The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 04, 2003
Filed:
May. 11, 2001
Richard O. Moore, Jr., San Rafael, CA (US);
Roger D. Van Gelder, Beaconsfield, GB;
Chevron U.S.A. Inc., San Ramon, CA (US);
Abstract
An integrated process for producing a hydrocarbon stream, preferably including predominantly C normal and iso-paraffins, is disclosed. The process involves isolating a C − stream and, optionally a C + stream (“natural gas condensate”) from a natural gas source. The C − stream is converted to syngas, and the syngas used in a hydrocarbon synthesis process, for example, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. In one embodiment, one or more fractions from the hydrocarbon synthesis are blended with one or more crude oil derived fractions, and, optionally, the natural gas condensate, such that the overall sulfur content of the blend is less than about 200 ppm. If necessary, the crude oil fractions and/or natural gas condensate can be treated to lower the sulfur content so that the blend has an acceptable sulfur level. The fraction from the hydrocarbon synthesis may include, for example, C hydrocarbons, C + hydrocarbons, or C + hydrocarbons. In this embodiment, the hydroprocessing catalysts are noble metal-containing catalysts, which tend to be sensitive to sulfur concentrations above about 200 ppm. The catalysts preferably have high selectivity for C + products, such that a significant C − fraction is not formed. In another embodiment, one or more fractions from the hydrocarbon synthesis are blended with one or more crude oil derived fractions, and, optionally, the natural gas condensate, such that the overall sulfur content of the blend is more than about 200 ppm. The fraction from the hydrocarbon synthesis may include, for example, C hydrocarbons, C + hydrocarbons, or C + hydrocarbons. In this embodiment, conventional sulfur-tolerant hydroprocessing catalysts can be used.