Conversion of hydrocarbonaceous black oils

Claim 1

A process for the conversion of a black oil charge stock, of which at least 10.0% by volume boils above about 1050° F., which process comprises the sequential steps of: (a) reacting said charge stock and hydrogen, in a first catalytic reactor system, at a temperature above about 700° F. and a pressure greater than about 1000 psig.; (b) separating the resulting first reaction product effluent, in a first separation zone, under substantially the same pressure and a temperature not substantially exceeding 750° F., to provide a first vaporous phase and a first liquid phase; (c) cooling said first vaporous phase to a temperature in the range of about 50° F. to about 150° F., and separating the cooled vaporous phase, in a second separation zone at substantially the same pressure as said first separation zone, to provide (i) a hydrogen-rich second vaporous phase and, (ii) a methane-containing second liquid phase; (d) increasing the temperature of said second liquid phase, and separating the heated liquid phase, in a third separation zone at a substantially reduced pressure, said temperature and pressure being selected to provide (i) a third liquid phase and, (ii) a third vaporous phase containing at least about 70.0% of the methane contained in said second liquid phase; (e) admixing a first portion of said third liquid phase with said first vaporous phase and a second portion with said first reaction product effluent; (f) separating said first liquid phase at substantially the same temperature, in a fourth separation zone under a substantially reduced pressure below about 1000 psig., to provide (i) a fourth liquid phase and, (ii) a fourth vaporous phase; and, (g) further reacting said fourth liquid phase with hydrogen, in a second catalytic reactor system at an increased pressure above about 1000 psig.