Process for the Preparation of Hydrocarbon Oil Distillates

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of hydrocarbon oil distillates from asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixtures.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the atmospheric distillation of crude mineral oil for the preparation of light hydrocarbon oil distillates, such as gasoline, kerosene and gas oil, an asphaltenes-containing residue is formed as a by-product. In the beginning these atmospheric residues (which in addition to asphlatenes, usually contain a considerable percentage of sulfur and metals) were used as fuel oil. In view of the growing demand for light hydrocarbon oil distillates and the shrinking reserves of crude mineral oil, various treatments have already been proposed which aimed at converting atmospheric residues into light hydrocarbon oil distillates. For instance, the atmospheric residue may be subjected to thermal cracking. Further, the atmospheric residue may be separated by vacuum distillation into a vacuum distillate and a vacuum residue, the vacuum distillate may be subjected to thermal cracking or to catalytic cracking in the presence or in the absence of hydrogen and the vacuum residue to thermal cracking. Finally, the vacuum residue may be separated by solvent deasphalting into a deasphalted oil and an asphaltic bitumen, the deasphalted oil may be subjected to thermal cracking or to catalytic cracking in the presence or in the absence of hydrogen, and the asphaltic bitumen to thermal cracking. One such process to prepare light hydrocarbon distillates is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,429. However, these prior art processes still have ample room for improvement.

Thermal cracking (TC) refers to the process wherein a heavy feedstock is converted into a product which contains less than 20% w C.sub.4.sup.- (C.sub.4 to C.sub.1) hydrocarbons and from which one or more distillate fractions may be separated as the desired light product and a heavy fraction as a by-product. Thermal cracking was proved in actual practice to be a suitable treatment for the preparation of hydrocarbon oil distillates from a variety of asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixtures. In the present invention we have investigated whether combining the TC treatment with pretreatment of the heavy feedstock and/or aftertreatment of the heavy fraction separated from the product of thermal cracking, and using at least part of the aftertreated heavy fraction as feed for the TC treatment, might yield a better result than employing nothing but the TC. In the assessment of the results the yield of light product is most important. Next, the qualities of the light and heavy product are of importance. In this context the quality of the light product is taken to be its suitability for processing into a valuable light fuel oil. This suitability will be greater according as the light product has, among other things, lower sulfur and olefin contents. In this context the quality of the heavy product is taken to be its suitability for use as a fuel oil component. This suitability will be greater according as the heavy product has among other things, lower metal and sulfur contents and lower viscosity and density. As pretreatments for the feed of the TC treatment and as aftertreatments for the heavy fraction of the TC product the following treatments were investigated: solvent deasphalting (DA) in which an asphaltenes-containing feed is converted into a product from which a deasphalted oil fraction and an asphaltic bitumen fraction are separated, and catalytic hydrotreatment (HT) in which an asphaltenes-containing feed is converted into a product having a reduced asphaltenes content from which can be separated one or more distillate fractions as the desired light product and a heavy fraction.

During the investigation a comparison was made between the results which can be obtained when equal quantities of an asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixture are used as the starting material in the preparation of a hydrocarbon oil distillate having a given boiling range and a heavy by-product by using

(a) nothing but TC,

(b) TC combined with DA,

(c) TC combined with HT, and

(d) TC combined with both DA and HT,

the conditions of the various treatments being as similar as possible. In view of the quantity and quality of the hydrocarbon oil distillate and the quality of the heavy by-product to be obtained in each of the procedures, the various procedures may be arranged as follows:

Quantity of hydrocarbon oil distillate: d>c>b>a

Quality of hydrocarbon oil distillate: c>d>a>b

Quality of heavy by-product: c>d>a>b

Taking into account the considerable difference in yield of hydrocarbon oil distillate obtained using procedures (c) and (d) and the no more than slight differences between the qualities of the hydrocarbon oil distillates and the heavy by-products obtained using procedures (c) and (d), a procedure in which a combination of a TC treatment, a DA treatment and a HT is used is much preferred.

As regards the order in which the three treatments are carried out and also the feeds used for each of the three treatments, a number of embodiments may be considered. In all the embodiments the deasphalted oil fraction which is separated from the product of the DA treatment is used as the feed or a feed component for the TC treatment. Each of the embodiments may be placed in one of the following three classes:

I First, the asphaltenes-containing feed is subjected to a HT, from the product thus formed a heavy fraction is separated and subjected to a combination of a DA treatment and a TC treatment.

II First, the asphaltenes-containing feed is subjected to a DA treatment, from the product thus obtained a deasphalted oil fraction and an asphaltic bitumen fraction are separated and these are both subjected to a combination of a TC treatment and a HT.

III First, the asphaltenes-containing feed is subjected to a TC treatment, from the product thus obtained a heavy fraction is separated and subjected to a combination of a HT and a DA treatment.

The embodiments belonging to class I form the subject matter of the present patent application. The embodiments belonging to classes II and III form the subject matter of copending patent application Ser. No. 420,556, filed Sept. 20, 1982 and copending patent application Ser. No. 429,778, filed Sept. 30, 1982 respectively, both applications having a common assignee.

The embodiments to which the present patent application relates may further be subdivided depending on whether the heavy fraction separated from the product from the HT is used as feed for the DA treatment (class IA), or as a feed component for the TC (class IB). In the embodiments belonging to class IB the heavy fraction separated from the TC treatment is used as feed for the DA treatment.

The present patent application therefore relates to a process for the preparation of hydrocarbon oil distillates from asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixtures, in which an asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixture (stream 1) is subjected to a HT in which an asphaltenes-containing feed is converted into a product having a reduced asphaltenes content from which one or more distillate fractions and a heavy fraction (stream 2) are separated, in which stream 2 is subjected to a combination of the following two treatments: a DA treatment in which an asphaltenes-containing feed is converted into a product from which a deasphalted oil fraction (stream 3) and an asphaltic bitumen fraction (stream 4) are separated and a TC treatment in which one feed or two individual feeds are converted into a product which comprises less than 20% w C.sub.4.sup.- hydrocarbons and from which one or more distillate fractions and a heavy fraction (stream 5) are separated, in which stream 3 is used as feed or feed component for the TC treatment and in which stream 2 is used either as a feed component for the TC treatment with stream 5 being used as the feed for the DA treatment, or as the feed for the DA treatment.

In a particular embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for the production of hydrocarbon oil distillates from a hydrocarbon mixture feed stream containing asphaltenes, said process comprising:

(a) catalytically hydrotreating said feed stream in a hydrotreating zone, therein producing a first product stream having a reduced asphaltenes content;

(b) fractionating said first product stream into one or more light distillate fractions and a first heavy distillate fraction;

(c) thermally cracking said first heavy distillate fraction and a deasphalted oil fraction in a thermal cracking zone into a second product stream containing less than 20 percent by weight C.sub.4 to C.sub.1 hydrocarbons;

(d) fractionating said second product stream into one or more light distillate fractions and a second heavy distillate fraction;

(e) solvent deasphalting said second heavy distillate fraction in a deasphalting zone to obtain a deasphalted oil fraction and an asphaltic bitumen fraction; and

(f) routing at least a portion of said deasphalted oil fraction from step (e) to said thermal cracking zone.

In an alternative embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for the production of hydrocarbon oil distillates from a hydrocarbon mixture feed stream containing asphaltenes, said process comprising:

(a) catalytically hydrotreating said feed stream in a hydrotreating zone, therein producing a first product stream having a reduced asphaltenes content;

(b) fractionating said first product stream into one or more light distillate fractions and a first heavy distillate fraction;

(c) solvent deasphalting said first heavy distillate fraction in a deasphalting zone to obtain a deasphalted oil fraction and an asphaltic bitumen fraction;

(d) thermal cracking said deasphalted oil fraction in a thermal cracking zone into a second product stream containing less than 20 percent by weight C.sub.4 to C.sub.1 hydrocarbons; and

(e) fractionating said second product stream into one or more light distillate fractions and a second heavy distillate fraction.

FIGS. 1-5 each illustrate different embodiments of the processing scheme according to the invention.

In the process according to the invention the feed used is an asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixture. A suitable parameter for the assessment of the asphaltenes content of a hydrocarbon mixture as well as of the reduction of the asphaltenes content which appears when an asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixture is subjected to a HT, is the Ramsbottom Carbon Test value (RCT). The higher the asphaltenes content of the hydrocarbon mixture, the higher the RCT. Preferably, the process is applied to hydrocarbon mixtures which boil substantially above 350.degree. C. and more than 35% w of which boils above 520.degree. C. and which have an RCT of more than 7.5% w. Examples of such hydrocarbon mixtures are residues obtained in the distillation of crude mineral oils and also heavy hydrocarbon mixtures obtained from shale and tar sand. If required, the process may also be applied to heavy crude mineral oils, residues obtained in the distillation of products formed in the thermal cracking of hydrocarbon mixtures and asphaltic bitumen obtained in the solvent deasphalting of asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixtures. The process according to the invention can very suitably be applied to residues obtained in the vacuum distillation of atmospheric distillation residues from crude mineral oils. If an atmospheric distillation residue from a crude mineral oil is available as feed for the process according to the invention, it is preferred to separate a vacuum distillate therefrom by vacuum distillation and to subject the resulting vacuum residue to the HT. The separated vacuum distillate may be subjected to thermal cracking or to catalytic cracking in the presence or in the absence of hydrogen to convert it into light hydrocarbon oil distillates. The separated vacuum distillate is very suitable for use as a feed component for the TC treatment, together with stream 3.

The process according to the invention is a three-step process in which in the first step an asphaltenes-containing feed (stream 1) is subjected to a HT for the preparation of a product with a reduced asphaltenes content from which one or more distillate fractions and a heavy fraction (stream 2) are separated. In the second and third steps of the process stream 2 is subjected to a combination of a DA treatment and a TC treatment.

Asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixtures usually include a considerable percentage of metals, particularly vanadium and nickel. When such hydrocarbon mixtures are subjected to a catalytic treatment, for instance a HT for the reduction of the asphaltenes content, as is the case in the first step of the process according to the invention, these metals are deposited on the catalyst used in the HT and thus shorten its effective life. In view of this, asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixtures having a vanadium plus nickel content of more than 50 parts per million by weight (ppmw) should preferably be subjected to a demetallization treatment before they are contacted with the catalyst used in the HT. This demetallization may very suitably be carried out by contacting the asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixture, in the presence of hydrogen, with a catalyst consisting more than 80% w of silica. Both catalysts completely consisting of silica and catalysts containing one or more metals having hydrogenating activity--in particular a combination of nickel and vanadium--emplaced on a carrier substantially consisting of silica, are suitable for the purpose. When in the process according to the invention the asphaltenes-containing feed is subjected to a catalytic demetallization treatment in the presence of hydrogen, this demtallization may be carried out in a separate reactor. Since the catalytic demetallization and the HT for the reduction of the asphaltenes content can be carried out under the same conditions, the two processes may very suitably be carried out in the same reactor containing a bed of the demetallization catalyst and a bed of the catalyst used in the HT, successively.

Suitable catalysts for carrying out the HT are those containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt and mixtures thereof and in addition at least one metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten and mixtures thereof on a carrier, which carrier consists more than 40% w of alumina. Catalysts very suitable for use in the HT are those comprising the metal combinations nickel/molybdenum or cobalt/molybdenum on alumina as the carrier. The HT is preferably carried out at a temperature of from 300.degree.-500.degree. C. and in particular of from 350.degree.-450.degree. C., a pressure of from 50-300 bar and in particular of from 75-200 bar, a space velocity of from 0.02-10 g.g.sup.-1.h.sup.-1 and in particular of from 0.1-2 g.g.sup.-1.h.sup.-1 and a H.sub.2 /feed ratio of from 100-5000 N1.kg.sup.-1 and in particular of from 500-2000 Nl.kg.sup.-1. As used herein "g" refers to grams, " h" refers to hours, "Nl" refers to normal liters and "Kg" refers to kilograms. The conditions used in a catalytic demetallization treatment in the presence of hydrogen, to be carried out if required, are subject to the same preference as those for the HT for the reduction of the asphaltenes content stated hereinbefore.

The HT is preferably carried out in such a way that it yields a product the C.sub.5.sup.+ fraction of which meets the following requirements:

(a) the RCT of the C.sub.5.sup.+ fraction amounts to 20-70% of the feed RCT, and

(b) the difference between the percentages by weight of hydrocarbon boiling below 350.degree. C. present in the C.sub.5.sup.+ fraction and in the feed is at most 40.

It should be noted that in the catalytic demetallization, apart from reduction of the metal content, there will be some reduction of the RCT and some formation of C.sub.5 -350.degree. C. product. A similar phenomenon is seen in the HT, in which, apart from reduction of the RCT and formation of C.sub.5 -350.degree. C. product, there will be some reduction of the metal content. The requirements mentioned under (a) and (b) refer to the total RCT reduction and the total formation of C.sub.5 -350.degree. C. product (viz. including those occurring in a catalytic demetallization treatment that may be carried out).

The first step of the process according to the invention yields a product having a reduced asphaltenes content from which one or more distillate fractions and a heavy fraction (stream 2) are separated. The distillate fraction separated from the product may be atmospheric distillates only, but it is preferred to separate a vacuum distillate from the product as well. This vacuum distillate may be converted into light hydrocarbon oil distillates in the ways stated hereinbefore.

In the process according to the invention the second or third step used is a DA treatment in which an asphaltenes-containing feed is converted into a product from which a deasphalted oil fraction (stream 3) and an asphaltic bitumen fraction (stream 4) are separated. Suitable solvents for carrying out the DA are paraffinic hydrocarbons having from 3-6 carbon atoms per molecule, such as n-butane and mixtures thereof, such as mixtures of propane and n-butane and mixtures of n-butane and n-pentane. Suitable solvent/oil weight ratios lie between 7:1 and 1:1 and in particular between 4:1 and 1:1. The DA treatment is preferably carried out at a pressure in the range of from 20 to 100 bar. When n-butane is used as the solvent, the deasphalting is preferably carried out at a pressure of from 35-45 bar and a temperature of from 100.degree.-150.degree. C.

In the process according to the invention the second or third step used is a TC treatment in which one feed or two separate feeds are converted into a product which contains less than 20%w C.sub.4.sup.- hydrocarbons and from which one or more distillate fractions and a heavy fraction (stream 5) are separated. The way in which the TC treatment is carried out is determined by the quality of the feeds available for the TC.

If the feed for the TC is composed of nothing but one or more streams having a relatively low asphaltenes content, such as stream 3--optionally together with one or more vacuum distillates separated during the process--a TC treatment comprising a single cracking unit will be sufficient. From the product formed one or more distillate fractions and a heavy fraction (stream 5) are separated. The distillate fractions separated from the product may be atmospheric distillates only, but it is preferred to separate a vacuum distillate from the product as well. This vacuum distillate may be converted into light hydrocarbon oil distillates in the ways stated hereinbefore. If the feed for the TC treatment is composed of nothing but one or more streams having a relatively low asphaltenes content, and a TC treatment is used which comprises only one cracking unit, then a heavy fraction of the cracked product is preferably recirculated to the cracking unit. For instance, starting from stream 3 as the feed for the TC treatment, a product may be prepared from which one or more atmospheric distillates are separated by distillation and subsequently part of the atmospheric residue may be recirculated to the cracking unit.

If the feed for the TC treatment is composed of both of one or more streams having a relatively low asphaltenes content, such as stream 3--optionally together with one or more vacuum distillates separated during the process--and of a relatively asphaltenes-rich stream, such as stream 4 or stream 2 obtained as vacuum residue, it is preferred to carry out a TC treatment comprising two cracking units and to crack the two feeds separately to form products from which one or more distillate fractions and a heavy fraction (stream 5) are separated. The distillate fractions separated from the products may be atmospheric distillates only, but it is preferred to separate a vacuum distillate from the products as well. The separated vacuum distillate may be converted into light hydrocarbon distillates in the manners described hereinbefore. As is the case when a TC treatment comprising a single cracking unit is used, so also when a TC treatment comprising two cracking units is used, a heavy fraction from the cracked product from the cracking unit in which the relatively low asphaltenes feed is processed will preferably be recirculated to that cracking unit. When a TC treatment comprising two cracking units is used, a relatively low-asphaltenes heavy fraction may, if desired, be separated from the product obtained in the cracking unit in which the relatively asphaltenes-rich feed is cracked and be used as a feed component for the cracking unit in which the relatively low-asphaltenes feed is processed. When a TC treatment comprising two cracking units is used, it is not necessary for the distillation of the cracked products (atmospheric and, optionally, vacuum distillation) to be carried out in separate distillation units. If desired, the cracked products or fractions therefrom may be combined and distilled together.

The TC treatment both of relatively low-asphaltenes feeds and of relatively asphaltenes-rich feeds should preferably be carried out at a temperature of from 400.degree.-525.degree. C. and a space velocity of from 0.01-5 kg fresh feed per liter cracking reactor volume per minute.

As has been observed hereinbefore, the embodiments to which the present patent application relates and which fall within class I may be subdivided depending on whether stream 2 is used as the feed for the DA treatment (class IA), or as a feed component for the TC treatment (class IB). In the embodiments falling within class IB stream 5 is used as the feed for the DA treatment.

The various embodiments falling within class IA are illustrated schematically in FIG. 1. According to the Figure the process is carried out in an apparatus comprising at HT zone (106), a DA zone (107) and a TC zone (108), successively. An asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixture (101) is subjected to a HT and the hydrotreated product is separated into one or more distillate fractions (109) and a residual fraction (102). Stream 102 is subjected to a DA treatment and the product is separated into a deasphalted oil (103) and an asphaltic bitumen (104). Stream 103 is subjected to a TC treatment and the cracked product is separated into one or more distillate fractions (110) and a residual fraction (105). In addition to this embodiment (IA1), in which streams 104 and 105 are not subjected to further processing, FIG. 1 includes the following seven embodiments:

IA2--The use of at least part of stream 104 as a feed component for the HT. No further processing of stream 105.

IA3--The use of at least part of stream 104 as a feed component for the TC treatment. No further treatment of stream 105.

IA4--The use of part of stream 104 as a feed component for the HT and as a feed component for the TC treatment. No further processing of stream 105.

IA5-IA7--Embodiments substantially corresponding with those described under IA2-IA4, respectively, but with at least part of stream 105 being used as a feed component for the HT.

IA8--The use of at least part of stream 105 as a feed component for the HT. No further processing of stream 104.

The various embodiments falling within class IB are represented schematically in FIG. 2. According to this Figure the process is carried out in an apparatus comprising a HT zone (206), a TC zone (207) and a DA zone (208). An asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixture (201) is subjected to a HT and the hydrotreated product is separated into one or more distillate fractions (209) and a residual fraction (202). Stream 202 is subjected to a TC treatment and the cracked product is separated into one or more distillate fractions (210) and a residual fraction (205). Stream 205 is subjected to a DA treatment and the product is separated into a deasphalted oil (203) and an asphaltic bitumen (204). Stream 203 is used as a feed component for the TC treatment. In addition to this embodiment (IB1), in which stream 204 is not subjected to further processing FIG. 2 includes another embodiment (IB2) in which at least part of stream 204 is used as a feed component for the HT.

In the embodiments where it is the object to achieve the most complete conversion possible of stream (201) into hydrocarbon oil distillates, a so-called "bleed stream" should preferably be separated from one of the heavy streams of the process. In this way the build-up of undesirable heavy components during the process can be obviated.

Three flow diagrams for the preparation of hydrocarbon oil distillates from asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixtures according to the invention will hereinafter be explained in more detail with the aid of FIGS. 3-5.

See FIG. 3.

The process is carried out in an apparatus comprising, successively a HT zone composed of a unit for catalytic hydrotreatment (306), a unit for atmospheric distillation (307) and a unit for vacuum distillation (308), a DA zone (309) and a TC zone composed of a thermal cracking unit (310), a second unit for atmospheric distillation (311) and a second unit for vacuum distillation (312). An asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixture (301) is mixed with a recirculation stream (313) and the mixture (314) is subjected together with hydrogen (315) to a catalytic hydrotreatment. The hydrotreatment product (316) is separated by atmospheric distillation into a gas fraction (317), an atmospheric distillate (318) and an atmospheric residue (319). The atmospheric residue (319) is separated by vacuum distillation into a vacuum distillate (320) and a vacuum residue (302). The vacuum residue (302) is separated by solvent deasphalting into a deasphalted oil (303) and an asphaltic bitumen (304). The deasphalted oil (303) is mixed with an atmospheric residue (321) and the mixture (322) is subjected to thermal cracking. The asphaltic bitumen (304) is divided into two portions (323) and (324) and portion (324) is mixed with a vacuum residue (305) to form the recirculation stream (313). The thermally cracked product (325) is separated by atmospheric distillation into a gas fraction (326), an atmospheric distillate (327) and an atmospheric residue (328). The atmospheric residue (328) is divided into two portions (321) and (329) and portion (329) is separated by vacuum distillation into a vacuum distillate (330) and a vacuum residue (305).

See FIG. 4.

The process is carried out in an apparatus comprising, successively, a HT zone composed of a unit for catalytic hydrotreatment (406), a unit for atmospheric distillation (407) and a unit for vacuum distillation (408), a DA zone (409) and a TC zone composed of a thermal cracking unit (410), a second unit for atmospheric distillation (411), a second thermal cracking unit (412), a third unit for atmospheric distillation (413) and a second unit for vacuum distillation (414). An asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixture (401) is mixed with a vacuum residue (415) and the mixture (416) is subjected together with hydorgen (417) to a catalytic hydrotreatment. The hydrotreated product (418) is separated by atmospheric distillation into a gas fraction (419), an atmospheric distillate (420) and an atmospheric residue (421). The atmospheric residue (421) is separated by vacuum distillation into a vacuum distillate (422) and a vacuum residue (402). The vacuum residue (402) is separated by solvent deasphalting into a deasphalted oil (403) and an asphaltic bitumen (404). The deasphalted oil (403) is mixed with atmospheric residue (423) and the mixture (424) is converted in the second thermal cracking unit into a product (425) which is split up by atmospheric distillation into a gas fraction (426), an atmospheric distillate (427) and an atmospheric residue (428). The atmospheric residue (428) is divided into two portions (423) and (429). The asphaltic bitumen (404) is converted in the first thermal cracking unit into a product (430) which is separated by atmospheric distillation into a gas fraction (431), an atmospheric distillate (432) and an atmospheric residue (433). Gas fractions (426) and (431) are combined to form mixture (434). Atmospheric distillates (427) and (432) are combined to form mixture (435). Atmospheric residues (429) and (433) are combined to form mixture (436) which is separated by vacuum distillation into a vacuum distillate (437) and a vacuum residue (405). Vacuum residue (405) is divided into two portions (415) and (438).

See FIG. 5.

The process is carried out in an apparatus comprising, successively, a HT zone composed of a unit for catalytic hydrotreatment (506), an atmospheric distillation unit (507) and a vacuum distillation unit (508), a TC zone composed of a thermal cracking unit (509), a second atmospheric distillation unit (510), a second thermal cracking unit (511), a third atmospheric distillation unit (512) and a second vacuum distillation unit (513), and a DA zone (514). An asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixture (501) is mixed with an asphaltic bitumen (515) and the mixture (516) is subjected, together with hydrogen (517) to a catalytic hydrotreatment. The hydrotreated product (518) is separated by atmospheric distillation into a gas fraction (519), an atmospheric distillate (520) and an atmospheric residue (521). The atmospheric residue (521) is separated by vacuum distillation into a vacuum distillate (522) and a vacuum residue (502). The vacuum residue (502) is converted by thermal cracking into a product (523) which by atmospheric distillation is separated into a gas fraction (524), an atmospheric distillate (525) and an atmospheric residue (526). The atmospheric residue (526) is mixed with an atmospheric residue (527) and the mixture (528) is separated by vacuum distillation into a vacuum distillate (529) and a vacuum residue (505). The vacuum residue (505) is separated by solvent deasphalting into a deasphalted oil (503) and an asphaltic bitumen (504). The deasphalted oil (503) is mixed with an atmospheric residue (530) and the mixture (531) is subjected to thermal cracking to form a product (532) which by atmospheric distillation is separated into a gas fraction (533), an atmospheric distillate (534) and an atmospheric residue (535). The atmospheric residue (535) is divided into two portions (527) and (530). Gas fractions (524) and (533) are combined to form mixture (536). Atmospheric distillates (525) and (534) are combined to form mixture (537). Asphaltic bitumen (504) is divided into two portions (515) and (538).

The invention is further illustrated with the aid of the following examples, which are given for illustration only and are not meant to limit the invention to the particular reactants and conditions employed therein.

The starting mixtures used in the process according to the invention were three asphaltenes-containing hydrocarbon mixtures obtained as residues in the vacuum distillation of atmospheric distillation residues from crude mineral oils from the Middle East. All three vacuum residues boiled substantially above 520.degree. C.; they had RCT's of 18.8, 14.5 and 17.1%w, respectively. The process was carried out according to flow diagrams A-C. The following conditions were used in the various zones:

In all the flow diagrams the unit for catalytic hydrotreatment comprised two reactors, the first of which was filled with a Ni/V/SiO.sub.2 catalyst containing 0.5 pbw (parts by weight) of nickel and 2.0 pbw of vanadium per 100 pbw of silica, and the second of which was filled with a Co/Mo/Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 catalyst containing 4 pbw of cobalt and 12 pbw of molybdenum per 100 pbw of alumina. The catalytic hydrotreatment was carried out at a hydrogen pressure of 150 bar, a space velocity, measured for both the reactors, of 0.5 kg feed per liter catalyst per hour, a H.sub.2 /feed ratio of 1000 Nl per kg and an average temperature of 410.degree. C. in the first reactor and 385.degree. C. in the second reactor.

In all the flow diagrams the DA treatment was carried out at a pressure of 40 bar using n-butane as solvent.

In all the flow diagrams the TC treatment was carried out in one or two cracking coils at a pressure of 20 bar and a spare velocity of 0.4 kg fresh feed per liter cracking coil volume per minute.

Further information concerning the conditions under which the DA treatment and the TC treatment were carried out is given in the Table.

100 pbw 520.degree. C..sup.+ vacuum residue (301) having an RCT of 18.8%w yielded the various streams in the following quantities:

130.3 pbw mixture (314) having an RCT of 23.8%w,

a product (316) the C.sub.5.sup.+ fraction of which had an RCT of 10.4%w,

17.1 pbw C.sub.5 -350.degree. C. atmospheric distillate (318),

106.0 pbw 350.degree. C..sup.+ atmospheric residue (319),

31.7 pbw 350.degree.-520.degree. C. vacuum distillate (320),

74.3 pbw 520.degree. C..sup.+ vacuum residue (302),

53.5 pbw deasphalted oil (303),

20.8 pbw asphaltic bitumen (304),

6.0 pbw portion (323),

14.8 pbw portion (324),

20.0 pbw C.sub.5 -350.degree. C. atmospheric distillate (327),

6.0 pbw portion (323),

14.8 pbw portion (324),

20.0 pbw C.sub.5 -350.degree. C. atmospheric distillate (327),

30.1 pbw 350.degree. C..sup.+ atmospheric residue (329),

14.6 pbw 350.degree.-520.degree. C. vacuum distillate (330),

15.5 pbw 520.degree. C..sup.+ vacuum residue (305) and

30.3 pbw recirculation stream (313).

100 pbw 520.degree. C..sup.+ vacuum residue (401) having an RCT of 14.5%w yielded the various streams in the following quantities:

121.2 pbw mixture (416) having an RCT of 19.5%w,

a product (418) the C.sub.5.sup.+ fraction of which had an RCT of 9.1%w,

18.7 pbw C.sub.5 -350.degree. C. atmospheric distillate (420),

96.0 pbw 350.degree. C..sup.+ atmospheric residue (421),

28.1 pbw 350.degree.-520.degree. C. vacuum distillate (422),

67.9 pbw 520.degree. C..sup.+ vacuum residue (402),

46.2 pbw deasphalted oil (403),

21.7 pbw asphaltic bitumen (404),

20.2 pbw C.sub.5 -350.degree. C. atmospheric distillate (435),

44.3 pbw 350.degree. C..sup.+ atmospheric residue (436),

14.6 pbw 350.degree.-520.degree. C. vacuum distillate (437),

29.7 pbw 520.degree. C..sup.+ vacuum residue (405),

8.5 pbw portion (438) and

21.2 pbw portion (415).

100 pbw 520.degree. C..sup.+ vacuum residue (501) having an RCT of 17.1%w yielded the various streams in the following quantities:

125.3 pbw mixture (516) having an RCT of 21.8%w,

a product (518), the C.sub.5.sup.+ fraction of which had an RCT of 9.8%w,

18.9 pbw C.sub.5 -350.degree. C. atmospheric distillate (520),

99.8 pbw 350.degree. C..sup.+ atmospheric residue (521),

28.4 pbw 350.degree.-520.degree. C. vacuum distillate (522),

71.4 pbw 520.degree. C..sup.+ vacuum residue (502),

75.2 pbw 350.degree. C..sup.+ atmospheric residues (528),

14.7 pbw 350.degree.-520.degree. C. vacuum distillate (529),

60.5 pbw 520.degree. C..sup.+ vacuum residue (505),

25.2 pbw deasphalted oil (503),

35.3 pbw asphaltic bitumen (504),

18.7 pbw C.sub.5 -350.degree. C. atmospheric distillate (537),

25.3 pbw portion (515) and

10.0 pbw portion (538).