With Subsequent Treatment Of Products Patents (Class 208/95)
  • Publication number: 20110155639
    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: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventor: James J. Colyar
  • Publication number: 20110147269
    Abstract: A process for producing a low volatility gasoline blending component and a middle distillate, comprising alkylating a hydrocarbon stream comprising at least one olefin having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms and at least one paraffin having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms with an ionic liquid catalyst and an unsupported halide containing additive, and separating the alkylate into at least the low volatility gasoline blending component and the middle distillate, wherein the middle distillate is a fuel suitable for use as a jet fuel or jet fuel blending component. Also, a process for producing a gasoline blending component and a middle distillate, comprising adjusting a level of a halide containing additive provided to an ionic liquid alkylation reactor to shift selectivity towards heavier products, and recovering a low volatility gasoline blending component and the middle distillate. Also, processes comprising alkylating isobutane with butene over specific chloroaluminate ionic liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Sven Ivar Hommeltoft, Stephen J. Miller, Ajit Ramchandra Pradhan
  • Publication number: 20110147268
    Abstract: A process for producing a jet fuel, comprising contacting an olefin and an isoparaffin with an unsupported catalyst system comprising an ionic liquid catalyst and a halide containing additive in an alkylation zone under alkylation conditions to make an alkylate product, and recovering the jet fuel from the alkylate product, wherein the jet fuel has a NMR branching index greater than 60 and meets the boiling point, flash point, smoke point, heat of combustion, and freeze point requirements for Jet A-1 fuel. Also a process for producing a jet fuel, comprising providing a feed produced in a FC cracker comprising olefins, mixing the feed with an isoparaffin, alkylating the mixed feed in an ionic liquid alkylation zone, and separating the jet fuel from the alkylated product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Sven Ivar Hommeltoft, Stephen J. Miller, Ajit R. Pradhan
  • Publication number: 20110139677
    Abstract: Catalytic system which can be used in processes for the hydroconversion of heavy oils by means of hydrotreatment in slurry phase, characterized in that it comprises: a catalyst, having the function of hydrogenating agent, containing MoS2 or WS2 or mixtures thereof in lamellar form or an oil-soluble precursor thereof; a co-catalyst, having nanometric or micronic particle-sizes, selected from cracking and/or denitrogenation catalysts. The co-catalyst preferably consists of zeolites having small-sized crystals and with a low aggregation degree between the primary particles, and/or oxides or sulfides or precursors of sulfides of Ni and/or Co in a mixture with Mo and/or W.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: ENI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Bellussi, Giacomo Rispoli, Angela Carati
  • Publication number: 20110139679
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for catalytic cracking to maximize the production of diesel base stocks, comprising a cracking reaction step in an upflow fluidized bed reactor (1), a step of separating the cracked hydrocarbons and coked catalyst, a step of fractionating the cracked hydrocarbons and a step of regenerating said coked catalyst, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is injected into the upflow reactor on a catalyst partially deactivated by prior coking of at least part thereof in the same upflow reactor, so that the reaction temperature of the effluents leaving said reactor varies from 470 to 600° C. The invention also relates to a device for implementing the cracking method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: TOTAL RAFFINAGE MARKETING
    Inventors: Marc BORIES, Patrick LEROY, Michael ECHARD, Thierry GAUTHIER
  • Publication number: 20110120910
    Abstract: This invention describes a process for the production of middle distillates from a paraffinic feedstock that is produced by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, implementing a hydrocracking/hydroisomerization catalyst that comprises at least one hydro-dehydrogenating metal that is selected from the group that is formed by the metals of group VIB and group VIII of the periodic table and a substrate that comprises at least one dealuminified Y zeolite that has an initial overall atomic ratio of silicon to aluminum of between 2.5 and 20, a starting extra-lattice aluminum atom fraction by weight that is greater than 10%, relative to the total mass of aluminum that is present in the zeolite, a starting mesopore volume that is measured by nitrogen porosimetry that is greater than 0.07 ml.g?1, and a starting crystalline parameter ao of the elementary mesh of between 24.38 ? and 24.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicants: ENI S.p.A., IFP Energies nouvelles
    Inventors: Laurent Simon, Emmanuelle Guillon, Christophe Bouchy
  • Patent number: 7857965
    Abstract: A process for upgrading hydrocarbonaceous oil containing heteroatom-containing compounds where the hydrocarbonaceous oil is contacted with a solvent system that is a mixture of a major portion of a polar solvent having a dipole moment greater than about 1 debye and a minor portion of water to selectively separate the constituents of the carbonaceous oil into a heteroatom-depleted raffinate fraction and heteroatom-enriched extract fraction. The polar solvent and the water-in-solvent system are formulated at a ratio where the water is an antisolvent in an amount to inhibit solubility of heteroatom-containing compounds and the polar solvent in the raffinate, and to inhibit solubility of non-heteroatom-containing compounds in the extract. The ratio of the hydrocarbonaceous oil to the solvent system is such that a coefficient of separation is at least 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: James W. Bunger and Associates Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Bunger, Donald E. Cogswell
  • Patent number: 7837854
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for upgrading steam cracked tars. The invention also relates to a steam cracking process and apparatus for reducing the yields of tars produced from steam cracking while increasing yields of higher value products, heating cooled steam cracker tar containing asphaltenes, to a temperature, e.g., above about 300° C., which is sufficient to convert at least a portion of the steam cracked tar to lower boiling molecules. The resulting heat-treated tar can be separated into gas oil, fuel oil and tar streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Y. Ou, Glenn A. Heeter
  • Patent number: 7815790
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process of producing an upgraded product stream from the products of a resid visbreaking process to produce an improved feedstream for refinery and petrochemical hydrocarbon conversion units. This process utilizes an ultrafiltration process for upgrading select visbreaking process product streams to produce a conversion unit feedstream with improved properties for maximizing the conversion unit's throughput, total conversion, run-time, and overall product value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Leta, Leo D. Brown, David T. Ferrughelli, Stephen M. Cundy, MaryKathryn Lee, Copper E. Haith, Eric B. Sirota
  • Patent number: 7749374
    Abstract: Methods for conversion of a hydrocarbon feed to a total product are described. Contact of the hydrocarbon feed with one or more catalysts at selected contacting conditions produces the total product. The total product includes a crude product that is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa and has one or more properties that are changed relative to the respective property of the hydrocarbon feed. Selected contacting conditions include a partial pressure of at most 7 MPa. During contact a P-value of a hydrocarbon feed/total product mixture remains at least 1.0. The crude product has a residue content of at most 90% and/or a reduced viscosity of at most 50% as compared to the residue content and/or viscosity content of the hydrocarbon feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Opinder Kishan Bhan, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Publication number: 20100163454
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for hydrocracking processes that convert a significant portion of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock such as vacuum gas oil (VGO) to lower molecular weight, lower boiling hydrocarbons. In addition to molecular weight reduction, the processes also substantially reduce the pour point of a recovered higher boiling fraction or unconverted oil, all or a portion of which may be used as a lube base stock, optionally after one or more further treatment steps such as hydrofinishing. The ability to reduce the pour point, through hydroisomerization, of the higher boiling fraction greatly improves the quality of this fraction, or unconverted oil, for use in lube base stock preparation. Advantageously, separate, conventional hydroisomerization and/or dewaxing steps, often requiring a noble metal catalyst, may be avoided in particular embodiments disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Hemant B. GALA
  • Publication number: 20100140135
    Abstract: A methane-containing gas such as natural gas is converted to a clean-burning hydrocarbon liquid fuel in a process wherein the gas is fed to a reaction vessel to contact a metallic catalyst grid that is formed from windings of a transition metal supported on an iron frame immersed in a liquid petroleum fraction, in such a manner that a voltage is generated in the grid between the windings and the frame. Product gas in the vapor phase is drawn from the head space above the liquid level and condensed to form the product fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Rudolf W. Gunnerman, Peter W. Gunnerman
  • Publication number: 20100122932
    Abstract: Integrated slurry hydrocracking (SHC) and coking methods for making slurry hydrocracking (SHC) distillates are disclosed. Representative methods involve passing a slurry comprising a recycle SHC gas oil, a coker gas oil, a vacuum column resid, and a solid particulate through an SHC reaction zone in the presence of hydrogen to obtain the SHC distillate. Recovery of an SHC pitch from fractionation of the SHC reaction zone effluent provides an additional possibility for integration with the coker, and particularly via the upgrading of the SHC pitch in the coker to provide coke and lighter hydrocarbons such as SHC vacuum gas oil (VGO).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Robert S. HAIZMANN, Paul R. ZIMMERMAN
  • Patent number: 7678951
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method for treating a natural gas containing ethane, comprising the following stages: (a) extraction of at least one part of the ethane from the natural gas; (b) reforming of at least one part of the extracted ethane into a synthesis gas; (c) methanation of the synthesis gas into a methane-rich gas; and (d) mixing of the methane-rich gas with the natural gas. Installation for implementing this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Total S.A.
    Inventor: Denis Chretien
  • Patent number: 7670477
    Abstract: A process and the use of a process for desulphurizing a hydrocarbon feed is described which comprises at least one of the following steps: A a step for selective hydrogenation of diolefins present in said initial hydrocarbon feed, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal from group VIII of the periodic table on an inert support based on metal oxides, in the presence of a quantity of hydrogen which is in excess with respect to the stoichiometric value necessary for hydrogenating all of said diolefins, the mole ratio between the hydrogen and the diolefins being in the range 1 to 5; b) Extraction, using an appropriate solvent, of said hydrogenated fraction to obtain at least two cuts including: a raffinate comprising the majority of the olefins, paraffins and naphthenes and a reduced quantity of sulphur-containing compounds contained in the initial feed; a heavy fraction containing the heavy aromatic hydrocarbons and the majority of the sulphur-containing compounds contained in the initial feed; C
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Sylvain Louret, Florent Picard
  • Publication number: 20100025292
    Abstract: A process for producing a low volatility gasoline blending component and a middle distillate, comprising alkylating a hydrocarbon stream comprising at least one olefin having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one paraffin having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms with an ionic liquid catalyst and an unsupported halide containing additive, and separating the alkylate into at least the low volatility gasoline blending component and the middle distillate, wherein the middle distillate is a fuel suitable for use as a jet fuel or jet fuel blending component. Also, a process for producing a gasoline blending component and a middle distillate, comprising adjusting a level of a halide containing additive provided to an ionic liquid alkylation reactor to shift selectivity towards heavier products, and recovering a low volatility gasoline blending component and the middle distillate. Also, processes comprising alkylating isobutane with butene over specific chloroaluminate ionic liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Sven Ivar Hommeltoft, Stephen J. Miller, Ajit Pradhan
  • Publication number: 20100018896
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the selective conversion of vacuum gas oil. The vacuum gas oil is treated in a two step process. The first is thermal conversion and the second is catalytic cracking of the products of thermal conversion. The product slate can be varied by changing the conditions in the thermal and catalytic cracking steps as well as by changing the catalyst in the cracking step. The combined products from thermal and catalytic cracking are separated in a divided wall fractionator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Martin L. Gorbaty, Bruce R. Cook, David T. Ferrughelli, Jason B. English, Steven S. Lowenthal
  • Publication number: 20090314682
    Abstract: Nanoparticulates of oxygen transfer materials that are oxides of rare earth metals, combinations of rare earth metals, and combinations of transition metals and rare earth metals are used as catalysts in a variety of processes. Unexpectedly large thermal efficiencies are achieved relative to micron sized particulates. Processes that use these catalysts are exemplified in a multistage reactor. The exemplified reactor cracks C6 to C20 hydrocarbons, desulfurizes the hydrocarbon stream and reforms the hydrocarbons in the stream to produce hydrogen. In a first reactor stage the steam and hydrocarbon are passed through particulate mixed rare earth metal oxide to crack larger hydrocarbon molecules. In a second stage, the steam and hydrocarbon are passed through particulate material that desulfurizes the hydrocarbon. In a third stage, the hydrocarbon and steam are passed through a heated, mixed transition metal/rare earth metal oxide to reform the lower hydrocarbons and thereby produce hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew Tye Hunt, Richard C. Breitkopf
  • Patent number: 7597795
    Abstract: A process for producing lube oil basestocks involving solvent extracting a waxy feed to produce at least a lube oil boiling range raffinate, hydrotreating the lube oil raffinate to produce a hydrotreated raffinate, and dewaxing the hydrotreated raffinate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Gary P. Schleicher, Kenneth L. Riley, Elizabeth Stavens, Sylvain Hantzer
  • Patent number: 7591310
    Abstract: A method includes producing formation fluid from a subsurface in situ heat treatment process. The formation fluid is separated to produce a liquid stream and a gas stream. At least a portion of the liquid stream is provided to a hydrotreating unit. At least a portion of selected in situ heat treatment clogging compositions in the liquid stream are removed to produce a hydrotreated liquid stream by hydrotreating at least a portion of the liquid stream at conditions sufficient to remove the selected in situ heat treatment clogging compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johannes Kornelis Minderhoud, Richard Gene Nelson, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Roes, Robert Charles Ryan, Vijay Nair
  • Publication number: 20090229463
    Abstract: Production of coke and activated carbon from coal products, including the production of low ash coal and activated carbon products from coal products, and the production of very low ash coke and activated carbon products from coal products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Coalstar Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20090194458
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for upgrading steam cracked tars. The invention also relates to a steam cracking process and apparatus for reducing the yields of tars produced from steam cracking while increasing yields of higher value products, heating cooled steam cracker tar containing asphaltenes, to a temperature, e.g., above about 300° C., which is sufficient to convert at least a portion of the steam cracked tar to lower boiling molecules. The resulting heat-treated tar can be separated into gas oil, fuel oil and tar streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: John D.Y. Ou, Glenn A. Heeter
  • Publication number: 20090178953
    Abstract: Contact of a crude feed with one or more catalysts produces a total product that includes a crude product. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. The one or more catalysts may include a catalyst that has a median pore diameter of at least 90 ?. One or more properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Opinder Kishan BHAN, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Publication number: 20090178954
    Abstract: A processing scheme and arrangement for enhanced olefin production involves cooling or treating an olefin cracking reactor effluent stream by contacting the olefin cracking reactor effluent stream with a quench oil stream in a single contact cooler contact zone to produce a cooled vapor stream and to form a heated quench oil stream. A pressure differential across the single contact cooler is less than about 3.5 kPa. The heated quench oil stream can be subsequently cooled and returned to the single contact cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Adam J. Kanyuh
  • Patent number: 7547386
    Abstract: An integrated process for the hydroprocessing of multiple feedstreams including vacuum gas oil and light cycle oil. The light cycle oil is reacted with hydrogen in a hydrocracking zone and the hydrocarbon feedstream comprising vacuum gas oil is reacted with hydrogen in a hydrodesulfurization reaction zone. The hydrotreated vacuum gas oil is good FCC feedstock. Naphtha and ultra low sulfur diesel are recovered in a common fractionation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Vasant P. Thakkar, Richard K. Hoehn
  • Publication number: 20090127162
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a Fischer-Tropsch derived white oil in food contact applications, wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived white oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of in between more than 2 mm2/s and less than 7 mm2/s according to ISO 3014, and a content of mineral hydrocarbons with carbon numbers less than 25 of not more than 5% (w/w). Preferably, the Fischer-Tropsch derived white oil has a 5 wt % recovery boiling point of above 391° C. according to ASTM D 2887.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Volker Klaus Null
  • Publication number: 20090057197
    Abstract: Methods for conversion of a hydrocarbon feed to a total product are described. Contact of the hydrocarbon feed with one or more catalysts at selected contacting conditions produces the total product. The total product includes a crude product that is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa and has one or more properties that are changed relative to the respective property of the hydrocarbon feed. Selected contacting conditions include a partial pressure of at most 7 MPa. During contact a P-value of a hydrocarbon feed/total product mixture remains at least 1.0. The crude product has a residue content of at most 90% and/or a reduced viscosity of at most 50% as compared to the residue content and/or viscosity content of the hydrocarbon feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Opinder Kishan Bhan, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Patent number: 7497941
    Abstract: A process to prepare two or more lubricating base oil grades and a gas oil by (a) hydrocracking/hydroisomerizing a Fischer-Tropsch product, wherein weight ratio of compounds having at least 60 or more carbon atoms and compounds having at least 30 carbon atoms in the Fischer-Tropsch product is at least 0.2 and wherein at least 30 wt % of compounds in the Fischer-Tropsch product have at least 30 carbon atoms; (b) separating the product of step (a) into one or more gas oil fractions and a base oil precursor fraction; (c) performing a pour point reducing step to the base oil precursor fraction obtained in step (b); and (d) separating the effluent of step (c) in two or more base oil grades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Gilbert Robert Bernard Germaine
  • Publication number: 20090032439
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for combusting dry gas to heat the air supplied to an FCC regenerator to increase its temperature and minimize production of undesirable combustion products. Preferably, the dry gas is a selected FCC product gas. Alternatively or additionally, dry gas from an FCC product stream is separated and delivered to an expander to recover power before combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Keith A. Couch, Xin X. Zhu, James P. Glavin
  • Publication number: 20090032438
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering power from an FCC product. The dry gas is combusted and combined with FCC regenerator flue gas to raise the power recovery capability of the flue gas. The flue gas can be used to generate electrical power or steam. Alternatively or additionally, dry gas from an FCC product stream is separated and delivered to an expander to recover power before combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Xin X. Zhu, Keith A. Couch, James P. Glavin
  • Patent number: 7431831
    Abstract: A new residuum full hydroconversion slurry reactor system has been developed that allows the catalyst, unconverted oil, products and hydrogen to circulate in a continuous mixture throughout an entire reactor with no confinement of the mixture. The mixture is partially separated in between the reactors to remove only the products and hydrogen while permitting the unconverted oil and the slurry catalyst to continue on into the next sequential reactor. In the next reactor, a portion of the unconverted oil is converted to lower boiling point hydrocarbons, once again creating a mixture of unconverted oil, products, hydrogen and slurry catalyst. Further hydroprocessing may occur in additional reactors, fully converting the oil. The oil may alternately be partially converted, leaving a highly concentrated catalyst in unconverted oil which can be recycled directly to the first reactor. The slurry reactor system is, in this invention, preceded by an in-line pretreating step, such as hydrotreating or deasphalting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Darush Farshid, Bruce Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7431823
    Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a new residuum full hydroconversion slurry reactor system that allows the catalyst, unconverted oil and converted oil to circulate in a continuous mixture throughout an entire reactor with no confinement of the mixture. The mixture is partially separated in between the reactors to remove only the products and hydrogen, while permitting the unconverted oil and the slurry catalyst to continue on into the next sequential reactor where a portion of the unconverted oil is converted to lower boiling point hydrocarbons, once again creating a mixture of unconverted oil, converted oil, and slurry catalyst. Further hydroprocessing may occur in additional reactors, fully converting the oil. The oil may alternately be partially converted, leaving a highly concentrated catalyst in unconverted oil which can be recycled directly to the first reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Darush Farshid, Bruce Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7431828
    Abstract: A two-stage hydrotreating process is disclosed wherein a hydrocarbon stream is first desulphurized followed by a dehydrogenation step, which process comprises in combination contacting the feed and hydrogen over a hydrotreating catalyst at hydrotreating conditions, heating the hydrotreated effluent and hydrogen-rich gas from the hydrotreating reactor and contacting said effluent and hydrogen gas over a hydrotreating catalyst in a post-treatment reactor at a temperature sufficient to increase the polyaromatic hydrocarbon content and lower the hydrogen content of said effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Michael G. Hunter, Rasmus G. Egeberg, Kim G. Knudsen
  • Patent number: 7431822
    Abstract: Applicants have developed a new residuum full hydroconversion slurry reactor system that allows the catalyst, unconverted oil, hydrogen, and converted oil to circulate in a continuous mixture throughout an entire reactor with no confinement of the mixture. The mixture is separated internally, within one of more of the reactors, to separate only the converted oil and hydrogen into a vapor product while permitting the unconverted oil and the slurry catalyst to continue on into the next sequential reactor as a liquid product. A portion of the unconverted oil is then converted to lower boiling point hydrocarbons in the next reactor, once again creating a mixture of unconverted oil, hydrogen, converted oil, and slurry catalyst. Further hydroprocessing may occur in additional reactors, fully converting the oil. The oil may alternately be partially converted, leaving a concentrated catalyst in unconverted oil which can be recycled directly to the first reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Darush Farshid, James Murphy, Bruce Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7427349
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of hydroprocessing, and more particularly relates to a process directed to fuels hydrocracking and distillate feed hydrofining. This process has at least two stages. A relatively unconverted hydrofined product may be removed prior to the second stage, providing flexibility. In another embodiment, fresh feed may be added prior to the second stage. In both embodiments, fuels production is maintained at a constant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Ujjal K. Mukherjee, Kevin L. Hofer, Darush Farshid
  • Patent number: 7419582
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process wherein the feedstock is hydrotreated and the liquid and gaseous effluent from the hydrotreater is directly introduced into the upper end of a hydrocracking vessel which provides a liquid seal to prevent the passage of the gaseous stream containing hydrogen sulfide and ammonia from the hydrotreater to enter the hydrocracking zone containing hydrocracking catalyst. Fresh hydrogen is then introduced into the hydrocracking zone. An apparatus for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon feedstock is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, Vasant P. Thakkar, Vedula K. Murty, Douglas W. Kocher-Cowan, Jennifer L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7270743
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock that utilizes a short residence pyrolytic reactor operating under conditions that cracks and chemically upgrades the feedstock. The process of the present invention provides for the preparation of a partially upgraded feedstock exhibiting reduced viscosity and increased API gravity. This process selectively removes metals, salts, water and nitrogen from the feedstock, while at the same time maximizes the yield of the liquid product, and minimizes coke and gas production. Furthermore, this process reduces the viscosity of the feedstock in order to permit pipeline transport, if desired, of the upgraded feedstock with little or no addition of diluents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Ivanhoe Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Patent number: 7097760
    Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process for the production of ultra low sulfur diesel wherein a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock is hydrocracked at elevated temperature and pressure to obtain conversion to diesel boiling range hydrocarbons. The resulting hydrocracking zone effluent is hydrogen stripped in a stripping zone maintained at essentially the same pressure as the hydrocracking zone to produce a first gaseous hydrocarbonaceous stream and a first liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream. The first gaseous hydrocarbonaceous stream containing diesel boiling range hydrocarbons is introduced into a desulfurization zone and subsequently partially condensed to produce a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream and a second liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream containing diesel boiling range hydrocarbons. The first liquid stream is separated to produce a third liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream containing diesel boiling range hydrocarbons which is also introduced into the desulfurization zone. An ultra low sulfur diesel product stream is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Vasant P. Thakkar, Richard K. Hoehn
  • Patent number: 7074320
    Abstract: An integrated process for preparing a lubricating oil base stock includes an isomerization step followed by a solvent dewaxing step. A waxy feed is isomerized to an intermediate pore point, which is at least 6° C. above a target pour point, over a select molecular sieve having specified pore properties. The isomerized oil is then solvent dewaxed to a very low pour point. This process produces a dewaxed lubricating oil base stock which has an exceptionally high viscosity index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Miller
  • Patent number: 7025872
    Abstract: Process for obtaining a hydrocarbon fraction that can be used as a feedstock of an etherification unit and that contains a small amount of diene compounds, nitrogen-containing compounds and sulfur-containing compounds, starting from an initial hydrocarbon feedstock that comprises a mixture of olefins, dienes, and nitrites as well as sulfur-containing compounds, whereby said process comprises at least the following successive stages: a) a selective hydrogenation of said initial hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of a catalyst of group VIII of the periodic table, b) a fractionation by distillation of the effluents that are obtained from stage a) under conditions that make it possible to obtain at least two fractions including said hydrocarbon fraction and that comprises a small amount of diene compounds, nitrogen-containing compounds and sulfur-containing compounds, and a heavy fraction that contains heavy hydrocarbons and the majority of the nitrogen-containing compounds and sulfur-containing compounds
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Florent Picard, Alain Forestiere, Julia Magne-Drisch, Nathalie Marchal-George
  • Patent number: 7018525
    Abstract: This invention relates to processes of producing lubricant base oils comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components that have optimized branching. The lubricant base oils comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components with optimized branching have low amounts of branching with the branching concentrated toward the center of the lubricant base oil molecules. The lubricant base oils comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components with optimized branching have low pour points and extremely high viscosity indexes. The invention further relates to processes of producing commercial lubricants comprising the lubricant base oils comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components with optimized branching from waxy feeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Miller, Dennis J. O'Rear, John Rosenbaum
  • Patent number: 7005057
    Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process for the production of ultra low sulfur diesel wherein a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock is hydrocracked at elevated temperature and pressure to obtain conversion to diesel boiling range hydrocarbons. The resulting hydrocracking zone effluent is hydrogen stripped in a stripping zone maintained at essentially the same pressure as the hydrocracking zone to produce a first gaseous hydrocarbonaceous stream and a first liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream. The first gaseous hydrocarbonaceous stream containing diesel boiling range hydrocarbons is introduced into a desulfurization zone and subsequently partially condensed to produce a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream and a second liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream containing diesel boiling range hydrocarbons. At least a portion of the first liquid stream is separated in a dividing wall column to produce a liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream containing diesel boiling range hydrocarbons which is also introduced into the desulfurization zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Tom N. Kalnes
  • Patent number: 6962651
    Abstract: A method for producing lubricant base oils is provided comprising the steps of: (a) hydroisomerizing a feedstock over a medium pore size molecular sieve catalyst under hydroisomerization conditions to produce an isomerized product having a pour point of greater than a target pour point of the lubricant base oils; (b) separating the isomerized product into at least a light lubricant base oil having a pour point less than or equal to the target pour point of the lubricant base oils and a heavy fraction having a pour point of equal to or greater than the target pour point of the lubricant base oils and a cloud point greater than the target cloud point of the lubricant base oils; and (c) dehazing the heavy fraction to provide a heavy lubricant base oil having a pour point less than or equal to the target pour point of the lubricant base oils and a cloud point less than or equal to the target cloud point of the lubricant base oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Miller, John M. Rosenbaum
  • Patent number: 6919017
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for removing particulate material from a flash zone gas oil stream produced in a delayed coking unit. The process and apparatus of the invention employ cyclonic separation to remove particulate material from the flash zone gas oil stream. The stream can then be further processed, for example by passing the stream to a fixed bed catalytic hydroprocessing unit and then to a fluidized bed catalytic cracking unit, or to other processing units, thereby enhancing the value of the flash zone gas oil stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Sharon A. Annesley, Gary C. Hughes, Jamal Allyen Sandarusi
  • Patent number: 6783661
    Abstract: A process for producing oils with high viscosity indices from oil distillates or effluents from a conversion unit comprises the following steps: a) catalytic hydrotreatment of the feed in the presence of hydrogen and a non zeolitic catalyst; b) fractionation of at least a portion of the effluent from step a) or step d) described below to an oil residue; c) fractionation by thermal diffusion of at least a portion of the oil residue obtained from step b) into oil fractions with different compositions and viscosity indices. Step b) can be preceded by a step d) for hydrocracking the effluent obtained from step a) in the presence of hydrogen and a zeolitic catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Patrick Briot, Christophe Gueret, Jean-Claude Hipeaux, Eric Benazzi, Pierre Marion, Alain Billon
  • Patent number: 6702937
    Abstract: A process for producing low pour point diesel and lubricating base oil products by bulk dewaxing a C5 plus Fischer-Tropsch syncrude, hydrofinishing the dewaxed intermediate, and recovering 120 degrees C. plus products having improved properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Johnson, Christopher A. Simmons, Donald H. Mohr, Stephen J. Miller, Stephen K. Lee
  • Patent number: 6663768
    Abstract: An integrated process for preparing a lubricating oil base stock includes an isomerization step followed by a solvent dewaxing step. A waxy feed is isomerized to an intermediate pore point, which is at least 6° C. above a target pour point, over a select molecular sieve having specified pore properties. The isomerized oil is then solvent dewaxed to a very low pour point. This process produces a dewaxed lubricating oil base stock which has an exceptionally high viscosity index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20030192810
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for removing particulate material from a flash zone gas oil stream produced in a delayed coking unit. The process and apparatus of the invention employ cyclonic separation to remove particulate material from the flash zone gas oil stream. The stream can then be further processed, for example by passing the stream to a fixed bed catalytic hydroprocessing unit and then to a fluidized bed catalytic cracking unit, or to other processing units, thereby enhancing the value of the flash zone gas oil stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Sharon A. Annesley, Gary C. Hughes, Jamal Allyen Sandarusi
  • Patent number: 6623624
    Abstract: An integrated distillate hydrocracking process produces one or more fuel products and one or more lube products from a first reaction stage. Heavy fractions from the first stage, which are not recovered as lube products, are cracked to fuels in a second reaction stage. This invention is intended to provide a full range of lube streams, over a wide viscosity range and a wide viscosity index range, from a fuels hydrocracker, in addition to high yields of high quality fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis R. Cash, Paul D. Cambern
  • Publication number: 20030136706
    Abstract: A product of reduced sulfur content is produced from an olefin-containing hydrocarbon feedstock which includes sulfur-containing impurities. The feedstock is contacted with an olefin-modification catalyst in a reaction zone under conditions which are effective to produce an intermediate product which has a reduced amount of olefinic unsaturation relative to that of the feedstock as measured by bromine number. The intermediate product is then separated into at least three fractions of different volatility, and the lowest boiling first fraction is contacted with a hydrodesulfurization catalyst in the presence of hydrogen under conditions which are effective to convert at least a portion of its sulfur-containing impurities to hydrogen sulfide. The intermediate boiling fraction is contacted with a selective hydrotreating catalyst in the presence of hydrogen under conditions which are effective to convert at least a portion of its sulfur-containing impurities to hydrogen sulfide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Stacey McDaniel, Ptoshia A. Burnett