US 12,006,482 B2
Systems and processes for upgrading crude oil through hydrocracking and solvent assisted on-line solid adsorption of asphaltenes
Lianhui Ding, Dhahran (SA); Sameer A. Al-Ghamdi, Dhahran (SA); and Faisal Alotaibi, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on May 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/144,427.
Application 18/144,427 is a continuation of application No. 17/567,440, filed on Jan. 3, 2022, granted, now 11,692,146.
Prior Publication US 2023/0272294 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C10G 67/06 (2006.01); C10G 25/00 (2006.01); C10G 25/12 (2006.01); C10G 45/00 (2006.01); C10G 47/00 (2006.01)
CPC C10G 67/06 (2013.01) [C10G 25/003 (2013.01); C10G 25/12 (2013.01); C10G 45/00 (2013.01); C10G 47/00 (2013.01); C10G 2300/107 (2013.01); C10G 2300/206 (2013.01); C10G 2300/301 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4025 (2013.01); C10G 2300/44 (2013.01); C10G 2300/708 (2013.01); C10G 2400/18 (2013.01); C10G 2400/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed, the process comprising:
hydrotreating the hydrocarbon feed to produce a hydrotreated effluent, where the hydrotreated effluent comprises asphaltenes, coke precursors, or both;
separating the hydrotreated effluent into a lesser boiling hydrotreated effluent and a greater boiling hydrotreated effluent, where the greater boiling hydrotreated effluent comprises the asphaltenes, coke precursors, or both;
combining the greater boiling hydrotreated effluent with a light paraffin solvent to produce a combined stream, where the light paraffin solvent reduces solubility of the asphaltenes in the combined stream and reduces the viscosity of the combined stream;
passing the combined stream to an adsorption unit comprising a plurality of adsorbent beds comprising an adsorbent;
contacting the combined stream with the adsorbent in one or more of the plurality of adsorbent beds, where the contacting causes adsorption of at least a portion of the asphaltenes, coke precursors, or both from the combined stream to produce an adsorption effluent; and
hydrocracking the lesser boiling hydrotreated effluent and at least a portion of the adsorption effluent to produce a hydrocracked effluent comprising a greater concentration of hydrocarbons having boiling point temperatures less than 180° C. compared to the hydrotreated effluent.