Upgrading of hydrocarbon material

Abstract

There is provided a process for upgrading a hydrocarbon material. The process includes: (a) treating a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, wherein the treating includes cracking a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, such that an upgraded intermediate is produced; and (b) in the absence, or the substantial absence, of adscititious diatomic hydrogen, reducing the content of olefinic material within at least a fraction of the upgraded intermediate such that an olefinic material content-reduced product is produced.

1 . A process for upgrading a hydrocarbon material comprising:
 treating a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, wherein the treating includes cracking a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, such that an upgraded intermediate is produced; and   in the absence, or the substantial absence, of adscititious diatomic hydrogen, reducing the content of olefinic material within at least a fraction of the upgraded intermediate such that an olefinic material content-reduced product is produced.   
     
     
         2 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein the reducing of the content of olefinic material is effected within a reaction zone in the absence, or the substantial absence, of adscititious diatomic hydrogen.   
     
     
         3 . The process as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 ;
 wherein the at least a fraction of the upgraded intermediate includes one or more aromatic compounds; 
 and wherein the reducing is effected by alkylation of at least a fraction of the one or more aromatic compounds by the olefinic material of the at least a fraction of the upgraded intermediate. 
 
     
     
         4 . The process as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 ;
 wherein the at least a fraction of the upgraded intermediate includes one or more cyclo-olefins; 
 and wherein the reducing is effected by dehydrogenation of at least a fraction of the one or more cyclo-olefins. 
 
     
     
         5 . The process as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 ;
 wherein the at least a fraction of the upgraded intermediate includes one or more aromatic compounds and one or more cyclo-olefins; 
 and wherein the reducing of the content of olefinic material includes:
 passing the at least a fraction of the upgraded intermediate through a reaction zone portion of the reaction zone within which a dehydrogenation/hydrogenation catalyst is disposed such that dehydrogenation of at least a fraction of the one or more cyclo-olefins is effected to produce an intermediate product; 
 passing at least a fraction of the intermediate product through another reaction zone portion of the reaction zone within which an olefin-aromatic alkylation catalyst is disposed such that alkylation of at least a fraction of the one or more aromatic compounds by the olefinic material of the at least a fraction of the upgraded intermediate is effected. 
 
 
     
     
         6 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  5 ;
 wherein the cracking is effected within a reaction zone disposed at a temperature of at least 300 degrees Celsius. 
 
     
     
         7 . The process as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 supplying a fraction of the upgraded intermediate to the reaction zone, such that the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed includes the fraction of the upgraded intermediate.   
     
     
         8 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  7 , further comprising:
 supplying an upgraded product, including the olefinic material content-reduced product, to a pipeline for transporting of the upgraded product to a refinery. 
 
     
     
         9 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  8 ;
 wherein the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed includes a treated crude oil; 
 and further comprising:
 prior to the treating a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, treating the crude oil to produce the the treated crude oil. 
 
 
     
     
         10 . The process as claimed in  claim 9 ;
 wherein the treating of the crude oil includes deasphalting an asphaltene-comprising hydrocarbon material.   
     
     
         11 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  10 ;
 wherein the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed includes a heavy hydrocarbon material-comprising feed. 
 
     
     
         12 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  11 ;
 wherein the cracking includes thermal cracking. 
 
     
     
         13 . A process for upgrading a hydrocarbon material comprising:
 treating a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, wherein the treating includes cracking the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed within a reaction zone, such that an upgraded intermediate is produced;   separating a feed material into at least an olefin-comprising treatment fraction and a treatment bypass fraction, wherein the feed material includes at least a fraction of the upgraded intermediate   reducing the content of olefinic material within the olefin-comprising treatment fraction such that an olefin-depleted intermediate is produced;   separating the treatment bypass fraction into a heavier hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction and a lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction;   combining at least the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction and the olefin-depleted intermediate such that an olefinic material content-reduced product is produced;   producing an upgraded product including the olefinic material content-reduced product; and   supplying at least a fraction of the heavier hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction to the reaction zone, such that the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed includes at least a fraction of the heavier hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction.   
     
     
         14 . The process as claimed in  claim 13 ;
 wherein both of the separating of the feed material and the separating of the bypass treatment fraction is effected within a separator;   and further comprising:
 supplying the feed material to the separator. 
   
     
     
         15 . The process as claimed in  claim 13  or  14 ;
 wherein both of the separating of the feed material and the separating of the treatment bypass fraction is effected based on differences in volatilities between the olefin-comprising treatment fraction, the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction, and the heavier hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction. 
 
     
     
         16 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 13  to  15 ;
 at a predetermined temperature at which the separating of the olefin-comprising treatment fraction from the treatment bypass fraction is effected, the heavier hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction has a lower vapour pressure than that of the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction, and the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction has a lower vapour pressure than that of the olefin-comprising treatment fraction. 
 
     
     
         17 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 13  to  14 ;
 wherein, at a pressure of one (1) atmosphere, the boiling point range of the olefin-comprising treatment fraction is between 25 degrees Celsius and 365 degrees Celsius, and the boiling point range of the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction is between 80 degrees Celsius and 450 degrees Celsius. 
 
     
     
         18 . The process as claimed in  claim 17 ;
 wherein the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction includes hydrocarbon material that is equivalent to light vacuum gas oil.   
     
     
         19 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 13  to  18 ;
 wherein the combining at least the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction and the olefin-depleted intermediate includes combining at least the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction, the olefin-depleted intermediate and another fraction of the heavier hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction. 
 
     
     
         20 . The process as claimed in  claims 13  to  19 ;
 wherein the cracking is effected within a reaction zone disposed at a temperature that is greater than 300 degrees Celsius. 
 
     
     
         21 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 13  to  20 , further comprising:
 supplying the upgraded product to a pipeline for transporting of the upgraded hydrocarbon material to a refinery. 
 
     
     
         22 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 13  to  21 ;
 wherein the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed is a treated crude oil; 
 and further comprising:
 prior to the treating a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, treating the crude oil to produce the the treated crude oil. 
 
 
     
     
         23 . The process as claimed in  claim 22 ;
 wherein the treating of the crude oil includes deasphalting an asphaltene-comprising hydrocarbon material.   
     
     
         24 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 13  to  23 ;
 wherein the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed includes a heavy hydrocarbon material-comprising feed. 
 
     
     
         25 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 13  to  24 ;
 wherein the cracking includes thermal cracking. 
 
     
     
         26 . A process for upgrading a hydrocarbon material comprising:
 treating a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, wherein the treating includes cracking the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed within a reaction zone, such that an upgraded intermediate is produced;   separating a feed material into at least an olefin-comprising treatment fraction, a heavier hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction, and a lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction, wherein the feed material includes at least a fraction of the upgraded intermediate reducing the content of olefinic material within the olefin-comprising treatment fraction such that an olefin-depleted intermediate is produced;   combining at least the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction and the olefin-depleted intermediate such that an olefinic material content-reduced product is produced;   producing an upgraded product including the olefinic material content-reduced product; and   supplying at least a fraction of the heavier hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction to the reaction zone, such that the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed includes at least a fraction of the heavier hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction.   
     
     
         27 . The process as claimed in  claim 26 ;
 wherein both of the separating of the feed material and the separating of the bypass treatment fraction is effected within a separator;   and further comprising:
 supplying the feed material to the separator. 
   
     
     
         28 . The process as claimed in  claim 26  or  27 ;
 wherein both of the separating of the feed material and the separating of the treatment bypass fraction is effected based on differences in volatilities between the olefin-comprising treatment fraction, the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction, and the heavier hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction. 
 
     
     
         29 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 26  to  28 ;
 at a predetermined temperature at which the separating of the olefin-comprising treatment fraction from the treatment bypass fraction is effected, the heavier hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction has a lower vapour pressure than that of the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction, and the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction has a lower vapour pressure than that of the olefin-comprising treatment fraction. 
 
     
     
         30 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 26  to  29 ;
 wherein, at a pressure of one (1) atmosphere, the boiling point range of the olefin-comprising treatment fraction is between 25 degrees Celsius and 365 degrees Celsius, and the boiling point range of the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction is between 80 degrees Celsius and 450 degrees Celsius. 
 
     
     
         31 . The process as claimed in  claim 30 ;
 wherein the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction includes hydrocarbon material that is equivalent to light vacuum gas oil.   
     
     
         32 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 26  to  31 ;
 wherein the combining at least the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction and the olefin-depleted intermediate includes combining at least the lighter hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction, the olefin-depleted intermediate and another fraction of the heavier hydrocarbon material-comprising fraction. 
 
     
     
         33 . The process as claimed in  claims 26  to  32 ;
 wherein the cracking is effected within a reaction zone disposed at a temperature that is greater than 300 degrees Celsius. 
 
     
     
         34 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 26  to  33 , further comprising:
 supplying the upgraded product to a pipeline for transporting of the upgraded hydrocarbon material to a refinery. 
 
     
     
         35 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 26  to  34 ;
 wherein the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed is a treated crude oil; 
 and further comprising:
 prior to the treating a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, treating the crude oil to produce the the treated crude oil. 
 
 
     
     
         36 . The process as claimed in  claim 35 ;
 wherein the treating of the crude oil includes deasphalting an asphaltene-comprising hydrocarbon material.   
     
     
         37 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 26  to  36 ;
 wherein the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed includes a heavy hydrocarbon material-comprising feed. 
 
     
     
         38 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 26  to  37 ;
 wherein the cracking includes thermal cracking. 
 
     
     
         39 . A process for upgrading a hydrocarbon material comprising:
 treating a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, wherein the treating includes cracking the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, such that an upgraded intermediate is produced;   separating a feed material into at least a light olefin-comprising treatment fraction and a treatment bypass fraction, wherein the feed material includes at least a fraction of the upgraded intermediate;   reducing the content of light olefinic material within the olefin-comprising treatment fraction such that a light olefinic material-depleted intermediate is produced;   combining the light olefinic material-depleted intermediate and the treatment bypass fraction so as to produce a light olefinic material content-reduced product; and   producing an upgraded product including the light olefinic material content-reduced product.   
     
     
         40 . The process as claimed in  claim 39 ;
 wherein the separating of the feed material is effected based on differences in volatilities between the light olefin-comprising treatment fraction and the treatment bypass fraction.   
     
     
         41 . The process as claimed in  claim 39  or  40 ;
 at a predetermined temperature at which the separating of the olefin-comprising treatment fraction from the treatment bypass fraction is effected, the treatment bypass fraction has a lower vapour pressure than that of the light olefin-comprising treatment fraction. 
 
     
     
         42 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 39  to  41 ;
 wherein, at a pressure of one (1) atmosphere, the boiling point range of the light olefin-comprising treatment fraction is between 25 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius. 
 
     
     
         43 . The process as claimed in  claims 39  to  42 ;
 wherein the cracking is effected within a reaction zone disposed at a temperature that is greater than 300 degrees Celsius. 
 
     
     
         44 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 39  to  43 , further comprising:
 supplying the upgraded product to a pipeline for transporting of the upgraded hydrocarbon material to a refinery. 
 
     
     
         45 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 39  to  44 ;
 wherein the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed is a treated crude oil; 
 and further comprising:
 prior to the treating a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, treating the crude oil to produce the the treated crude oil. 
 
 
     
     
         46 . The process as claimed in  claim 45 ;
 wherein the treating of the crude oil includes deasphalting an asphaltene-comprising hydrocarbon material.   
     
     
         47 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 39  to  46 ;
 wherein the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed includes a heavy hydrocarbon material-comprising feed. 
 
     
     
         48 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 39  to  47 ;
 wherein the cracking includes thermal cracking. 
 
     
     
         49 . A process for upgrading a hydrocarbon material comprising:
 supplying a hydrogen donor material to a reaction zone;   supplying a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed to the reaction zone;   treating the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, wherein the treating includes cracking the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed in the presence of a hydrogen donor material within the reaction zone, such that an upgraded hydrocarbon material is produced.   
     
     
         50 . The process as claimed in  claim 49 ;
 wherein the ratio of weight of the hydrogen donor material supplied to the reaction zone to weight of the hydrocarbon material supplied to the reaction zone is at least 1:20.   
     
     
         51 . The process as claimed in  claim 50 ;
 wherein the ratio is between 1:20 and 4:1.   
     
     
         52 . The process as claimed in  claim 50 ;
 wherein the ratio is between 1:6 and 1:3.   
     
     
         53 . The process as claimed in any one of  49  to  52 ;
 wherein the hydrogen donor material includes one or more cycloalkanes, one or more naptheno-aromatics, or one or more cycloalkanes and one or more naptheno-aromatics. 
 
     
     
         54 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 49  to  53 ;
 wherein the cracking effects production of an intermediate product including olefinic material; 
 and wherein the treating further comprises:
 effecting a reactive process, wherein the intermediate product participates within the reactive process as a reactant, and wherein the reactive process includes dehydrogenation of the olefinic material. 
 
 
     
     
         55 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 49  to  53 ;
 wherein the cracking effects production of an intermediate product; 
 and wherein the treating further comprises:
 dehydrogenating the intermediate product. 
 
 
     
     
         56 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 49  to  55 , further comprising:
 supplying the upgraded product to a pipeline for transporting of the upgraded hydrocarbon material to a refinery. 
 
     
     
         57 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 49  to  56 ;
 wherein the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed is a treated crude oil; 
 and further comprising:
 prior to the treating a hydrocarbon material-comprising feed, treating the crude oil to produce the the treated crude oil. 
 
 
     
     
         58 . The process as claimed in  claim 57 ;
 wherein the treating of the crude oil includes deasphalting an asphaltene-comprising hydrocarbon material.   
     
     
         59 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 49  to  58 ;
 wherein the hydrocarbon material-comprising feed includes a heavy hydrocarbon material-comprising feed. 
 
     
     
         60 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 49  to  59 ;
 wherein the cracking includes thermal cracking.