An exploratory study for obtaining synthetic crudes from heavy crude oils via hydrotreating

In this work we present an experimental evaluation about the catalytic hydrotreating (HDT) of Maya heavy crude oil. The study was carried out in a high-pressure fixed bed pilot plant. The HDT reactions were conducted at 54-100 kg/cm(2) pressure, 0.5-1.5 h(-1) LHSV, 380-420 degreesC temperature, and 5000-10 000 ft(3)/bbl H-2/oil ratio using an experimental NiMo/Al2O3-TiO2 catalyst. The data showed that API gravity and sulfur, nitrogen, Ramsbottom carbon, asphaltenes, and metals (Ni, V) contents can be improved by direct HDT of Maya crude oil. Values very similar to the Isthmus light crude oil properties were obtained at severe operating conditions. Naphtha, middle distillates, and FCC feedstock fractions yield obtained from TBP distillation of the synthetic crudes increase as the severity of the HDT was increased. Middle distillates showed the greatest yield increase.