Amoco Corporation

David J Soderberg

Norman K McDaniel

Norman R Woods

An effective, efficient and safe method is provided to accurately determine the amount of catalyst in an ebullated bed reactor without depressurizing the reactor or exposing the hydrocarbon in the reactors to oxidizing, flammable, or explosive conditions. Measurements are made automatically by density detectors and pressure sensors along with other equipment.

Catalyst inventory determination

Resid hydrotreating conversion of resid can be substantially increased by decreasing the feed gas rate and simultaneously increasing the concentration of hydrogen in the feed gases. Hydrogen purity can be increased by increasing the flow rate of lean sponge oil into the sponge oil absorbers, bleeding some of the recycled reactor tail gases, and increasing the makeup gas rate.

Increasing resid hydrotreating conversion

The present invention provides a process for reducing the pour point of a crude oil by adding a pour-point depressant selected from the group consisting of raw bitumen and hydrotreated bitumen to form a blend possessing a relatively lower pour point.

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

David J Soderberg