Integrated hydroprocessing and fluid catalytic cracking for processing of a crude oil

Abstract

An integrated hydroprocessing and fluid catalytic cracking process is provided for the direct processing of a crude oil to produce olefinic and aromatic petrochemicals. Crude oil and hydrogen are charged to a hydroprocessing zone operating under conditions effective to produce a hydroprocessed effluent having a reduced content of contaminants, an increased paraffinicity, reduced Bureau of Mines Correlation Index, and an increased American Petroleum Institute gravity. The hydroprocessed effluent is separated into a low boiling fraction and a high boiling fraction. The low boiling fraction is cracked in a first downflow reactor of a fluid catalytic cracking unit in the presence of a predetermined amount of catalyst to produce cracked products and spent catalyst, and the high boiling fraction is cracked in a second downflow reactor of the fluid catalytic cracking unit in the presence of a predetermined amount of catalyst to produce cracked products and spent catalyst. Spent catalyst from both the first and second downflow reactors are regenerated in a common regeneration zone, and first and second cracked product streams are recovered.