Hydrotreated VGO is attractive as a feedstock for olefins

Journal Article · Mon Oct 29 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5158023

Kaiser, V; Barendreyt, S; Clymans, P J; Froment, G F

Rising naphtha prices have increased interest in higher boiling petroleum fractions as feedstock for olefins production. An interesting candidate is vacuum gas oil (VGO), particularly since the demand for this fraction is decreasing. VGO is not a particularly appropriate feedstock for olefins production, however. It has a high naphthenic and polycondensed aromatics content. Cracking virgin VGO also creates a lot of problems because of its high sulfur content and high coking potential. Also, the usual multitubular quench cooler is excluded because of excessive tar formation. Most of these drawbacks can be eliminated by catalytically hydrotreating the VGO. The profitability of cracking hydrotreated VGO depends strongly on the market situation in the refining and petrochemical industries. Nevertheless, a scheme to crack a hydrotreated VGO (HVGO) shows a profitability equal to or better than that of a naphtha cracker. For a steam cracker, a medium-to-low converted VGO appears to be the optimum feed. A hydrotreater producing such a feedstock will have a high byproduct yield, however. Depending on the market situation, it may be necessary to keep the hydrotreating conversion at a moderate level.

• Research Organization: Technip Paris
• OSTI ID: 5158023
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 82:44; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020500* -- Petroleum-- Products & By-Products
ALKENES
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
CRACKING
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS OILS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCRACKING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PRODUCTION
PYROLYSIS
SULFUR CONTENT
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES