Integrated process for the partial oxidation-thermal cracking of crude

Abstract

An integrated partial oxidation-thermal cracking process is disclosed for the more complete utilization of all chemical values in crude oil feedstocks employed in the concurrent production of synthesis gas and an olefin-rich stream comprising the steps of: burning, at a high temperature, streams of fuel and oxygen in the presence of superheated steam to form a reducing stream of hot combustion products; injecting a crude oil distillate fraction stream into said reducing stream of hot combustion products; passing the resulting injected stream to a reaction zone to effect thermal cracking of said crude oil distillate fraction steam and reaction products; thermally quenching said stream; removing pitch and fractionating to provide at least one stream of hydrocarbon oil and an olefin rich gas stream; separating carbon dioxide and any contained hydrogen sulfide from said olefin rich gas stream; separating streams of synthesis gas, methane and ethylene from said olefin rich gas stream; and recycling fractions of said methane stream as fuel to said burning step.