oils are converted to lighter fractions by(a) Deasphalting the asphaltenic oil with an aliphatic C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 hydrocarbon,(b) Maintaining the oil with hydrogen at 440.degree.-530.degree. C. and 40-140 bars in a non-catalytic conversion zone, and(c) Feeding the product of step (b) to a catalytic conversion zone at 320.degree.-430.degree. C. and 40-140 bars, the catalyst in said zone comprising at least one molybdenum and/or tungsten compound and at least one nickel and/or cobalt compound.

Abstract: Lubricating base oil compositions having improved stability comprise a major amount of a base oil which has been prepared from a vacuum distillate (VD) or deasphalted oil (DAO) by severe hydrotreating optionally in combination with solvent refining, and a minor amount of an oil which has been prepared from a VD or DAO by a combination of mild hydrotreating and solvent refining.

Abstract: Contaminants such as surfactants, antifoam agents, viscosifying agents, corrosion inhibitors, other agents used in tertiary recovery of enhanced oil recovery operations, and the like are removed from a contaminated feedstock stream by contacting said feedstock stream with an adsorbent selected from montmorillonite clays, amorphous silica, and mixtures thereof with one another and/or with bauxite. In a further aspect, the thus purified feedstock stream is hydrodesulfurized.

Abstract: Contaminants such as petroleum sulfonates, anticorrosion amines, and silicone oils are removed from a contaminated feedstock stream by contacting said feedstock stream with an adsorbent comprising bauxite. In a further aspect, a thus purified petroleum feedstock stream is hydrodesulfurized.

Abstract: Improved method for maximizing jet fuel from shale oil involves hydrotreating the treated oil at a temperature of about 600.degree.-650.degree. F. in the presence of a catalyst having a relatively low metal content and then hydrotreating the oil at a temperature in excess of about 800.degree. F. in the presence of a catalyst having a relatively high metal content. A 480.degree. F. minus boiling point fraction fractionated from the foregoing process can meet JP-4 jet fuel specifications. Hydrocracking the 480.degree. F. plus boiling point fraction results in substantial additional quantities of jet fuel.

Abstract: A process for converting the raffinate from an HCl-treated shale oil to a suitable feedstock for a hydrocracking reactor for making fuels from the raffinate by hydrotreating the raffinate and thereafter water quenching the hydrotreated product.

Abstract: This invention provides a process which involves visbreaking of a heavy hydrocarbon oil in the presence of a suspension of coal particles of 50-2000 micron size.The presence of the fine coal solids permits severe visbreaking conditions which increases the yield of fuel range distillate products. Coke deposition occurs on the surfaces of the coal particles rather than on the surfaces of the heater chambers.The coal particle surfaces also serve to catalyze demetallation of the heavy oil feedstock, and to adsorb demetallation deposits.

Abstract: An improvement in the solvent extraction of nonhydrocarbons from a synfuel liquid, e.g., shale oil, involves that the extract from the extractor, rather than being recycled directly back to the extractor, is first hydrotreated. A further improvement involves that a portion of the hydrotreated extract is fractionated and a light fraction is returned to the extractor. Use of the hydrotreated extract as recycle increases the efficiency of the extractor. A still further improvement involves the use as a selective solvent of one of the following: dialkylformamide, aldehydomorpholine, keto-morpholine, morpholine or an aliphatic aromatic ketone. These preferred solvents have the advantage of providing a clear interface between the extract and raffinate in the extractor. Removal of the nonhydrocarbons permits production of more hydrocarbons having enhanced utility as a jet fuel from a synfuel liquid than otherwise would be possible.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons are preheated, particularly for a hydrodesulfurization process by first heating the hydrocarbon stream to produce a vapor and a liquid stream, thereafter superheating at least some of the vapor phase and mixing the superheated vapor phase with the liquid phase to generate the hydrocarbon feedstream at the desired temperature. By this procedure only the evaporated hydrocarbons are subjected to a high temperature, but not the heavier hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for desulfurizing petroleum oils and for improving the performance of known catalytic hydrodesulfurization processes. In accordance with the process, a narrow boiling fraction of a typical hydrodesulfurization feedstock is selectively removed prior to the introduction of said feedstock into the hydrodesulfurization unit. Feedstocks include gas oils, residual oils or other fractions which contain sulfur in the form of sulfides, disulfides and a part of a substituted ring such as thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene. The invention embodies the discovery that certain intermediate sulfur compounds are the most refractory or difficult to remove.

Abstract: Contaminants such as petroleum sulfonates, anticorrosion amines, and silicone oils are removed from a contaminated feedstock stream by contacting said feedstock stream with an adsorbent comprising bauxite. In a further aspect, a thus purified petroleum feedstock stream is hydrodesulfurized.

Abstract: A heavy hydrocarbon stream containing metals, asphaltenes, nitrogen compounds, and sulfur compounds is (a) contacted with hydrogen and a hydrotreating catalyst containing molybdenum and chromium, either as metals, as oxides, as sulfides, or mixtures thereof, deposed on a large-pore, catalytically active alumina to reduce the metals content in said stream, to convert the asphaltenes, nitrogen compounds, and sulphur compounds in said stream, the catalyst has a pore volume within the range of about 0.4 cc/gm to about 0.8 cc/gm, a surface area within the range of about 150 m.sup.2 /gm to about 300 m.sup.2 /gm, and an average pore diameter within the range of about 100 A (10 nm) to about 200 A (20 nm); and (b) at least a portion of the hydrotreated stream is cracked with a cracking catalyst to produce gasoline and distillates in improved yields. The catalyst in step (a) may also contain cobalt.

Abstract: A transformer oil processing sequence is disclosed. The process comprises contacting a naphthenic based oil with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a free radical initiating catalyst under mild oxidation conditions of temperature and pressure, fractionally distilling the resultant product and then hydrogenating the oil.

Abstract: A catalyst obtained by admixing red mud with alumina or/and an alumina-containing substance, optionally adjusting the water content of the admixture and/or adding an organic binder to the admixture, kneading and shaping the admixture into pellets having suitable size and shape, and calcining the pellets of 600.degree. C to 1,100.degree. C. The catalyst has a high compression strength and can, when used in the hydrodemetallization of hydrocarbons, achieve a high rate of demetallization and a low yield of low boiling fractions. The rate of demetallization is enhanced when the process is carried out using a hydrogen feed containing hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the demetalation of a heavy petroleum hydrocarbon stream containing metals and asphaltenes. This process comprises contacting in a reaction zone the heavy petroleum hydrocarbon stream under suitable operating conditions and in the presence of hydrogen with a catalyst comprising a hydrogenation component deposed on a large-pore, high-surface area silica gel to produce an effluent that contains less metals and less asphaltenes than the hydrocarbon stream charged to the reaction zone.

Abstract: A transformer oil processing sequence is disclosed which produces a superior oil without the use of large doses of sulfuric acid and the resultant sludge problems. The process comprises contacting a naphthenic based oil with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalytic amount of sulfuric acid under mild conditions of temperature and pressure and caustic washing the resultant product. The caustic washed product is then hydrogenated.

Abstract: A re-refining process is described by which high-quality finished lubricating oils are prepared from used waste lubricating and crankcase oils. The used oils are stripped of water and low-boiling contaminants by vacuum distillation and then dissolved in a solvent of 1-butanol, 2-propanol and methylethyl ketone, which precipitates a sludge containing most of the solid and liquid contaminants, unspent additives, and oxidation products present in the used oil. After separating the purified oil-solvent mixture from the sludge and recovering the solvent for recycling, the purified oil is preferably fractional vacuum-distilled, forming lubricating oil distillate fractions which are then decolorized and deodorized to prepare blending stocks. The blending stocks are blended to obtain a lubricating oil base of appropriate viscosity before being mixed with an appropriate additive package to form the finished lubricating oil product.

Abstract: A sulfur-containing naphtha is separated into at least three fractions. Each fraction is desulfurized separately by a different desulfurization method. Subsequently, the desulfurized fractions are recombined. The intermediate boiling point naphtha fraction is desulfurized by an alkali metal desulfurization process, preferably in the presence of added hydrogen.

Abstract: A hydrodesulfurization process for vanadium-containing ols and certain hydrogenative metal-containing supported catalysts, wherein after deposition of certain amount of vanadium on the catalyst in the absence of added water vapor, water vapor is added to the reaction zone resulting in long-lived, low-cost desulfurization.

Abstract: A method for producing a hydrocarbon material having a reduced nitrogen content involves contacting a nitrogen-containing hydrocarbon feedstock, e.g., crude shale oil, shale oil derived gas oil, mixtures thereof and the like, in at least one reaction zone with a catalyst to polymerize at least a portion of the contained nitrogen compounds, e.g., refractory high boiling nitrogen-containing compounds, and, thereafter, separating, e.g., flashing, the resulting reactor effluent to produce a hydrocarbon material having a reduced nitrogen content relative to the feedstock and effluent. This hydrocarbon material may be advantageously used in hydrocarbon hydrotreating. Also provided is a novel apparatus which can be used to carry out the method of the present invention.

Abstract: A process for hydrodenitrogenation of shale oil comprising fractionating the shale oil into relatively light and heavy fractions, passing the relatively light fraction through a zone containing a catalyst comprising supported molybdenum and Group VIII metal and passing the relatively heavy fraction through a zone containing a catalyst comprising supported tungsten and Group VIII metal.

Abstract: A stabilized lubricating oil resistant to oxidation and sludge formation upon exposure to an oxidative environment is prepared without forming undesirable color bodies therein by the steps (1) contacting the lubricating oil stock with a small amount of added elemental sulfur of from about 0.05 to about 1.0 percent by weight at a contact temperature of from about 25.degree. C. to about 130.degree. C. and (2) contacting the product of step (1) with hydrogen in the presence of alumina impregnated with at least about 10 weight percent MoO.sub.3 and at least about 2.5 weight percent CoO to remove any unreacted added elemental sulfur therefrom. The impregnated alumina catalyst of step (2) must have at least 50 percent of the pores with a pore diameter of 50 Angstrom Units or more.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for the preparation of insulating oil having good oxidation stability, electric characteristics and resistance to copper corrosion which comprises subjecting a distillate (stock) within a temperature range from 250.degree. to 400.degree. C. in terms of the boiling point at atmospheric pressure to solvent refining to a desulfurization from 30 to 75% by weight to give a raffinate, said distillate having been obtained either by distillation at atmospheric pressure of a paraffin- or mixture-base crude oil and/or by distillation under reduced pressure of a residual oil from the atmospheric pressure distillation, subjecting said raffinate to hydrogenating refining to a desulfurization from 40 to 90% by weight and subjecting the refined product to solvent dewaxing, and if necessary, subsequently subjecting the dewaxed product to clay treatment to a sulfur content of the final product from 0.1 to 0.35% by weight.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon mixtures having low sulfur contents are obtained from sulfur-containing vacuum gas oils by hydrodesulfurizing the gas oils under mild hydrodesulfurizing conditions, including use of:1. a select high-activity hydrodesulfurization catalyst,2. a temperature in the range 550.degree.F. to 850.degree. F., and3. a hydrogen partial pressure in the range 300 to 800 psig.New and advantageous results are obtained by integrating the foregoing process with one or more other process steps including:1. hydrodesulfurization of sulfur-containing vacuum residuum,2. solvent deasphalting of vacuum residuum, or3. hydrodesulfurizing a vacuum residuum and delayed coking at least a portion of the product.

Abstract: A process is described for fixed bed hydrodesulfurizing a non-asphaltic oil feed blend for a zeolitic FCC riser cracking system in which cracking occurs at a space velocity sufficiently high to prevent formation of a catalyst bed. It is shown that sulfur dioxide emissions from the zeolite catalyst regenerator associated with the riser are reduced to a lower extent than total sulfur removal from the feed oil. This indicates uneven sulfur removal in the hydrodesulfurization step whereby a smaller portion of sulfur is removed from the heavy portion of the feed from which the coke is derived than from the lighter portion of the feed. The present invention demonstrates a synergistic effect upon sulfur removal from the heavy portion of the feed by widening the boiling range of the feed and this synergistic effect is converted to practical advantage by reducing the amount of hydrodesulfurization catalyst in proportion to said synergistic effect, thereby keeping hydrocracking to a specified low level.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of a hydrocarbonaceous black oil, wherein the terminal heating of the black oil before conversion is performed by the admixture of said black oil with a gas comprising steam and having a temperature greater than the hydrocarbon conversion temperature.

Abstract: Lubricating oils are prepared by a sequence of steps comprising hydrorefining, fractionation and blending.

Abstract: Hydrorefining of asphaltenic hydrocarbonaceous mixtures utilizing a first catalytic reaction zone for vapor phase refining and a second catalytic reaction zone for liquid phase refining thereby minimizing maldistribution of the feedstock in the reaction zones.

Abstract: Gasoline product of cracking desulfurized with a selective desulfurizing catalyst by processing particularly a high boiling portion thereof to minimize hydrogenation of desired olefins in the gasoline product of cracking.

Abstract: A process is herein disclosed for decreasing olefin and diolefin unsaturation of pyrolysis naphtha (dripolene) without concomitant production of gum, heavy polymers, and/or coke; which process comprises treating pyrolysis naphtha with water at a temperature in the range of 500.degree.-700.degree.F at an elevated pressure in the range of 700-4000 psig for a residence time of from about 12 minutes to about 10 hours under conditions such that a portion of the treating water remains in the liquid phase. Treated naphtha product from said treating step, substantially reduced in olefinic and diolefinic unsaturation and essentially free of gum, heavy polymers and coke, may be hydrotreated with molecular hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst for further reduction of olefinic and diolefinic unsaturation and removal of sulfur compounds.