Patent ID: 7790018
Filing Date: 2010-09-07
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. A process for refining heavy hydrocarbon crude oil having sulfur, comprising the steps of: (a) combining a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon crude oil with an oil soluble catalyst to form a reactant mixture, wherein the catalyst is capable of hydrogenating at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon crude oil; (b) heating and mixing the reactant mixture for a sufficient amount of time to form a heavy hydrocarbon oil dispersion, wherein at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon crude oil in the heavy hydrocarbon oil dispersion undergoes shearing; (c) reacting the heavy hydrocarbon oil dispersion in the presence of a hydrogen containing gas in an upgrading unit under relatively low hydrogen partial pressure of less than approximately 3.0 MPa for a sufficient amount of time to form a product stream, the product stream comprising a light oil component, a heavy crude oil residue, and a light hydrocarbon gas, wherein the light oil component has an API gravity greater than the API gravity of the heavy hydrocarbon crude oil; (d) separating the product stream into a light hydrocarbon gas stream, a light oil stream, and a heavy crude oil residue stream; and (e) injecting a portion of the light hydrocarbon gas stream in a fluid catalytic cracking unit to produce streams containing hydrogen and at least one olefin.