Staged catalyst reforming to produce optimum octane barrel per calendar day reformate production

Claim 1

A process for catalytically reforming feed hydrocarbons to produce a product reformate, in a multistage reforming operation, comprising: contacting the feed in a penultimate reforming stage under catalytic reforming conditions including a reforming pressure in a range from about 30 psig to about 350 psig with a first catalyst comprising a Group VIII metal dispersed on an inorganic oxide support; and contacting the effluent from said penultimate reforming stage in a final reforming stage under catalytic reforming conditions and at substantially the same pressure as is maintained in said penultimate reforming stage with a second catalyst comprising a noble metal dispersed on inorganic oxide support; and wherein said reforming pressure in said penultimate and final stages is selected to provide optimal OB/CD production of product reformate from said final reforming stage, wherein OB/CD is defined by the equation: ##EQU3## where IB=barrels of input naphtha to the reforming operation per operating day, LV %=liquid volume percent yield of C 5+ for the reforming operation, RL=the length of time between regenerations (or replacements), RgT=time needed to regenerate (or replace) both catalysts, FRON=the RON of the final stage C 5+ reformate, and PRON=the refinery pool RON.