Methods of making transportation fuel

• US 8,151,880 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Roes, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria, Mo, Weijian, Muylle, Michel Serge Marie, Mandema, Remco Hugo, Nair, Vijay
• Primary Examiner(s): Suchfield, George
• Application Number:
  US12/964,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20110168394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 166/267
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/002 in combination with oil conversion- or refining processes
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 1/02 by distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/308 Gravity, density, e.g. API
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 9/24 by heating with electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2401 by means of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/281 using heat
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/34 Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]

Abstract

A method for producing alkylated hydrocarbons is disclosed. Formation fluid is produced from a subsurface in situ heat treatment process. The formation fluid is separated to produce a liquid stream and a first gas stream. The first gas stream includes olefins. The liquid stream is fractionated to produce at least a second gas stream including hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 3. The first gas stream and the second gas stream are introduced into an alkylation unit to produce alkylated hydrocarbons. At least a portion of the olefins in the first gas stream enhance alkylation. The alkylated hydrocarbons may be blended with one or more components to produce transportation fuel.

Claims

1. A method of making transportation fuel, comprising:

providing formation fluid produced from a subsurface in situ heat treatment process;

separating the formation fluid to produce a liquid stream and a first gas stream, wherein the first gas stream comprises olefins;

fractionating at least a portion of the liquid stream to produce at least a second gas stream comprising hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 3;

introducing at least a portion of the first gas stream and at least a portion of the second gas stream into an alkylation unit to produce alkylated hydrocarbons, wherein the olefins in the first gas stream enhance alkylation; and

forming transportation fuel with at least a portion of the alkylated hydrocarbons.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the olefins in the first gas stream comprise hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 3.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the olefins in the first gas stream are selected from a group consisting of propylene, butylenes, amylenes, and mixtures thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the olefins in the second gas stream are selected from a group consisting of propylene, butylenes, amylenes, and mixtures thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the olefins in the first and second gas streams are selected from a group consisting of propylene, butylenes, amylenes, and mixtures thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gas stream comprises olefins and the second gas stream comprises iso-paraffins having carbon numbers ranging from 3 to 5.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gas stream comprises substantially olefins and the second gas stream comprises substantially iso-paraffins having carbon numbers ranging from 3 to 5.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the alkylated hydrocarbons comprise hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 4.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the alkylated hydrocarbons are selected from a group consisting of butanes, pentanes, hexanes, heptanes, and mixtures thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional hydrocarbon stream comprising hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 5.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional hydrocarbon stream, the additional hydrocarbon stream having an initial boiling point of at least 343°

C. at 0.101 MPa as determined by ASTM Method D2887.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional liquid hydrocarbon stream, the additional liquid hydrocarbon stream comprising hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 5, and further comprising providing at least a portion of the C₅₊ hydrocarbon stream to the alkylation unit.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional hydrocarbon stream, the additional hydrocarbon stream having an initial boiling point of at least 343°

C. at 0.101 MPa as determined by ASTM Method D2887;

catalytically cracking the additional hydrocarbon stream to produce another hydrocarbon stream comprising hydrocarbons having a carbon number from 3 to 5; and

providing at least a portion of the C₃-C₅ hydrocarbon stream to the alkylation unit.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces a bottoms stream having boiling range distribution between 343°

C. and 538°

C. at 0.101 MPa as determined by ASTM Method D2887;

catalytically cracking the bottoms stream to produce an additional hydrocarbon stream comprising hydrocarbons having carbon numbers from 3 to 5; and

providing at least a portion of the C₃-C₅ hydrocarbon stream to the alkylation unit.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein fractionating the liquid stream produces an additional hydrocarbon stream, the additional hydrocarbon stream having a boiling range distribution from 38°

C. to 343°

C. at 0.101 MPa; and

catalytically cracking the additional hydrocarbon stream having the boiling range distribution from 38°

C. to 343°

C. to produce one or more crude products, wherein at least one of the crude products is a third gas stream, and the third gas stream has a boiling point of at most 38°

C. at 0.101 MPa.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein forming transportation fuel comprises blending one or more additives with at least a portion of the alkylated hydrocarbons.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the transportation fuel comprises jet fuel.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the transportation fuel comprises jet propellant grade 8 fuel.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the transportation fuel comprises gasoline.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the transportation fuel comprises diesel.