Low sulfur marine fuel

Abstract

The invention pertains marine fuel compositions having a sulfur content of less than or equal to 1000 ppm and methods of producing the same. The low sulfur marine fuels are compliant for use in Sulfur Emission Control Areas beginning Jan. 1, 2015. The compositions comprise a blend of a residual fuel oil and a distillate fuel oil. The residual fuel oil can constitute from about 15% to about 50% by volume of the final blend and the distillate fuel oil from about 50% to about 85%. In some embodiments the residual fuel oil contains a vacuum tower bottoms component characterized by a flashpoint of 200 F or higher and the distillate fuel oil an ultra low sulfur diesel component characterized by a flashpoint of 120 F or higher. Methods of producing low sulfur marine fuel comprise blending a residual fuel oil with a distillate fuel oil.

1 . A low sulfur marine fuel having a sulfur content of less than or equal to 1000 ppm, said low sulfur marine fuel comprising a blend of a residual fuel oil and a distillate fuel oil, wherein said residual fuel oil comprises grade No. 6 fuel oil and wherein said distillate fuel oil comprises grade No. 2 fuel oil. 
     
     
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         4 . The low sulfur marine fuel of  claim 1  wherein said residual fuel oil comprises from about 15% to about 50% by volume of the final marine fuel blend. 
     
     
         5 . The low sulfur marine fuel of  claim 1 , wherein said residual fuel oil comprises from about 28% to about 38% by volume of the final marine fuel blend. 
     
     
         6 . The low sulfur marine fuel of  claim 1  wherein said distillate fuel oil comprises from about 50% to about 85% by volume of the final marine fuel blend. 
     
     
         7 . The low sulfur marine fuel of  claim 1  wherein said distillate fuel oil comprises from about 62% to about 72% by volume of the final marine fuel blend. 
     
     
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         10 . The low sulfur marine fuel of  claim 1 , further comprising grade No. 4 fuel oil. 
     
     
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         12 . A low sulfur marine fuel having a sulfur content of less than or equal to 1000 ppm, said low sulfur marine fuel being adapted for use in Category 3 marine diesel engines operating in emission control areas, said low sulfur marine fuel comprising a blend of from 15% to 50% of a residual fuel oil, said residual fuel oil comprises grade No. 6 fuel oil, and from about 50% to about 85% of a distillate fuel oil component, said distillate fuel oil comprises grade No. 2 fuel oil, wherein said low sulfur marine fuel has a Pour Point of less than −20° C. an API gravity value of about 27-33°. 
     
     
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         16 . A low sulfur marine fuel having a sulfur content of less than or equal to 1000 ppm, said low sulfur marine fuel being suitable for use in Category 3 marine diesel engines operating in emission control areas, said low sulfur marine fuel comprising a blend of:
 (a) a first hydrocarbon component comprising a distillate fuel oil having an ultra low sulfur diesel component, said ultra low sulfur diesel being characterized by a flashpoint of 120° F. or higher and a sulfur content of less than about 50 ppm, wherein said first hydrocarbon component comprises from about 50% to about 85% by volume of said final marine fuel blend; and   (b) a second hydrocarbon component comprising a residual fuel oil having a vacuum tower bottoms component, said vacuum tower bottoms being characterized by a flashpoint of 200° F. or higher and a sulfur content of 2000 ppm or higher, wherein said second hydrocarbon component comprises from about 15% to about 50% by volume of the final marine fuel blend; and   wherein the final marine fuel blend of said first and second hydrocarbon components has a sulfur content of less than 1000 ppm.   
     
     
         17 . The low sulfur marine fuel of  claim 16  wherein the sulfur content of said vacuum tower bottoms of said second hydrocarbon component is greater than 2300 ppm. 
     
     
         18 . The low sulfur marine fuel of  claim 16  wherein the sulfur content of said vacuum tower bottoms of said second hydrocarbon component is greater than 3500 ppm. 
     
     
         19 . The low sulfur marine fuel of  claim 16  wherein the first hydrocarbon component comprises from 62% to 72% by volume of said final marine fuel blend and wherein said second hydrocarbon component comprises from 28% to 38% by volume of said final marine fuel blend. 
     
     
         20 . The low sulfur marine fuel of  claim 16  wherein the sulfur content of the final marine fuel blend is less than 1000 ppm and the flashpoint of the final blend is at least 140° F. 
     
     
         21 . A method for producing a low sulfur marine fuel having a sulfur content of less than or equal to 1000 ppm, said low sulfur marine fuel being suitable for use in Category 3 marine diesel engines operating in emission control areas, said method comprising the step of blending a first hydrocarbon component with a second hydrocarbon component wherein
 said first hydrocarbon component comprises a distillate fuel oil having an ultra low sulfur diesel component, said ultra low sulfur diesel being characterized by a flashpoint of 100° F. or higher and a sulfur content of less than about 50 ppm, and wherein said first hydrocarbon component comprises from about 50% to about 85% by volume of said final blend; and   said second hydrocarbon component comprises a residual fuel oil having a vacuum tower bottoms component, said vacuum tower bottoms being characterized by a flashpoint of 200° F. or higher and a sulfur content of 2000 ppm or higher, wherein said second hydrocarbon component comprises from about 15% to about 50% by volume of the final marine fuel blend;   wherein the final marine fuel blend of said first and second hydrocarbon components has a sulfur content of less than 1000 ppm.