First Stage Is Hydrocracking (includes Hydro-desulfurization Under Cracking Conditions) Patents (Class 208/58)
  • Publication number: 20140326641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) preparation of a support comprising 0.2 to 30 wt % of zeolite NU-86 and from 70 to 99.8 wt % of a porous mineral matrix, the percentages by weight being expressed relative to the total weight of said support, b) impregnation of the support prepared according to step a) with at least one solution containing at least one precursor of at least one metal selected from group VIII metals and group VIB metals, used alone or as a mixture, c) at least one ripening step, and d) at least one drying step carried out at a temperature below 150° C., without a subsequent calcining step. The present invention also relates to a process for hydrocracking hydrocarbon feeds using the catalyst prepared according to the method of preparation according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Audrey Bonduelle, Emmanuelle Guillon, Magalie Roy-Auberger
  • Patent number: 8871082
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feed in a hydrotreating unit and hydrocracking a second hydrocarbon stream in a hydrocracking unit. The hydrocracking unit and the hydrotreating unit may share the same recycle gas compressor. A make-up hydrogen stream may also be compressed in the recycle gas compressor. A hydrocracking separator separates recycle gas and hydrocarbons from the hydrocracking unit to be processed with effluent from the hydrotreating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul R. Zimmerman, Peter Kokayeff
  • Publication number: 20140291204
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for conducting a hydrocracking or a hydrotreating process in a microchannel reactor. This invention also relates to a process and apparatus for flowing a vapor and liquid into a plurality of microchannels in a microchannel processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, John Brophy, Francis P. Daly, Soumitra Deshmukh, Maddalena Fanelli, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Timothy J. LaPlante, Richard Q. Long, Terry Mazanec, Daniel Francis Ryan, Laura J. Silva, Wayne W. Simmons, Bruce Strangeland, Yong Wang, Thomas Yuschak, Steven T. Perry, Jeffrey Dale Marco, Michael Alan Marchiando, Robert Lewis Litt
  • Publication number: 20140291201
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for hydroprocessing. The process can include providing a hydroprocessing zone having at least two beds, and quenching downstream of a first bed of the at least two beds with a first vacuum gas oil that may be lighter than another vacuum gas oil fed to the first bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: UOP, LLC
    Inventors: Soumendra Mohan Banerjee, Mani Krishna, Avnish Kumar
  • Publication number: 20140262941
    Abstract: Multiple grades of lube oil base feedstock are produced within a two-stage hydrocracking unit. Effluent from a first hydrocracking zone is sent to a separation zone, which includes multiple separation vessels, and a heavy liquid stream enters one cell of a dual cell fractionator charge heater and is flashed in the distillation zone of a divided wall fractionation column. A portion of the bottom stream from one side of the divided wall column is sent to the second hydrocracking zone. Feed to a second cell of the dual cell fractionation column is derived from the effluent of this second hydrocracking zone. A different lube oil base feedstocks is derived from each of the cells of the dual cell fractionation column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Vinod RAMASESHAN, Ali H. AL-ABDUL'AL
  • Publication number: 20140262942
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a process flow scheme for the processing of gas oils and especially reactive gas oils produced by thermal cracking of residua using a split flow concept. The split flow concepts disclosed allow optimization of the hydrocracking reactor seventies and thereby take advantage of the different reactivities of thermally cracked gas oils versus those of virgin gas oils. This results in a lower cost facility for producing base oils as well as diesel, kerosene and gasoline fuels while achieving high conversions and high catalyst lives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Arun Arora, Ujjal K. Mukherjee, Wai Seung Louie, Marvin I. Greene
  • Publication number: 20140221709
    Abstract: A process for upgrading residuum hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process may include: contacting a residuum hydrocarbon fraction and hydrogen with a first hydroconversion catalyst in a first ebullated bed hydroconversion reactor system; recovering a first effluent from the first ebullated bed hydroconversion reactor system; solvent deasphalting a vacuum residuum fraction to produce a deasphalted oil fraction and an asphalt fraction; contacting the deasphalted oil fraction and hydrogen with a second hydroconversion catalyst in a second hydroconversion reactor system; recovering a second effluent from the second hydroconversion reactor system; and fractionating the first effluent from the first ebullated bed hydroconversion reactor system and the second effluent from the second hydroconversion reactor system to recover one or more hydrocarbon fractions and the vacuum residuum fraction in a common fractionation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Mario C. Baldassari, Ujjal K. Mukherjee, Ann-Marie Olsen, Marvin I. Greene
  • Publication number: 20140221713
    Abstract: A process for upgrading residuum hydrocarbons and decreasing tendency of the resulting products toward asphaltenic sediment formation in downstream processes is disclosed. The process may include: contacting a residuum hydrocarbon fraction and hydrogen with a hydroconversion catalyst in a hydrocracking reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the residuum hydrocarbon fraction to lighter hydrocarbons; recovering an effluent from the hydrocracking reaction zone; contacting hydrogen and at least a portion of the effluent with a resid hydrotreating catalyst; and separating the effluent to recover two or more hydrocarbon fractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Mario C. Baldassari, Ujjal K. Mukherjee, Ann-Marie Olsen, Marvin I. Greene
  • Patent number: 8784646
    Abstract: For conversion of crude oil or a heavy hydrocarbon fraction having an initial boiling point of at least 300° C., conducting a catalytic hydroconversion in a three-phase reactor operating in a boiling bed with an upward flow of liquid and gas, separating resultant effluent into a light liquid fraction boiling at less than 300° C. and a heavy liquid fraction boiling above 300° C., deasphalting the heavy liquid fraction to obtain a deasphalted hydrocarbon fraction and residual asphalt, and recycling at least one portion of the deasphalted hydrocarbon fraction upstream of the hydroconversion stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Eric Sanchez, Jan Verstraete
  • Patent number: 8778169
    Abstract: Conversion of a heavy hydrocarbon fraction that is obtained either from a crude oil or from the distillation of a crude oil and that has an initial boiling point of at least 300° C. by hydroconversion of at least one portion of heavy hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of hydrogen in at least one three-phase reactor containing at least one hydroconversion catalyst, separation of the effluent to obtain a light liquid fraction that boils at a temperature that is less than 300° C. and a heavy liquid fraction that boils at a temperature that is greater than 300° C., and a deasphalting of at least one portion of the heavy liquid fraction that boils at a temperature that is greater than 300° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Eric Sanchez, Jan Verstraete
  • Publication number: 20140190868
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing layered catalytic processes. This is accomplished by testing various catalysts with a compound found in a feedstock to be tested, to determine the facility of the catalyst in hydrogenating, hydrosulfurizing, or hydrodenitrogenating the molecule, and hence the feedstock. In a preferred embodiment, the Double Bond Equivalence of the feedstock and molecule are determined, and catalysts are pre-selected based upon their known ability to work with materials of this DBE value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicants: JGC CATALYSTS AND CHEMICALS LTD., SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Omer Refa KOSEOGLU, Adnan Al-Hajji, Hendrik Muller, Masaru Ushio, Koji Nakano
  • Publication number: 20140174982
    Abstract: Processes are provided herein for producing naphtha boiling range products with a desired sulfur content by reducing the mercaptan content of the naphtha boiling range products after the products exit a hydroprocessing stage. Due to mercaptan reversion, naphtha boiling range products that contain even small amounts of olefins can have a higher than expected sulfur content after hydroprocessing. In order to reduce or mitigate the effects of mercaptan reversion, microchannel reactors (or microreactors) can be placed in a processing system downstream of a reactor that produces a low sulfur naphtha product. The microreactors can include a coating of metals that have activity for hydrodesulfurization. By passing at least a portion of the naphtha product through the downstream microreactors, the mercaptans formed by reversion reactions can be reduced or eliminated, resulting in a naphtha product with possessing a very low sulfur content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin S. Umansky, Charles R. Bolz, Anjaneya S. Kovvali, Carlos N. Lopez, Rathna P. Davuluri
  • Patent number: 8753501
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for hydrocracking hydrocarbon feed in a hydrocracking unit and hydrotreating a diesel product from the hydrocracking unit in a hydrotreating unit. The hydrocracking unit and the hydrotreating unit share the same recycle gas compressor. A make-up hydrogen stream may also be compressed in the recycle gas compressor. A warm separator separates recycle gas and hydrocarbons from diesel in the hydrotreating effluent, so fraction of the diesel is relatively simple. The warm separator also keeps the diesel product separate from the more sulfurous diesel in the hydrocracking effluent, and still retains heat needed for fractionation of lighter components from the low sulfur diesel product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul R. Zimmerman, Andrew P. Wieber
  • Patent number: 8747652
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a catalyst comprising at least one crystalline material comprising silicon with a hierarchical and organized porosity and at least one hydrodehydrogenating element selected from the group formed by elements from group VIB and/or group VIII of the periodic table of the elements. Said crystalline material comprising silicon with a hierarchical and organized porosity is constituted by at least two spherical elementary particles, each of said particles comprising a matrix based on oxide of silicon, which is mesostructured, with a mesopore diameter in the range 1.5 to 30 nm and having microporous and crystalline walls with a thickness in the range 1.5 to 60 nm, said elementary spherical particles having a maximum diameter of 200 microns. The invention also concerns hydrocracking/hydroconversion and hydrotreatment processes employing said catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Audrey Bonduelle, Alexandra Chaumonnot
  • Patent number: 8715485
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a catalyst comprising at least one amorphous material comprising silicon with a hierarchical and organized porosity and at least one hydrodehydrogenating element selected from the group formed by elements from group VIB and/or group VIII of the periodic table of the elements. Said amorphous material comprising silicon with a hierarchical and organized porosity is constituted by at least two spherical elementary particles, each of said spherical particles comprising a matrix based on oxide of silicon, which is mesostructured, with a mesopore diameter in the range 1.5 to 30 nm and having amorphous and microporous walls with a thickness in the range 1.5 to 50 nm, said elementary spherical particles having a maximum diameter of 200 microns. The invention also concerns hydrocracking/hydroconversion and hydrotreatment processes employing said catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Audrey Bonduelle, Alexandra Chaumonnot
  • Patent number: 8696885
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for hydrocracking hydrocarbon feed in a hydrocracking unit and hydrotreating a diesel product from the hydrocracking unit in a hydrotreating unit. The hydrocracking unit and the hydrotreating unit shares the same recycle gas compressor. A warm separator separates recycle gas and hydrocarbons from diesel in the hydrotreating effluent, so fraction of the diesel is relatively simple. The warm separator also keeps the diesel product separate from the more sulfurous diesel in the hydrocracking effluent, and still retains heat needed for fractionation of lighter components from the low sulfur diesel product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Andrew P. Wieber, Paul R. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8673131
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing synthetic crude oil from a heavy crude reservoir, comprising: (a) extracting the heavy crude oil using a steam technology; (b) separating the crude extracted and the water; (c) separating the crude into at least one light cut and one heavy cut; (d) converting said heavy cut to a lighter product and a residue; (e) optionally, partially or totally hydroprocessing the converted product and/or the light cut(s) obtained upon separation (c); (f) burning and/or gasifying the conversion residue in the presence of metal oxides in at least one chemical looping cycle producing CO2-concentrated fumes in order to allow CO2 capture, the optionally hydroprocessed converted product and light separation cut(s) making up the synthetic crude oil, said combustion allowing to generate steam and/or electricity, and said gasification allowing to generate hydrogen, the steam and/or the electricity thus generated being used for extraction (a), and/or the electricity and/or the hy
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignees: IFP Energies Nouvelles, Total SA
    Inventors: Thierry Gauthier, Ali Hoteit, Ann Forret
  • Patent number: 8652321
    Abstract: Production of gasolines with low sulfur contents from a starting gasoline containing sulfur-containing compounds comprising a stage a) for selective hydrogenation of non-aromatic polyunsaturated compounds present in the starting gasoline, a stage b) for increasing the molecular weight of the light sulfur-containing products that are initially present in the gasoline that enters this stage, a stage c) for alkylation of at least a portion of the sulfur-containing compounds present in the product that originates from stage b), a stage d) for fractionation of the gasoline that originates from stage c) into at least two fractions, one fraction virtually lacking in sulfur-containing compounds, whereby the other contains a larger proportion of sulfur-containing compounds (heavy gasoline), a stage e) for catalytic treatment of the heavy gasoline for transformation of sulfur-containing compounds under conditions for the at least partial decomposition of hydrogenation of these sulfur-containing compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies nouvelles
    Inventors: Quentin Debuisschert, Denis Uzio, Jean-Luc Nocca, Florent Picard
  • Publication number: 20140034549
    Abstract: A process for upgrading residuum hydrocarbons and decreasing tendency of the resulting products toward asphaltenic sediment formation in downstream processes is disclosed. The process may include: contacting a residuum hydrocarbon fraction and hydrogen with a hydroconversion catalyst in a hydrocracking reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the residuum hydrocarbon fraction to lighter hydrocarbons; recovering an effluent from the hydrocracking reaction zone; contacting hydrogen and at least a portion of the effluent with a resid hydrotreating catalyst; and separating the effluent to recover two or more hydrocarbon fractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Ujjal K. Mukherjee, Mario C. Baldassari
  • Patent number: 8636896
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating a hydrocarbons charge comprising the following stages, in which: a) the charge is brought into contact with a solvent in order to obtain a deasphalted effluent having a content of asphaltenes below 3000 ppm by weight, b) the deasphalted effluent is cracked in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrocracking catalyst, in a bubbling-bed reactor, so as to convert at least 50 wt. % of the fraction of the deasphalted effluent boiling above 500° C. to compounds having a boiling point below 500° C., c) the effluent from stage b) is fractionated to recover gasolines, kerosene, gas oils and a first residue, and d) at least a portion of this first residue is cracked so as to obtain an effluent comprising gasolines, kerosene, gas oils and a second residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies nouvelles
    Inventors: Christophe Gueret, Stéphane Kressmann, Jan Verstraete
  • Patent number: 8608940
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for hydroprocessing two hydrocarbon streams at two different pressures. A hydrogen stream is compressed and split. A first split compressed stream is further compressed to feed a first hydroprocessing unit that requires higher pressure for operation. A second split compressed stream is fed to a second hydroprocessing unit that requires lower pressure. Recycle hydrogen from the second hydroprocessing unit is recycled back to the compression section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Andrew P. Wieber
  • Publication number: 20130313161
    Abstract: A process of hydroprocessing a hydrocarbon in a down flow reactor comprising one or more hydroprocessing-catalyst beds. The hydrocarbon feed is mixed with hydrogen and optionally diluent to form a liquid feed mixture wherein hydrogen is dissolved in the mixture, and the liquid feed mixture is introduced into the down flow reactor under hydroprocessing conditions. The hydroprocessing-catalyst bed(s) are liquid-full and the feed reacts by contact with the catalyst. Hydrogen gas is injected into at least one of the hydroprocessing-catalyst beds such that at least part of the hydrogen consumed in that bed is replenished and the liquid-full condition is maintained. In a multi-bed reactor, hydrogen gas may be injected into more than one or all of the hydroprocessing-catalyst beds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventor: Hasan Dindi
  • Patent number: 8574425
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved process for stripping HPNA's from hydroprocessed streams in a fractionation column having a split shell configuration. Only one vapor stripping feed is required to the split shell of the fractionation column. The resulting reduction in steam requirement provides a superior fractionation in the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, Daniel J. Breitenfeldt
  • Patent number: 8568583
    Abstract: The described invention discloses an innovative hydroconversion-processing configuration for converting bitumen or heavy oils to produce a transportable synthetic crude oil (SCO). The innovative processing scheme disclosed herein maximizes the synthetic crude oil yield at a minimal investment compared to currently known methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: James J. Colyar
  • Patent number: 8562819
    Abstract: We provide a process to manufacture a base stock, comprising hydrocracking, separating, and dewaxing, wherein the base stock has a ratio of Noack volatility to CCS VIS at ?25° C. multiplied by 100 from 0.15 to 0.40. We also provide a base stock made by a process, and a base oil manufacturing plant that produces the base stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Rosenbaum, Brent K. Lok, Kathy A. Helling, Steve K. Lee, Ryan J. Schexnaydre
  • Patent number: 8557105
    Abstract: Methods for hydrocracking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock (e.g., heavy oil and/or coal resid) employ a catalyst composed of well dispersed metal sulfide catalyst particles (e.g., colloidally or molecularly dispersed catalyst particles, such as molybdenum sulfide), which provide an increased concentration of metal sulfide catalyst particles within lower quality materials requiring additional hydrocracking. In addition to increased metal sulfide catalyst concentration, the systems and methods provide increased reactor throughput, increased reaction rate, and higher conversion of asphaltenes and lower quality materials. Increased conversion of asphaltenes and lower quality materials also reduces equipment fouling, enables processing of a wider range of lower quality feedstocks, and leads to more efficient use of a supported catalyst if used in combination with the well dispersed metal sulfide catalyst particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Roger K. Lott, Yu-Hwa Chang
  • Patent number: 8551323
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydroprocessing a heavy oil feedstock are disclosed. The system employs a plurality of contacting zones and at least one separation zone, wherein a solvating hydrocarbon having a normal boiling point less than 538° C. (1000° F.) is employed. In the system, a mixture of heavy oil feedstock and solvating hydrocarbon is provided to a contact zone along with a slurry catalyst feed in a hydrocarbon diluent. The contacting zone operates at a temperature and pressure near the critical temperature and pressure of the heavy oil and solvating hydrocarbon mixture to convert at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock to lower boiling hydrocarbons, forming upgraded products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Tayseer A Abdel-Halim, Axel Brait
  • Patent number: 8545694
    Abstract: An improved aromatics saturation process for use with lube oil boiling range feedstreams utilizing a catalyst comprising a hydrogenation-dehydrogenation component selected from the Group VIII noble metals and mixtures thereof on a mesoporous support having aluminum incorporated into its framework and an average pore diameter of about 15 to less than about 40 ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Stephen J. McCarthy, Wenyih F. Lai, Sylvain S. Hantzer, Ian A. Cody
  • Patent number: 8540949
    Abstract: An apparatus and process is disclosed for hydroprocessing hydrocarbon feed in a hydroprocessing unit and hydrotreating a second hydrocarbon. A warm separator sends vaporous hydrotreating effluent to be flashed with liquid hydroprocessing effluent to produce a vapor flash overhead that can be recycled to the hydrotreating unit to provide hydrogen requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Andrew P. Wieber, Joao J. da Silva Ferreira Alves
  • Patent number: 8518241
    Abstract: Methods for processing a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flows are provided. In one aspect, the method includes providing two or more hydroprocessing stages disposed in sequence, each hydroprocessing stage having a hydroprocessing reaction zone with a hydrogen requirement and each stage in fluid communication with the preceding stage. A hydrogen source is provided substantially free of hydrogen from a hydrogen recycle compressor. The hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flow is separated into an portions of fresh feed for each hydroprocessing stage, and the first portion of fresh feed to the first hydroprocessing stage is heated. The heated first portion of fresh feed is supplied with hydrogen from the hydrogen source in an amount satisfying substantially all of the hydrogen requirements of the hydroprocessing stages to a first hydroprocessing zone. The unheated second portion of fresh feed is admixed with effluent from previous stage to quench the hot reactor effluent before entering a second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John A. Petri, Vedula K. Murty, Peter Kokayeff
  • Patent number: 8518351
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for hydrocracking hydrocarbon feed in a hydrocracking unit and hydrotreating a diesel product from the hydrocracking unit in a hydrotreating unit. The hydrocracking unit and the hydrotreating unit shares the same recycle gas compressor. A warm separator separates recycle gas and hydrocarbons from diesel in the hydrotreating effluent, so fraction of the diesel is relatively simple. The warm separator also keeps the diesel product separate from the more sulfurous diesel in the hydrocracking effluent, and still retains heat needed for fractionation of lighter components from the low sulfur diesel product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Andrew P. Wieber, Paul R. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8518239
    Abstract: This invention is directed to hydrocracking catalysts and hydrocracking processes employing a magnesium aluminosilicate clay. The magnesium aluminosilicate clay has a characteristic 29Si NMR spectrum. The magnesium aluminosilicate clay is the product of a series of specific reaction steps. Briefly, the magnesium aluminosilicate clay employed in the catalyst and process of the present invention is made by combining a silicon component, an aluminum component, and a magnesium component, under aqueous conditions and at an acidic pH, to form a first reaction mixture and subsequently the pH of the first reaction mixture is adjusted to greater than about 7.5 to form a second reaction mixture. The second reaction mixture is allowed to react under conditions sufficient to form the magnesium aluminosilicate clay. The resulting magnesium aluminosilicate clay combines high surface area and activity for use in hydrocracking catalysts and processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Theodorus Maesen, Alexander E. Kuperman, Darren P. Fong
  • Publication number: 20130206643
    Abstract: Processes for upgrading Fischer-Tropsch condensate olefins by alkylation of hydrocrackate involves providing an olefin enriched condensate stream and further providing a Fischer-Tropsch derived hydrocarbon stream comprising wax, hydrocracking the latter Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon stream to provide a distillate enriched hydrocracked product comprising isoparaffins, and alkylating the olefins with the isoparaffins in an alkylation zone to provide an alkylate product. The alkylate product is fed to a distillation unit together with the hydrocracked product, while a naphtha containing fraction from the distillation unit is fed to the alkylation zone together with the olefin enriched hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Sven Ivar Hommeltoft, Bi-Zeng Zhan
  • Patent number: 8475745
    Abstract: An apparatus and process is disclosed for hydroprocessing hydrocarbon feed in a hydroprocessing unit and hydrotreating a second hydrocarbon. The hydrotreating effluent is mixed with hydroprocessing effluent and together fractionated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Andrew P. Wieber
  • Publication number: 20130158314
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for hydroprocessing a petroleum fraction, such as a bottoms fraction from a fuels hydrocracking process, to generate a lubricant base oil. A fuels hydrocracking process typically has less stringent requirements for the sulfur and nitrogen content of a feed as compared to a lubricant base oil. Additionally, depending on the nature of the feed for the fuels hydrocracking process, the bottoms fraction may contain a relatively high level of aromatics compounds. The aromatic content of such a petroleum fraction can be reduced using a aromatic saturation stage with multiple catalyst beds, or alternatively using a reactor (or reactors) with multiple aromatic saturation stages. The catalysts in the various beds or stages can be selected to provide different types of aromatic saturation activity. An initial bed or stage can provide activity for saturation of 1-ring aromatics in the petroleum fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventor: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
  • Publication number: 20130112594
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing at least one low sulfur distillate fuel product with improved low temperature properties. A potential distillate fuel feed is initially hydrotreated to reduce sulfur and nitrogen levels in the feed to desired amounts. The hydrotreated effluent is then fractionated to form several fractions, including a light diesel/distillate fraction and a heavy diesel fraction. The heavy diesel fraction is then dewaxed to improve the cold flow properties of the heavy diesel fraction. The dewaxed heavy diesel fraction can be combined with the light diesel fraction, or the dewaxed heavy diesel fraction can be fractionated as well. Optionally, the heavy diesel fraction is dewaxed under conditions effective for producing a dewaxed fraction with a cloud point that is less than or equal to the cloud point of the light diesel/distillate fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventor: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
  • Patent number: 8435400
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydroprocessing heavy oil feedstock is disclosed. The process employs a plurality of contacting zones and at least a separation zone to convert at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock to lower boiling hydrocarbons, forming upgraded products. In one embodiment, water and/or steam being injected into at least a contacting zone. The contacting zones operate under hydrocracking conditions, employing at least a slurry catalyst. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the non-volatile fractions recovered from at least one of the separation zones is recycled back to at least a contacting zone (“recycled mode”). In one embodiment, the number of separation zones is less than the number of contacting zones in the system. In the separation zones, upgraded products are removed overhead and optionally treated in an in-line hydrotreater; and the bottom stream is optionally further treated in a fractionator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A.
    Inventors: Bo Kou, Shuwu Yang, Bruce Reynolds, Julie Chabot
  • Publication number: 20130105360
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for synthesizing non-zeolitic molecular sieves which have a three dimensional microporous framework comprising [AlO2] and [PO2] units. In preparing the reaction mixture, a surfactant is used, coupled with non-aqueous impregnation to prevent acid sites from being destroyed by water during Pt impregnation. The superior SAPO exhibits higher activity and selectivity especially in catalytic hydroisomerization of waxy feeds, due to the presence of medium-sized silica islands distributed throughout the SAPO.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Stephen Joseph MILLER
  • Patent number: 8431014
    Abstract: The invention provides for a process for dewaxing a waxy hydrocarbon feedstock to form a lubricant oil. The invention is also directed to a catalyst system comprising a hydrotreating catalyst upstream of a dewaxing catalyst, used in the dewaxing of a waxy hydrocarbon feedstock to form a lubricant oil. In particular, the invention is directed to a process and catalyst system designed to maintain yield of lubricant oil product. Specifically, the yield of lubricant oil does not decrease more than 2%, at a target pour point, over a dewaxing temperature range. The hydrotreating catalyst helps prevent aging of the dewaxing catalyst and maintains lubricant oil product yield at a target pour point over a wide temperature range. The hydrotreating catalyst comprises platinum, palladium, or combinations thereof on a low acidity inorganic oxide support where acidity is measured by a decalin conversion of less than 10% at 700° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Kamala R. Krishna, James N. Ziemer, Andrew Rainis, Joseph A. Biscardi, Thomas V. Harris
  • Publication number: 20130098802
    Abstract: In a hydrocracking process, the product from the first stage reactor passes through a steam stripper to remove hydrogen, H2S, NH3, light gases (C1-C4), naphtha and diesel products. The stripper bottoms are separated from hydrogen, H2S, NH3, light gases (C1-C4), naphtha, and diesel products and treated in a second stage reactor. The effluent stream from the second stage reactor, along with the stream of separated hydrogen, H2S, NH3, light gases (C1-C4), naphtha, and diesel products, are passed to a separation stage for separating petroleum fractions. Preferably, the effluent stream from the first stage reactor is passed through a steam generator prior to the steam stripping step. In an alternate embodiment, the effluent stream from the first stage reactor is passed through a vapor/liquid separator stripper vessel prior to the steam stripping step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Omer Refa Koseoglu, Ali H. Al-Abdul'al, Masaru Ushio, Koji Nakano
  • Publication number: 20130087481
    Abstract: A process for the hydroconversion of heavy oil feedstocks comprises a step for hydroconversion of the feedstock in at least one reactor containing a catalyst in slurry mode used to recover metals from the residual unconverted fraction, especially those used as catalysts. The process comprises a hydroconversion step, a gas/liquid separation step, a liquid/liquid extraction step, a grinding step, a leaching step, a combustion step, a metals extraction step and a step for the preparation of catalytic solutions which are recycled to the hydroconversion step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Heraud, Frédéric Morel, Alain Quignard
  • Patent number: 8409427
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for producing a treated hydrocarbon containing stream for use as a feed to a steam methane reformer of a hydrogen plant. In accordance with such method, amounts of olefins and organic sulfur species within an untreated feed are decreased in a reactor that is operated in either a hydrogenation mode to hydrogenate the olefins into saturated hydrocarbons or a pre-reforming mode in which hydrocarbon containing two or more carbon atoms including the olefins are reacted with oxygen and steam to form saturated hydrocarbons, methane, additional hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The reactor is configured and operates at a sufficiently high space velocity that olefin and organic species slip occurs that is further treated in a hydrotreater. The reactor contains a catalyst capable of promoting both hydrogenation and oxidation reactions and the hydrotreater contains a catalyst that is capable of only promoting hydrogenation reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy M. Raybold, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Vasilis Papavassiliou
  • Patent number: 8404912
    Abstract: A process for making a high VI lubricating base oil from a blend of (1) a heavy wax derived from pyrolyzing a plastic feed and (2) a lube oil feedstock is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of hydrocracking the blend and dewaxing at least a portion of the hydrocracked stream under hydroisomerization conditions to produce a lubricating base oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Joseph Miller
  • Patent number: 8394255
    Abstract: An integrated process for producing naphtha fuel, diesel fuel and/or lubricant base oils from feedstocks under sour conditions is provided. The ability to process feedstocks under higher sulfur and/or nitrogen conditions allows for reduced cost processing and increases the flexibility in selecting a suitable feedstock. The sour feed can be delivered to a catalytic dewaxing step without any separation of sulfur and nitrogen contaminants, or a high pressure separation can be used to partially eliminate contaminants. The integrated process includes an initial hydrotreatment, hydrocracking, catalytic dewaxing of the hydrocracking effluent, and an option final hydrotreatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Stephen J. McCarthy, Gary Paul Schleicher, Krista Marie Prentice, Michel Daage, Christopher Gordon Oliveri, Thomas Francis Degnan, José Guadalupe Santiesteban, Ajit Bhaskar Dandekar, William Joseph Novak, Wenyih F. Lai
  • Patent number: 8372267
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing sulfur from crude oils using a catalytic hydrotreating process operating at moderate temperature and pressure and reduced hydrogen consumption. The process produces sweet crude oil having a sulfur content of between about 0.1 and 1.0 wt % in addition to reduced crude density. The method employs least two reactors in series, wherein the first reactor includes a hydroconversion catalyst and the second reactor includes a desulfurization catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Stephane Cyrille Kressmann, Raheel Shafi, Ali Hussain Alzaid, Esam Z. Hamad
  • Publication number: 20120261307
    Abstract: Provided is a three stage hydroprocessing process for producing lubricant base stocks with a stripping/separating zone between the first two hydroprocessing zones and a separating zone following the third hydroprocessing zone. The stripping/separating zone occurs at high pressure and temperature with no disengagement between or following the hydroprocessing zones and without the use of a liquid pump prior to the second hydroprocessing zone. The process pressure is greatest at the entrance to the first hydroprocessing zone. There is also recycle of compressed gaseous effluent from the last separating zone to the stripping zone, the first hydroprocessing zone, the second hydroprocessing zone, and/or the third hydroprocessing zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric D. Joseck, Michael Brian Carroll, David Mentzer
  • Patent number: 8252169
    Abstract: This invention utilizes a novel method and set of operating conditions to efficiently and economically process a potentially very fouling hydrocarbon feedstock. A multi-stage catalytic process for the upgrading of coal pyrolysis oils is developed. Coal Pyrolysis Oils are highly aromatic, olefinic, unstable, contain objectionable sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen contaminants, and may contain coal solids which will plug fixed-bed reactors. The pyrolysis oil is fed with hydrogen to a multi-stage ebullated-bed hydrotreater and hydrocracker containing a hydrogenation or hydrocracking catalyst to first stabilize the feed at low temperature and is then fed to downstream reactor(s) at higher temperatures to further treat and hydrocrack the pyrolysis oils to a more valuable syncrude or to finished distillate products. The relatively high heat of reaction is used to provide the energy necessary to increase the temperature of the subsequent stage thus eliminating the need for additional external heat input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: James B. MacArthur, James J. Colyar, John E. Duddy
  • Patent number: 8246811
    Abstract: Process for the production of a hydrocarbon fraction with a high octane number and a low sulfur content from a hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising at least the following stages: 1) a hydrodesulfurization stage of the hydrocarbon feedstock, and 2) at least one stage for extracting aromatic compounds on all or part of the effluent that is obtained from the hydrodesulfurization stage, whereby said extraction leads to a paraffin-enriched raffinate and an aromatic compound-enriched extract sent to a gasoline pool to improve its octane number, wherein a portion of the paraffinic raffinate can be used in a mixture with the aromatic extract; another portion can be used as a petrochemistry base either for producing aromatic compounds or for producing olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Quentin Debuisschert, Jacinthe Frecon, Robert L. Huggins
  • Patent number: 8236168
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining at least one of the temperatures at which a petroleum product will manifest delayed haze and the temperature at which haze will not exist in the product is provided. The apparatus comprises a container for holding a sample of the product, a light source, light detector, heaters and coolers combined with microprocessor means for storing and analyzing at least one of light transmitted or scattered by the sample. Measurements are useful in determining the haze properties of the product and also for controlling a dehazing process to meet target haze properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Eric B. Sirota, James W. Gleeson, Marykathryn Lee
  • Patent number: 8236169
    Abstract: A process for hydroprocessing heavy oil feedstock is disclosed. The process operates in once-through mode, employing a plurality of contacting zones and at least a separation zone to convert at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock to lower boiling hydrocarbons, forming upgraded products. The contacting zones operate under hydrocracking conditions, employing a slurry catalyst for upgrading the heavy oil feedstock. At least an additive material selected from inhibitor additives, anti-foam agents, stabilizers, metal scavengers, metal contaminant removers, metal passivators, and sacrificial materials, in an amount of less than 1 wt. % of the heavy oil feedstock, is added to at least one of the contacting zones. In one embodiment, the additive material is an anti-foam agent. In another embodiment, the additive material is a sacrificial material for trapping heavy metals in the heavy oil feed and/or deposited coke, thus prolonging the life of the slurry catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc
    Inventors: Joseph V Nguyen, Axel Brait, Julie Chabot, Bo Kou, Erin Maris, Rahul S. Bhaduri, Alexander E. Kuperman