(23b) Challenges of Processing Feeds Derived from Tight Oil Crudes in the Hydrocracker

Refiners are processing more and more crudes derived from the extraction of oil from shale deposits.  While these “Tight Oils” have revolutionized crude supplies in the United States, they are presenting Refiners with new challenges.  These crudes produce hydrocracker feeds with significantly fewer contaminants than Oil Sands derived feeds or conventionally produced gas oils, but they are causing crude blending compatibility issues, furnace and heat exchanger fouling, yield selectivity changes, and product quality issues which the Refinery has to contend with.

In this study, Criterion/Zeolyst examines the performance of several hydrocrackers that are processing feeds that have been generated from crude from the Eagle Ford basin.  The impact on hydrocracker catalyst life cycles, yield selectivities, and product quality is discussed.  Opportunities may now exist to use more diesel selective hydrocracking catalysts with cold flow improvement capabilities as Refiners contend with these very paraffinic feeds.  We explore how the Refinery configuration will dictate how much of this Tight Oil derived feed can be processed in the hydrocracker or if maybe this feed should be processed in other conversion units.