Patent · US Expired

Method of and means for upgrading hydrocarbons containing metals and asphaltenes

US5976361A · kind A · utility

50Cited by
9References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 13, 1997
Grant dateNov 2, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 13, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC10G55/04
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

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. Finally, at least some the said thermally cracked fractions are included in the first input stream.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.