Technical challenges to heavy oil conversion

Abstract

Deteriorating crude quality plus lower heavy fuel demand have encouraged refiners such as Chevron USA to consider conversion of residuum to more valuable light products. Chevron residuum hydrotreating unit will substantially improve conversion. Specifically tailored, noncylindrical systems of crude mixtures 10% Maya/ 90% Arab heavy for example, were designed to improve catalyst life. CCH system can perform better than standard RDS catalyst systems. The conversion of the vacuum bottoms fraction of the residuum feedstock is also discussed, few tailored catalysts giving better results.