VGO from shale oil. FCC processability and co-processing with conventional VGO

Abstract

A vacuum gas oil from an Argentinian shale oil (VGONC), another from a conventional extraction crude oil (VGOC) and their 50:50 (mass basis) mixture were converted over two equilibrium, octane-barrel and resid types, catalysts in a fluidized bed CREC Riser Simulator reactor (reaction time: 5–30 s, temperature: 550 °C, cat-to-oil: 5). The conversions and yields of gases ranked VGONC > mixture ≈ VGOC over both catalysts. The higher conversions of VGONC are attributed to its paraffinic character, the conversions of the mixture being closer to those of VGOC and not the average of the individual conversions of each VGO due to the larger contribution of aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes from VGOC to the mixture. These compounds, with marked basic character, adsorb more strongly than paraffins, which are predominant in VGONC, thus inhibiting their conversion when present in the mixture. VGONC yielded selectively less gasoline, with lower fuel quality, in consistency with its composition. The yield and fuel quality of gasoline obtained from the mixture was intermediate between those of the individual VGO. Coke yields followed the order VGOC ≈ mixture > VGONC due to the lower content of coke precursors and CCR of VGONC.