Integrated process for deasphalting and desulfurizing whole crude oil

Abstract

The invention relates to processes for removing impurities, such as asphalt, from whole crude oil. The invention is accomplished by first deasphalting a feedstock, followed by processing resulting DAO and asphalt fractions. The DAO fraction is hydrocracked, resulting in removal of sulfur and hydrocarbons which boil at temperatures over 370° C., and gasifying the asphalt portion.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 655,732 filed Jun. 5, 2012, incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to an integrated process for treating whole crude oil to remove asphalt and other impurities therefrom. To elaborate, the integrated process comprises the steps of separating asphalt from the whole crude oil, followed by treating the deasphalted oil via hydrotreatment / hydrocracking with a catalyst, to remove materials such as sulfur and nitrogen. In parallel, the recovered, asphalt containing fraction can be gasified, to produce hydrogen that is then used in the hydrocracking step.BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART[0003]Conventional processes for treating crude oil involve distillation, and then various cracking, solvent refining, and hydroconversion processes, so as to produce a desired group of products, such as fuels, lubricating oil products, petro-chemicals, chemica...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention simplifies and improves the process of processing crude oil by eliminating the need for distillation and treating the naptha and diesel fractions. Instead, the invention hydrocrackes the whole stream and eliminates the steps involved in previous processes. This makes the whole crude oil processing more efficient.

Problems solved by technology

Mild hydrocracking is more cost effective than more severe processes but, generally, it results in production of lesser amounts of desired middle distillate products, which are of lower quality than the products of conventional hydrocracking.

One major technical challenge posed in hydrotreating and / or hydrocracking heavy oil fractions or whole crude is the effect of small concentrations of contaminants, such as organic nickel or vanadium containing compounds, as well as poly nuclear aromatic compounds.

These organometallic compounds, and others, reduce the activity or lifetime of hydrotreating catalysts.

The contaminants and polynuclear aromatics cause reduced process performance, a need for increased capital, and operating costs of refinery processing units.

The metals in the residual fraction of the crude oil deposit on the hydroprocessing catalyst pores and results in catalyst deactivation.

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