Abstract: Integrated processes for upgrading crude shale-derived oils, such as those produced by oil shale retorting or by in situ extraction or combinations thereof. Processes disclosed provide for a split-flow processing scheme to upgrade whole shale oil. The split flow concepts described herein, i.e., naphtha and kerosene hydrotreating in one or more stages and gas oil hydrotreating in one or more stages, requires additional equipment as compared to the alternative approach of whole oil hydrotreating. While contrary to conventional wisdom as requiring more capital equipment to achieve the same final product specifications, the operating efficiency vis a vis on-stream time efficiency and product quality resulting from the split flow concept far exceed in value the somewhat incrementally higher capital expenditure costs.

Abstract: A butadiene extraction processes designed for flexible operations, with or without a compressor, is disclosed. The ability to run at both high and low pressures provides added process flexibility.

Abstract: Processes for upgrading partially converted vacuum residua hydrocarbon feeds are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of linear pentenes to propylene is disclosed. The process may include feeding hydrogen and a C5-olefin containing stream comprising linear pentenes, dienes, acetylenes, and cyclopentene to a catalytic distillation reactor system. Concurrently in the catalytic distillation reactor system, the acetylenes and dienes may be hydrogenated and the C5-olefin containing stream may be fractionated, thereby recovering an overheads fraction comprising the linear pentenes, a side draw fraction comprising the cyclopentene, and a bottoms fraction. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the overheads fraction may then be fed to a metathesis reactor for converting the linear pentenes to propylene.

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 severities 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.

Abstract: A process for upgrading residuum hydrocarbons including: feeding pitch, hydrogen, and a partially spent catalyst recovered from a hydrocracking reactor to an ebullated bed pitch hydrocracking reactor; contacting the pitch, hydrogen, and the catalyst in the ebullated bed pitch hydrocracking reactor at reaction conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to convert at least a portion of the pitch to distillate hydrocarbons; and separating the distillate hydrocarbons from the catalyst. In some embodiments, the process may include selecting the ebullated bed pitch hydrocracking reactor reaction conditions to be at or below the level where sediment formation would otherwise become excessive and prevent continuity of operations.

Abstract: A process is described herein for removing high freeze point hydrocarbons, including benzene compounds, from a mixed feed gas stream. The process involves cooling process streams in one or more heat exchangers and separating condensed compounds in multiple separators to form a methane-rich product gas stream. Select solvent streams from a fractionation train and/or separate solvent streams are employed to lower the freeze point of one or more streams that contain high freeze point hydrocarbons. A corresponding system also is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for converting triacylglycerides-containing oils into crude oil precursors and/or distillate hydrocarbon fuels is disclosed. The process may include reacting a triacylglycerides-containing oil-carbon dioxide mixture at a temperature in the range from about 250° C. to about 525° C. and a pressure greater than about 75 bar to convert at least a portion of the triacylglycerides to a hydrocarbon or mixture of hydrocarbons comprising one or more of isoolefins, isoparaffins, cycloolefins, cycloparaffins, and aromatics.

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.

Abstract: Processes for upgrading partially converted vacuum residua hydrocarbon feeds are disclosed.

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.

Abstract: A butadiene extraction processes designed for flexible operations, with or without a compressor, is disclosed. The ability to run at both high and low pressures provides added process flexibility.

Abstract: A process for the production of C4 olefins, which may include: contacting a hydrocarbon mixture comprising alpha-pentenes with an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerization product comprising beta-pentenes; contacting ethylene and the beta-pentenes with a first metathesis catalyst to form a first metathesis product comprising butenes and propylene, as well as any unreacted ethylene and C5 olefins; and fractionating the first metathesis product to for an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a butene fraction, and a C5 fraction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a method for obtaining synthesis gas from a gasifier that has a low methane content. The synthesis gas is obtained as an extraction gas from the quench section of the gasifier, and can be utilized as feedstock for a variety of chemical production processes without the need for expensive pre-treatment to remove methane.

Abstract: Processes for the production of high purity alpha olefins from a mixture of olefins are disclosed. The processes may include: contacting propylene and a hydrocarbon mixture comprising a mixture of olefins having a carbon number n with a first metathesis catalyst to form a metathesis product comprising a beta-olefin having a carbon number n+1, an alpha-olefin having a carbon number n?1, as well as any unreacted propylene and olefins having a carbon number n. The metathesis product may be fractionated to recover a fraction comprising the beta-olefin having a carbon number n+1. Ethylene and the fraction comprising the beta-olefin having a carbon number n+1 may then be contacted with a second metathesis catalyst to form a second metathesis product comprising an alpha-olefin having a carbon number n and propylene, which may be fractionated to form a propylene fraction and a fraction comprising the alpha olefin having a carbon number n.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of controlling the air to fuel ratio in a burner containing a venturi assembly. The venturi includes an air inlet, a primary fuel inlet with a converging section, a throat portion downstream from the converging section, a diverging section downstream from the throat portion, an outlet, and a secondary gas inlet disposed downstream from the converging section and upstream from the outlet. The method comprises introducing fuel into the fuel inlet, receiving air through the air inlet by inspiration, and feeding a gas through the secondary gas inlet, the flow rate and content of the gas fed through the secondary gas inlet being selected to result in a desired air to fuel ratio through the outlet. A method of firing a heater, a burner, a furnace and firing control systems also are disclosed.

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.

Abstract: Improved two-stage entrained-flow gasification systems and processes that reduce the cost and complexity of the design and increase the reliability, while maintaining the efficiency by implementing a first chemical quench followed by a second water quench of the produced syngas. The quenched syngas is maintained above the condensation temperature of at least one condensable component of the syngas, allowing residual particulates to be removed by dry particulate filtration.

Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking apparatus and process is disclosed, providing for efficient conversion of heavy hydrocarbon feeds to light olefins, aromatics, and gasoline. A countercurrent flow reactor operating in bubbling or turbulent fluidization regimes is integrated with a fluid catalytic cracking riser reactor. A heavy hydrocarbon feed is catalytically cracked to naphtha and light olefins in the riser reactor, a co-current flow reactor. To enhance the yields and selectivity to light olefins, cracked hydrocarbon products from the riser reactor, such as C4 and naphtha range hydrocarbons, may be recycled and processed in the countercurrent flow reactor. The integration of the countercurrent flow reactor with a conventional FCC riser reactor and catalyst regeneration system may overcome heat balance issues commonly associated with two-stage cracking processes, may substantially increase the overall conversion and light olefins yield, and/or may increases the capability to process heavier feedstocks.

Abstract: A process for recovery of natural gas liquids is disclosed, the process including: fractionating a gas stream comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane, and a heavy fraction comprising propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons; separating the light fraction into at least two fractions including a nitrogen-enriched fraction and a nitrogen-depleted fraction in a first separator; separating the nitrogen-depleted fraction into a propane-enriched fraction and a propane-depleted fraction in a second separator; feeding at least a portion of the propane-enriched fraction to the fractionating as a reflux; recycling at least a portion of the propane-depleted fraction to the first separator. In some embodiments, the nitrogen-enriched fraction may be separated in a nitrogen removal unit to produce a nitrogen-depleted natural gas stream and a nitrogen-enriched natural gas stream.