Two stage hydrocarbon conversion process

Claim 1

A multiple stage process for hydroconversion of a hydrocarbon feedstock containing nitrogen- and sulfur-containing compounds which comprises: (a) contacting said feedstock in a hydrotreating stage comprising a hydrotreating reaction zone wherein hydrogen is contacted with said hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of a hydrotreating catalyst at hydro-treating conditions wherein a substantial portion of the nitrogen- and sulfur-containing compounds are converted to hydrogen sulfide and ammonia; (b) passing at least a portion of the effluent from said hydrotreating reaction zone to a stripping zone wherein a substantial portion of the hydrogen sulfide and ammonia is removed from the hydrotreating reaction zone effluent to form a stripping zone effluent; (c) contacting at least a portion of said stripping zone effluent in a hydrocracking stage, comprising a plurality of hydrocracking reaction zones in series, with hydrogen at hydrocracking conversion conditions which comprises: (i) contacting said stripping zone effluent in a first hydrocracking reaction zone with a first hydrocracking reaction zone catalyst comprising a nickel component and a molybdenum component deposed on a support component consisting essentially of a refractory inorganic oxide; (ii) contacting the effluent from said first hydrocracking reaction zone in a second hydrocracking reaction zone with a second hydrocracking reaction zone catalyst comprising a nickel component and a tungsten component deposed on a support component consisting essentially of an alumina component and a crystalline molecular sieve component; and (iii) contacting the effluent from said second hydrocracking reaction zone in a third hydrocracking reaction zone with a third hydrocracking reaction zone catalyst comprising a cobalt component and a molybdenum component deposed on a support component comprising a silica-alumina component and a crystalline molecular sieve component.