Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for production of base stocks with a viscosity index of at least 120 and/or a sulfur content of 300 wppm or less and/or a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 3.0 cSt to 8.0 cSt by hydroconversion of a raffinate from aromatic extraction of a feed. The base stocks can further have a reduced content of 3+ ring naphthenes, such as 4.0 wt % or less, or 1.0 wt % or less. The base stocks can be produced by performing an elevated amount of feed conversion relative to 370° C. during hydroconversion of the raffinate, and optionally additional conversion during catalytic dewaxing of the hydroconverted raffinate. The base stocks can optionally be blended with additional base stocks and/or lubricant additives for production of lubricant compositions.

Abstract: Base stocks having Group III/III+ characteristics are prepared from certain advantageous crude oils via simplified process configurations and/or under less severe process conditions. Crude oils comprising a vacuum gas oil (VGO) fraction having a ratio of a sum of paraffin content plus 1-Ring species content to multi-ring species content that is greater than or equal to about 1.5 are advantageous in this context. Other parameters such as API gravity and crude compositional ranges may also be considered for identifying advantageous crudes. In some instances, advantageous crudes are processed into Group III base stocks via a process configuration in which the crude oil is directly supplied to a hydroprocessing unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for production of base stocks with a viscosity index of at least 120 and/or a sulfur content of 300 wppm or less and/or a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 3.0 cSt to 8.0 cSt by hydroconversion of a raffinate from aromatic extraction of a feed. The base stocks can further have a reduced content of 3+ ring naphthenes, such as 4.0 wt % or less, or 1.0 wt % or less. The base stocks can be produced by performing an elevated amount of feed conversion relative to 370° C. during hydroconversion of the raffinate, and optionally additional conversion during catalytic dewaxing of the hydroconverted raffinate. The base stocks can optionally be blended with additional base stocks and/or lubricant additives for production of lubricant compositions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for production of base stocks with a viscosity index of at least 120 and/or a sulfur content of 300 wppm or less and/or a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 3.0 cSt to 8.0 cSt by hydroconversion of a raffinate from aromatic extraction of a feed. The base stocks can further have a reduced content of 3+ ring naphthenes, such as 4.0 wt % or less, or 1.0 wt % or less. The base stocks can be produced by performing an elevated amount of feed conversion relative to 370° C. during hydroconversion of the raffinate, and optionally additional conversion during catalytic dewaxing of the hydroconverted raffinate. The base stocks can optionally be blended with additional base stocks and/or lubricant additives for production of lubricant compositions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for producing base stocks by using a separation process that includes: conducting a hydrocarbon feedstream to a membrane separation zone wherein the feedstream contacts a first side of at least one membrane element; retrieving at least one retentate product stream from the first side of the membrane element; retrieving at least one permeate product stream from a second side of the membrane element; and converting at least a portion of the permeate product stream into the base stock. Also provided are base stocks produced by the separation process.

Abstract: Base stocks having Group III/III+ characteristics are prepared from certain advantageous crude oils via simplified process configurations and/or under less severe process conditions. Crude oils comprising a vacuum gas oil (VGO) fraction having a ratio of a sum of paraffin content plus 1-Ring species content to multi-ring species content that is greater than or equal to about 1.5 are advantageous in this context. Other parameters such as API gravity and crude compositional ranges may also be considered for identifying advantageous crudes. In some instances, advantageous crudes are processed into Group III base stocks via a process configuration in which the crude oil is directly supplied to a hydroprocessing unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing lubricant basestocks using a process flow that includes a conversion catalyst that can provide a desired improvement in viscosity index at a reduced or minimized amount of feed conversion. An initial processing stage can be used to produce a lubricant boiling range fraction with a reduced or minimized heteroatom content. After a separation, at least a portion of the lubricant boiling range portion can be exposed to a conversion catalyst that has an effective pore size of at least 8.0 Angstroms, a total surface area of at least 200 m2/g, and/or an Alpha value of 20 or less, where the conversion catalyst includes a supported Group 8-10 noble metal. The methods can allow for increased yields of high viscosity index lubricant boiling range products from a process flow for lubricant base stock and/or blend stock production.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for production of base stocks with a viscosity index of at least 120 and/or a sulfur content of 300 wppm or less and/or a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 3.0 cSt to 8.0 cSt by hydroconversion of a raffinate from aromatic extraction of a feed. The base stocks can further have a reduced content of 3+ ring naphthenes, such as 4.0 wt % or less, or 1.0 wt % or less. The base stocks can be produced by performing an elevated amount of feed conversion relative to 370° C. during hydroconversion of the raffinate, and optionally additional conversion during catalytic dewaxing of the hydroconverted raffinate. The base stocks can optionally be blended with additional base stocks and/or lubricant additives for production of lubricant compositions.