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Process for demetallizing and desulfurizing heavy crude oil

  • US 4,885,080 A
  • Filed: 05/25/1988
  • Issued: 12/05/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A process for producing a synthetic crude oil of improved properties by desulfurizing, denitrogenating and demetallizing a heavy crude oil feed stock, said feed stock being a crude oil having an average boiling point at least as high as 500°

  • F., an °

    API gravity at 60°

    F. of less than 20, and containing at least about 1 weight percent sulfur, which process comprises;

    separating said heavy crude oil feed stock into four fractions including an atmospheric residuum fraction having an initial boiling point at least as high as 650°

    F., a distillate fraction having a boiling range of from about 400°

    F. to about 650°

    F., a naphtha fraction having a boiling range of from about that of C5 hydrocarbons to about 400°

    F., and a light hydrocarbon gas overhead containing predominantly hydrocarbon gases;

    contacting the distillate fraction with a desulfurization catalyst, and with hydrogen gas, in a first hydrodesulfurization zone under conditions of temperature, hydrogen partial pressure, hydrogen flow rate, catalytic activity and space velocity such as to remove a substantial portion of the sulfur and nitrogen from the distillate fraction;

    concurrently with such contacting of the distillate fraction, contacting at least a substantial portion of said residuum fraction with hydrogen gas in the presence of a hydrodemetallation catalyst also having hydrodesulfurizing activity, in a hydrodemetallation zone under conditions of temperature, hydrogen partial pressure, hydrogen flow rate, and space velocity such that a major portion of the nickel and vanadium metal content of the residuum is removed therefrom, and a substantial potion of the sulfur content of the residuum is concurrently removed therefrom;

    thenrecombining the naphtha fraction, the hydrotreated distillate, and the hydrotreated residuum fractions to yield an improved, synthetic crude oil.

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