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

A vacuum gas oil from an Argentinian shale oil (VGO(NC)), another from a conventional extraction crude oil (VGO(C)) 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 VGO(NC) > mixture asymptotic to VGO(C) over both catalysts. The higher conversions of VGO(NC) are attributed to its paraffinic character, the conversions of the mixture being closer to those of VGO(C) and not the average of the individual conversions of each VGO due to the larger contribution of aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes from VGO(C) to the mixture. These compounds, with marked basic character, adsorb more strongly than paraffins, which are predominant in VGO(NC), thus inhibiting their conversion when present in the mixture. VGO(NC) 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 VGO(C) asymptotic to mixture > VGO(NC) due to the lower content of coke precursors and CCR of VGO(NC).

Automated summary

In a fluidized bed catalyst, the conversion rate of Argentinian shale oil is higher and similar to that of conventional extraction crude oil, but the conversion rate of the mixture of the two oils is different, mainly due to the influence of aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes in the mixture.