UPGRADING THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.

Abstract

The use of one or more of the process combinations described in this paper is indicated in order to accomplish the desired conversion of the bottom of the barrel to satisfactory, improved feedstocks for the conversion processes. Several process combinations are considered and the effect of the quality of the feedstock on the yields and costs of each combination is shown so that the selection of the optimum route for further study may be made on the basis of the quality of the feedstock and the desired product slate. Data are given for a light and heavy Arabian crude blend, a light and heavy Iranian crude, and for a heavy Arabian crude. Vacuum gas oil desulfurization, reduced crude desulfurization, vacuum residual and desulfurization, a deep deasphalting are the processes utilized.