Deasphalting Patents (Class 208/86)
  • Patent number: 6096189
    Abstract: A process for producing a lubricating oil basestock having at least 90 wt. % saturates and a VI of at least 105 by selectively hydroconverting a raffinate from a solvent extraction zone in a two step hydroconversion zone followed by a hydrofinishing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Ian A. Cody, Douglas R. Boate, Sandra J. Alward, William J. Murphy, John E. Gallagher, Alberto Ravella, Richard A. Demmin
  • Patent number: 6054496
    Abstract: A method for producing a heavy crude oil from a subterranean formation through a wellbore, transporting the heavy crude oil to a market location and converting the heavy crude oil into a product distillate hydrocarbon stream and by-products such as heat, steam, electricity and synthesis gas by separating distillable components of the heavy crude oil by distillation and solvent deasphalting and converting the asphaltic residual portion of the heavy crude oil in a fluidized bed to at least one of heat, steam, electricity or synthesis gas. The method also produces diluent hydrocarbons useful as a separate product, a distillable hydrocarbon stream or a diluent for use in the production and transportation of the heavy crude oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Steven D. Crane, Gary L. Beer, Harrison F. Blacker
  • Patent number: 5976361
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon source feed is upgraded using a solvent deasphalting (SDA) unit employing a solvent having a critical temperature T.sub.c by initially separating from a first hydrocarbon input stream fractions with an atmospheric equivalent boiling temperature less than about T.sub.f .degree. F. for producing a stream of T.sub.f.sup.- fractions and a residue stream (T.sub.f.sup.+ stream), where T.sub.f is greater than about T.sub.c -50.degree. F. In the SDA unit, a second hydrocarbon input stream which includes the residue stream is deasphalted for producing a first product stream of substantially solvent-free asphaltenes, and a second product stream containing substantially solvent-free deasphalted oil (DAO). The source feed may be included in either the first or second input streams. The DAO in the second product stream is thermally cracked for producing an output stream that includes thermally cracked fractions and by-product asphaltenes produced by thermally cracking the DAO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard L. Hood, Phillip B. Rettger, Randall S. Goldstein, Lucien Y. Bronicki, Benjamin Doron, Joseph Sinai
  • Patent number: 5958365
    Abstract: Heavy crude oil is recovered and processed at a refinery through (a) a distillation zone(s), (b) a solvent deasphalting unit (c ) a high pressure air partial oxidation gasifier to produce a CO-rich gas mixture including hydrogen, (d) a shift reactor and (e) a purification step to produce 99.9% pure hydrogen. The hydrogen is used to treat a deasphalted oil fraction and distillate hydrocarbon fractions obtained from the crude oil. The process is considered integrated in the sense that the purified hydrogen recovered from the heavy crude oil is used to treat hydrocarbons recovered from the same crude oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: Stephen K. Liu
  • Patent number: 5919355
    Abstract: A fractioning solvent deasphalting plant applies a solvent whose critical temperature is T.sub.c to a hydrocarbon feed containing asphaltenes and atmospheric distillate having fractions that boil above about T.sub.c -50.degree. F. such that said feed is separated into a substantially solvent-free product stream of atmospheric distillate, a substantially solvent-free product stream containing deasphalted oil substantially free of said atmospheric distillate, and a substantially solvent-free product stream containing asphaltenes substantially free of said atmospheric distillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd
    Inventor: Richard L. Hood
  • Patent number: 5911875
    Abstract: A method of generating power from residual fuel oil that is deasphalted with a flow of process steam to produce a deasphalted oil stream, a pitch stream, and a deasphalting condensate stream. The deasphalted oil stream is burned in a pressurized oxygen-bearing gas to produce a pressurized hot gas stream. This pressurized hot gas stream is expanded in a turbine that produces shaft power and an expanded gas stream. The expanded gas stream is cooled by transferring heat from it to a flow of feed water that becomes steam. A portion of the steam becomes at least part of the flow of process steam used to deasphalt the residual fuel oil, thus integrating the deasphalting and the steam generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Vernon Hervish, Kermit R. Wescott, Michael S. Briesch, Steve W. Brown
  • Patent number: 5466365
    Abstract: A process for deasphalting and demetallizing petroleum vacuum distillation residues using dimethylcarbonate (DMC) in the presence of an overpressure of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and comprising:mixing a vacuum distillation residue with dimethylcarbonate (DMC) under a pressure of CO.sub.2, under temperature and pressure conditions such as to maintain the DMC in a prevalently liquid state, and forming a homogeneous solution with the deasphalted oils;cooling the entire system to a temperature such as to form three phases;then venting the gas at this temperature;recovering a deasphalted and partly demetallized primary oil from the light phase;recovering a deasphalted and partly demetallized secondary oil from the intermediate phase;f) recovering the used DMC for its possible reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Eniricerche S.p.A.
    Inventors: Cesar Savastano, Roberto Cimino
  • Patent number: 5464591
    Abstract: The method of controlling the flow of a fluidizable particulate solid, e.g., FCC catalyst, which comprises: (a) passing a fluidized stream of the particulate solid downwardly from a source of the particulate solid, e.g., an FCC regenerator, in a first conduit to a junction with a second conduit where the solid particulate is mixed with a stream of a fluid transport medium from a third conduit; (b) passing a stream of the resulting mixed solid particulate/transport medium upwardly in the second conduit at an angle less than 90.degree. from the first conduit for a distance at least as great as the diameter of the first conduit at the junction into a fourth conduit; (c) transporting the particulate solid/fluid transport medium stream in the fourth conduit to a desired location; and (d) controlling the mass flow of the particulate solid in the fourth conduit by setting the flow rate of the transport medium in the third conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Inventor: David B. Bartholic
  • Patent number: 5384037
    Abstract: A process for the production of a distillable hydrocarbon product stream from a first distillate hydrocarbon stream, a second distillate hydrocarbon stream and a waste lubricant stream by means of contacting the waste lubricant stream with a hot hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to increase the temperature of this feed stream and vaporize at least portion of the distillable hydrocarbonaceous compounds thereby producing a distillable hydrocarbonaceous stream which is immediately hydrogenated in an integrated hydrogenation zone. The vaporized waste oil stream is admixed with a first distillate hydrocarbon stream before introduction into the hydrogenation zone. The second distillate hydrocarbon stream is converted in a hydrocracking conversion zone in order to produce lower boiling distillable hydrocarbon products and an aqueous ammonia solution which is admixed with a partially condensed effluent from the hydrogenation zone in order to neutralize at least one acid gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Tom N. Kalnes
  • Patent number: 5346615
    Abstract: A process is described for deasphalting and demetalating crude petroleum, or a fraction thereof, containing asphaltenes and metals, in which:said crude petroleum or its fraction is brought in to contact with an organic carbonate, the operation being conducted in the homogeneous liquid phase, until a solid residue rich in asphaltenes and asphaltenic metals precipitates; and said solid residue is separated from the homogeneous liquid phase.After separating, the solid, the homogeneous liquid phase can be cooled to separate an oil-rich refined liquid phase from the extracted liquid phase rich in organic carbonate. The separation of the extracted and refined liquid phases can also be achieved by adding a liquid solvent which is more polar than the carbonate, with or without cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Eniricerche S.p.A.
    Inventor: Cesar Savastano
  • Patent number: 5326456
    Abstract: A process for upgrading bitumen asphaltenes obtained from tar sands to hydrocarbons which comprises contacting the bitumen with a deasphalting solvent to yield a deasphalted oil and a residual solid asphaltene, separating the residual solid asphaltene from the deasphalted oil and treating the solid asphaltene fraction with superheated water containing a soluble carbonate salt at temperatures of from 300.degree. to 425.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Glen B. Brons, Michael Siskin, Kazimierz O. Wrzeszczynski
  • Patent number: 5316659
    Abstract: A process for upgrading bitumen asphaltenes obtained from tar sands to hydrocarbons which comprises contacting the bitumen with a deasphalting solvent to yield a deasphalted oil and a residual solid asphaltene, separating the residual solid asphaltene from the deasphalted oil and treating the solid asphaltene fraction with superheated water at temperatures of from 300.degree. to 425.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Glen B. Brons, Michael Siskin, Kazimierz O. Wrzeszczynski
  • Patent number: 5308470
    Abstract: Non-carcinogenic asphalts and asphalt blending stocks are produced from reduced hydrocarbon feedstocks. Such non-carcinogenic products are produced by establishing a functional relationship between mutagenicity index and a physical property correlative of hydrocarbon type for the asphalt or asphalt blending stock and determining a critical physical property level which, when achieved, results in a product having a mutagenicity index of less than about 1.0. Process conditions are established so that a product stream achieving the desired physical property level can be produced. Non-carcinogenic asphalts and asphalt blending stocks are then processed utilizing the conditions so established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
    Inventors: Gary R. Blackburn, Carl R. Mackerer, Timothy A. Roy
  • Patent number: 5302282
    Abstract: A process for the production of high quality lube oil blending stock from atmospheric fractionation residue and waste lubricants by means of contacting the waste lubricant with a hot hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to increase the temperature of this feed stream to vaporize at least a portion of the distillable hydrocarbonaceous compounds thereby producing a distillable hydrocarbonaceous stream which is immediately hydrogenated in an integrated hydrogenation zone. The vaporization of the waste oil is also conducted in the presence of an asphalt residue which is produced in the integrated process. The resulting effluent from the integrated hydrogenation zone provides at least one high quality lube oil blending stock stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Steven P. Lankton, Robert B. James, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5258117
    Abstract: A process for improving the performance of heavy oil refining units in a resid hydrotreating unit equipped for resid hydrotreating. The partially refined resid stream issuing from a train of ebullated bed reactor is first separated into high, medium, and low temperature components. The high temperature component is sent through a flash drum and then fractionated by solvent deasphalting in order to provide oil, resin, and asphaltene fractions. Thus, the asphaltene is eliminated before it can foul downstream equipment. This treatment of the heavy oil product has several benefits as compared to treating the vacuum tower bottoms. Among other things, one of these benefits is to debottleneck the resid hydrotreating unit, especially at the atmospheric tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Kolstad, William I. Beaton, James L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5244565
    Abstract: A process for the production of distillate hydrocarbon from atmospheric fractionation residue and waste lubricants by means of contacting the waste lubricant with a hot hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to increase the temperature of this feed stream to vaporize at least a portion of the distillable hydrocarbonaceous compounds thereby producing a distillable hydrocarbonaceous stream which is immediately hydrogenated in an integrated hydrogenation zone. The vaporization of the waste oil is also conducted in the presence of a vacuum fractionation residue which is produced in the integrated process. The resulting effluent from the integrated hydrogenation zone and a distillable hydrocarbon stream recovered from the atmospheric fraction residue is catalytically converted to produce lower molecular weight hydrocarbon compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Steven P. Lankton, Tom N. Kalnes, Robert B. James, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5242578
    Abstract: A refining process uses a two or four stage solvent separator coupled to receive an incoming feedstream of low sulfur resid and a solvent. In the preferred two stage separator, the mixture at the top of the first separator stage is fed to the second stage separator via a heat exchanger. The mixture at the bottom of the first stage separator includes resins and asphaltenes which are fed to a hydrotreater and then, in turn, to a fractionator. The output from the bottom of this fractionator can be fed back to the resid feedstream of the first stage separator for recycled separation. The material at the top of the second stage separator is fed back through the heat exchanger where it helps heat the mixture fed from the top of the first to the second stage separator, this feedback recovers the solvent for reuse in the first stage. The material settling to the bottom of the second stage separator is fed into a catalytic cracker or processed elsewhere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Taylor, Jeffrey J. Kolstad, William I. Beaton
  • Patent number: 5228978
    Abstract: The inventive solvent extraction process uses hydrotreated (HTR) and low sulfur (LSR) resids feedstreams in a single deasphalter unit and in a way that optimizes the disposition of the oils, resins, and asphaltene fractions of each resid for downstream processing. After the refractory asphaltenes are separated from the HTR feedstream, the LSR resid is introduced into the deasphalter so that its resin and asphaltene fractions are combined with the HTR resins. The oils fractions from the two resids are combined and then used as a feedstock for catalytic cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Taylor, William I. Beaton, Jeffrey J. Kolstad
  • Patent number: 5192421
    Abstract: Deasphalting heavy, asphaltic crudes before significant thermal treatment, even mild treatment which is inherent in, e.g., vacuum distillation, produces deasphalted whole crude with a reduced soluble metal content. This process is especially effective for preparing feedstocks for catalytic cracking units from heavy crudes containing large amounts of Ni and V which are porphyrin coordinated, and which are thermally unstable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Costandi A. Audeh, Lillian A. Rankel
  • Patent number: 5135640
    Abstract: Catalytic Cracking is effected by feeding thereto (i) a deasphalted vacuum resid together with (ii) a solvent treated virgin vacuum gas oil, the two being preferably mixed prior to solvent treating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Vizner
  • Patent number: 5124025
    Abstract: The invention reduces cracking catalyst fines in decanted oil by mixing the decanted oil (DCO) containing cracking catalyst fines with asphaltene and then treating the DCO-asphaltene mixture with a non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in an extraction unit or in a multi-stage deasphalting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Kolstad, William I. Beaton, James L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5124026
    Abstract: The invention reduces cracking catalyst fines in decanted oil by mixing the decanted oil (DCO) containing cracking catalyst fines with asphaltene and then treating the DCO-asphaltene mixture with a non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in an extraction unit or in a multi-stage deasphalting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Taylor, William I. Beaton, Jeffrey J. Kolstad
  • Patent number: 5124027
    Abstract: The invention reduces cracking catalyst fines in decanted oil by mixing the decanted oil (DCO) containing cracking catalyst fines with a resid oil and then treating the DCO-resid mixture with a non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in an extraction unit or in a multi-stage deasphalting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: William I. Beaton, James L. Taylor, Jeffrey J. Kolstad, Brian S. Kennedy, Robert D. Hughes
  • Patent number: 5089114
    Abstract: A method for processing heavy crude oils comprising a) atmospheric distillation of a heavy crude oil having a high content of metals, asphaltenes and sulfur; b) solvent extraction of the atmospheric distillation residue to obtain an extract with characteristics equivalent to those which an atmospheric residue derived from light crude oil and a raffinate fraction, solid at ambient conditions, in which are concentrated the asphaltenes, metals and sulfur present in the original crude oil; c) vacuum distillation of the deasphalted extract, obtaining a light fraction or gas oils with characteristics adequate to be subjected to a secondary conversion process, plus a bottoms fraction or vacuum residue; d) treatment of the vacuum gas oils in a conversion stage and e) subjecting the bottoms of raffinate from the extraction stage to a metallurgical process, in admixture with cokeable coal and coke fines to production of metallurgical coke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Instituto Mexicano Del Petroleo
    Inventors: Abel M. Tovar, Oscar H. B. Mendizabal, Leonardo M. Olmos, Carlos G. A. Sanchez, Roberto L. Lorenzo, Roldofo C. Barba, Rene H. Perez
  • Patent number: 5034119
    Abstract: Non-carcinogenic bright stock extracts and/or deasphalted oils are produced from reduced hydrocarbon feedstocks. Such non-carcinogenic products are produced by establishing a functional relationship between mutagenicity index and a physical property correlative of hydrocarbon type for the bright stock extract or deasphalted oil and determining a critical physical property level which, when achieved, results in a product having a mutagenicity index of less than about 1.0. Process conditions are established so that a product stream achieving the desired physical property level can be produced. Non-carcinogenic bright stock extracts and/or deasphalted oils are then processed utilizing the conditions so established. A bright stock extract and a deasphalted oil substantilly free from mutagenic activity, as well as processes for their production are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Gary R. Blackburn, Carl R. Mackerer, Nigel Searle, Arshavir E. Mekitarian, Edward N. Ladov
  • Patent number: 5024750
    Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbon oil, containing asphaltene, sulfur and metal contaminants, is hydrotreated in the presence of a hydrotreating catalyst having a small pore diameter in an initial process step to remove sulfur and metal contaminants. Removal of additional metal and sulfur contaminants is then accomplished in a second process step by solvent deasphalting, wherein the size of the pore diameter of the hydrotreating catalyst utilized in the initial hydrotreating step affects the metals rejection in the subsequent solvent deasphalting step. In a third process step the deasphalted oil is catalytically cracked substantially in the absence of added hydrogen to provide lower boiling hydrocarbon products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Edward L. Sughrue, II, Patricia A. Tooley, Brent J. Bertus, Bille S. Grayson
  • Patent number: 5013427
    Abstract: A hydrotreating process if provided in which resid and resins are hydrotreated with hydrogen-rich gases in the presence of a hydrotreating catalyst in an ebullated bed reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Amoco Corportion
    Inventors: James F. Mosby, Lawrence B. Peck, James L. Taylor, William I. Beaton
  • Patent number: 5000838
    Abstract: A process for deasphalting a heavy hydrocarbon feed and catalytically cracking same is disclosed. Relatively low efficiency deasphalting is used to remove at least a majority of the metals in the feed, but to leave at least 10% of the asphaltenes and at least 10% of the solvent. This demetallized material is catalytically cracked. Preferably, the solvent used in deasphalting is derived from, and recycled from the catalytic cracking unit fractionator. Preferably a majority of the solvent recovery from the deasphalting step occurs in the catalytic cracking fractionator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Mark P. Bartilucci, Solomon W. Jacob, Grant G. Karsner
  • Patent number: 4992163
    Abstract: A method of reducing the concentration of metal contaminants, such as vanadium and nickel, in distillates of a fossil fuel feedstock is disclosed. The method comprises producing a selected distillate fraction and demetallizing this distillate by suitable means, thereby upgrading and making it suitable for use as feed to a catalytic cracker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Clyde L. Aldridge, Roby Bearden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4940529
    Abstract: A process is provided in which solvent-extracted oil or other deasphalted oil derived from hydrotreated resid is catalytically cracked to increase the yield of gasoline and other high value products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: William I. Beaton, James L. Taylor, Lawrence B. Peck, James F. Mosby
  • Patent number: 4933067
    Abstract: A process is provided for preparing pipelineable syncrude and asphalt from a heavy crude oil. The syncrude has substantially less metals content and Conradson Carbon Residue than the precursor crude oil, and may be used as feed for catalytic cracking or as fuel oil. The asphalt is adaptable for paving. The process consists of air-blowing the crude, deasphalting the air-blown product, and thermally cracking the deasphalted oil to reduce its viscosity, in that order.The process is adaptable to on-site use in or near a heavy oil field, using skid-mounted equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Lillian A. Rankel
  • Patent number: 4931165
    Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process which comprises: (a) contacting a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock having a propensity to form heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds and a liquid recycle stream in a hydrocracking zone to convert a substantial portion of the hydrocarbonaceous components in the feedstock to lower boiling products; (b) recovering a hydrocarbon effluent from the hydrocracking zone and partially condensing the hydrocarbon effluent from the hydrocracking zone and separating the same into a lower boiling hydrocarbon product stream and an unconverted hydrocarbon stream having at least a portion boiling above about 400.degree. F. (204.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Tom N. Kalnes
  • Patent number: 4917788
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for extending the catalytic dewaxing cycle time of a refined waxy lube stock. The method, in its broadest aspect, requires the additional refining step of thermally treating the refined waxy stock or precursor thereof for about 0.1 to about 2.0 hours at elevated temperature and at a pressure of 0 to 3000 psig (pounds per square inch gauge), and recovering an upgraded waxy stock having a reduced content of trace compounds that contain metals, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen.In a specific embodiment of this invention, a vacuum residuum is thermally treated at a temperature of about 700.degree. F. to 950.degree. F. prior to solvent deasphalting and solvent extraction, and the waxy bright stock so formed is catalytically dewaxed with extended cycle time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Lillian A. Rankel, Darrell D. Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 4846957
    Abstract: Asphaltenes are separated from hydrocarbon oil by bringing the oil into contact with formic acid or a water-soluble organic acid consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and having at least two functional groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company p.l.c.
    Inventors: Graham R. Johnson, Paul R. Rutter
  • Patent number: 4786400
    Abstract: A dual riser cracking operation in combination with sequential stages of catalyst regeneration in which the second regeneration stage is a riser regenerator is described in combination with deep solvent deasphalting a vacuum resid. The deasphalted resid is subjected to hydrogenation treatment prior to cracking thereof in a riser cracking zone in admixture with a heavy vacuum gas oil which may or may not be hydrogenated prior to cracking thereof. Lower boiling fractions of the crude oil are subjected to catalytic cracking in a separate riser cracking zone. Partially regenerated catalyst of dense fluid bed regeneration may be employed in the heavy oil feed riser cracking operation charged with deasphalted oil. The partially regenerated catalyst may be used alone or in combination with more completely regenerated catalyst of the riser regeneration operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Inventor: Carl D. Farnsworth
  • Patent number: 4767521
    Abstract: Prior to upgrading a viscous feed by visbreaking, at least a portion of the feed is treated to remove a heavy phase in specified amounts, whereby the severity of the visbreaking may be increased. The Shell Hot Filtration number of the visbreaking product is reduced by at least 75%, compared to visbreaking of untreated feed at some severity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Lummus Crest, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Feldman, James M. Chen, Andrei Rhoe, Roger P. Van Driesen, C. Bertil Fogman, Donald P. Satchell
  • Patent number: 4752376
    Abstract: A process for treating heavy crude oil feedstocks to reduce the asphaltenes, metals and sulfur content thereof while maintaining a high conversion thereof comprising: subjecting the feedstock to an asphaltene separation stage and thereafter subjecting the deasphaltene crude to a first hydrotreatment stage employing a first macroporous catalyst so as to produce an intermediate partially demetallized and desulfurized product and thereafter treating said intermediate product in a second hydrotreatment stage using a microporous catalyst wherein the microporous catalyst exhibits extended life period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Jacinto Pachano, Jose Guitian, Otto Rodriguez, Julio H. Krasuk
  • Patent number: 4724065
    Abstract: An improved heat balanced hydrocarbon conversion process is disclosed of the type employing circulating solids between a riser reactor (contactor) and regenerator (combustor). The ratio of circulating solid to hydrocarbon feed (C/O or cat-oil ratio) is increased by: directly cooling a portion of hot freshly regenerated contact material; passing a portion of hot regenerated material into the steam stripper; cooling hot regenerated contact material and charging it to the riser downstream of charging uncooled hot regenerated material which charging hydrocarbon feed to the base of the riser along with lift gas or steam; or lifting hot regenerated contact material by a carbonizable lift gas into the riser before contacting it with hydrocarbon feed which is injected higher in the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Bartholic, Dwight F. Barger
  • Patent number: 4698146
    Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process which comprises (a) introducing a reduced crude into a fractionation zone to produce a vacuum gas oil stream having a propensity to form polynuclear aromatic compounds in a hydrocracking zone and a slop wax stream; (b) contacting the vacuum gas oil stream in a hydrocracking zone with added hydrogen and a metal promoted hydrocracking catalyst at elevated temperature and pressure sufficient to gain a substantial conversion to lower boiling products; (c) partially condensing the hydrocarbon effluent from the hydrocracking zone and separating the same into a low boiling hydrocarbon product stream and an unconverted hydrocarbon stream boiling above about 650.degree. F. (343.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian J. Gruia
  • Patent number: 4686028
    Abstract: A feed is subjected to deasphalting to separately recover oil, resin and pitch. The resin fraction is upgraded to valuable product, for example, by hydrogenation or visbreaking, and heavier components from the upgrading are recycled to the deasphalting for removing pitchlike components prior to being recycled to the upgrading step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Inventors: Roger P. Van Driesen, John R. Friday
  • Patent number: 4673485
    Abstract: A process in fuels production for increasing the yield of deasphalted oil production from upgraded residua and improving deasphalter operability involving mixing the upgraded residua with an aromatics solubilizing aid to prevent the formation of an immiscible third phase during deasphalting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Duncan J. Bristow, Biddanda U. Achia, Lawrence J. Evers
  • Patent number: 4673486
    Abstract: An extraction residue obtained by solvent deasphalting of a residual oil is mixed with a carrier gas and thermally cracked at a temperature of 400.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. in a tube-type cracking apparatus to obtain cracked oil and pitch. The use of the carrier gas, which may be either an inert gas such as nitrogen or a reactive gas such as hydrogen, permits a flow velocity through the cracking apparatus sufficient to substantially prevent coking. Preferably, the cracking conditions are controlled so that the yield of cracked oil is not more than about 30 to 35%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Jushitsuyu Taisaku Gijutsu Kenkyu Kumiai
    Inventors: Tadaaki Orihashi, Hiroshi Tsuji, Kazuhiko Ogawa, Masao Hayashitani, Seiji Terada, Tsugio Miyagawa, Hideo Isozaki
  • Patent number: 4620920
    Abstract: This invention concerns a process for the preparation of a gasoline boiling hydrocarbon from a mixture of hydrocarbons specifically defined. The hydrocarbon feedstock is a mixture of two hydrocarbon oils with the first hydrocarbon oil having a Conradson carbon test value C.sub.1 and % w such that the quotient of C.sub.1 /R is higher than 0.8 and a second hydrocarbon oil having a Conradson carbon test number C.sub.2 such that the quotient C.sub.2 /R is lower than 0.2 wherein R is equal to the reactor carbon requirement for the particular catalytic cracking unit and is between 3 and 8 percent by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Huno Van Der Eijk, Jacobus J. L. Heinerman, Ian E. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 4584090
    Abstract: A method for catalytically cracking different fractions of crude oil with a zeolite containing catalyst in separate riser regeneration zone followed by sequential regeneration of catalyst particles in separate riser regeneration zones is described wherein the hydrocarbon vapor-catalyst suspension of hydrocarbon conversion is discharged downwardly from a half circle centrifugal separation conduit comprising the riser upper discharge section, second stage riser regeneration of catalyst is discharged downwardly from a half circle centrifugal separation section into the top of a high temperature catalyst recovery zone provided with cyclone separation zones external thereto. The first stage upflow riser regeneration zone is effected with oxygen lean gas and steam in an amount equal to, more or less, than the oxygen containing gas whereby the regeneration temperature is restricted from exceeding a desired upper temperature limit with or without promoting the water gas shift reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Inventor: Carl D. Farnsworth
  • Patent number: 4534854
    Abstract: A delayed coking process is provided in which the fresh oil is introduced into the coker product fractionator and in which a stream of heavy oil product is withdrawn from the fractionator before it can contact the fresh oil. The stream of heavy oil product withdrawn from the fractionator is subjected to solvent separation to produce a high Conradson carbon product and a low Conradson carbon product. At least a portion of the low Conradson carbon product is recovered and the high Conradson carbon product is recycled to the coking zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Harold N. Weinberg, David W. Savage, Walter Weissman
  • Patent number: 4528068
    Abstract: An improved sealed-sieve tray extraction tower has pipe means located in at least a portion of the downcomer or upcomer zones, as the case may be, for delivering at least a portion of a first continuous phase through the downcomer or upcomer zone such that it is not broken into fine droplets thereby minimizing the potential for dispersion of the continuous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Robert J. Fiocco, Edward Niessen
  • Patent number: 4518484
    Abstract: The process described uses a C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 hydrocarbon solvent and an organophosphorous compound to extract metals from metal containing oils. Preferably, the extraction is performed above the critical conditions of the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: David P. Mann, Simon G. Kukes, Daniel M. Coombs
  • Patent number: 4514283
    Abstract: Viscous asphaltenic crude oils are converted to pumpable liquid oil products in field locations by precipitating and separating asphaltenes, then mildly thermally converting the asphaltenes to mobile asphaltene-conversion products that can be mixed with at least the maltene components of the crude oils to form the pumpable liquid oil products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Philip J. Closmann, Monroe H. Waxman, Charles T. Deeds
  • Patent number: 4500416
    Abstract: Distillates are prepared from asphaltenes-rich feeds by a process comprising subjecting the feed to solvent deasphalting, and subjecting the resulting asphaltic bitumen fraction to a combination of catalytic hydrotreating and thermal cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert H. van Dongen, Willem H. J. Stork
  • Patent number: 4462893
    Abstract: A process for producing a pitch which can be utilized as a raw material for producing carbon fibers is disclosed. The process involves distilling a petroleum heavy residual oil under reduced pressure to produce a reduced pressure distillation residual oil or a reduced pressure distillate oil. The distillation residual oil is subjected to a solvent deasphaltening treatment to produce a solvent deasphaltened oil. The solvent deasphaltened oil or the reduced pressure distillate oil is subjected to solvent extraction to obtain a solvent extraction component. The solvent extraction component is thermally modified to produce the pitch. The pitch can be utilized in a melt-spinning process in order to produce carbon fibers having desirable characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Oil Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Moriya, Kazuhito Tate, Goro Muroga, Kazuhiro Yanagida