Patent EA-000850-B1 (EA)
Title: Base stock lube oil manufacturing process
Inventor: XIAO JIRONG
IPC: C10M101/02
Filed: 1997-06-26
Abstract: 1. A process for producing a lubricating oil base stock comprising: a) contacting a petroleum feedstock which has a normal boiling point in the range of about 600 degree F (316 degree C) to about 1250 degree F (677 degree C) in a hydrotreating reaction zone with a hydrotreating catalyst at a hydrogen partial pressure of less than about 1600 psia (11 MPa) and a temperature between about 500 degree F (260 degree C) and about 800 degree F (427 degree C) to maintain a volumetric cracking conversion during hydrotreating of less than about 20% by volume; b) contacting the hydrotreated oil at hydrodewaxing conditions in a dewaxing reaction zone with an intermediate pore size molecular sieve catalyst to produce a dewaxed oil having a pour point lower than the pour point of the hydrotreated oil; and c) contacting the dewaxed oil at hydrogenation conditions in a hydrofinishing reaction zone with a hydrogenation catalyst comprising a platinum/palladium alloy to produce a lubricating oil base stock. 2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the hydrogenation catalyst, being a hydrogenation component, has the platinum/palladium molar ratio of the platinum/palladium alloy is between about 2.5:1 and about 1:2.5. 3. The process according to claim 1 wherein the hydrogen partial pressure in the hydrotreating reaction zone is less than about 1250 psia (8.6 MPa). 4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the temperature in the hydrotreating reaction zone is in the range of about 600 degree F (316 degree C) to about 700 degree F (371 degree C). 5. The process according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate pore size molecular sieve catalyst comprises a zeolite selected from the group consisting of ZSM-5, ZSM-l 1, ZSM-12, ZSM-21, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-38 and SSZ-32. 6. The process according to claim 5 wherein the intermediate pore size molecular sieve catalyst comprises SSZ-32. 7. The process according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate pore size molecular sieve catalyst comprises a molecular sieve selected from the group consisting of SAPO-l1, SAPO-5, SAPO-31, SAPO-41. 8. The process according to claim 7 wherein the intermediate pore size molecular sieve catalyst comprises SAPO-ll. 9. The process according to claim 1 wherein the petroleum feedstock has a normal boiling point in the range of about 800 degree F (427 degree C) to about 1250 degree F (677 degree C). 10. The process according to claim l wherein the petroleum feedstock is a raffinate derived from a solvent extraction process. 11. The process according to claim 10 wherein the raffinate has a sulfur content greater than about 100 ppm, nitrogen content greater than about 50 ppm and a viscosity index greater than 75. 12. The process according to claim 1 wherein the petroleum feedstock is derived from a VGO (Vacuum Gas Oil). 13. The process according to claim 1 wherein the petroleum feedstock is derived by a hydrocracking process. 14. The process according to claim 1 wherein the petroleum feedstock is derived from a waxy feed stock comprising greater than about 50% by weight wax. 15. The process according to claim 1 wherein a hydrotreated oil has a viscosity index which is at least about 5 greater than the viscosity index of the petroleum feedstock and a viscosity measured at 100 degree C of at least about 2 cSt. 16. The process according to claim 1 wherein a hydrotreated oil has a viscosity index of greater than 90. 17. The process according to claim 1 wherein a hydrotreated oil has a viscosity index of greater than 115. 18. The process according to claim 1 wherein the hydrotreated oil contains less than 50 ppm sulfur. 19. The process according to claim 1 wherein the lubricating oil base stock has a saturates content of greater than 90%, a sulfur content of less than or equal to 0.03% and a viscosity index of between 80 and 120. 20. The process according to claim 1 wherein the lubricating oil base stock has a saturates content of greater than 90%, a sulfur content of less than or equal to 0.03% and a viscosity index of greater than 120. 21. The process according to claim l wherein a volumetric cracking conversion during hydrotreating is maintained of less than about 10% by volume. 22. The process according to claim 1 to produce the hydrotreated oil having a viscosity index of at least VIH, wherein   wherein ΔC is the volumetric cracking conversion during the step of hydrotreating; and VIO is the viscosity index of the petroleum feedstock.