Process to prepare two or more base oils

Abstract

The present invention provides a process to prepare two or more base oils, which process at least comprises the following steps: (a) providing a paraffmic hydrocarbon feedstock stream; (b) subjecting a paraffmic hydrocarbon feedstock stream provided in step (a) to a hydrocracking/hydroisomerization step to obtain an at least partially isomerised product stream; (c) separating the product stream of step (b), thereby obtaining a lower boiling fraction and a higher boiling fraction; (d) dewaxing the lower boiling fraction of step (c) to obtain a light base oil; and (e) dewaxing the higher boiling fraction of step (c) to obtain a heavy base oil.

1 . A process to prepare two or more base oils, the process at least comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing a paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock stream; (b) subjecting a paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock stream provided in step (a) to a hydrocracking/hydroisomerization step to obtain an at least partially isomerised product stream;   (c) separating the product stream of step (b), thereby obtaining a lower boiling fraction and a higher boiling fraction;   (d) dewaxing the lower boiling fraction of step (c) to obtain a light base oil; and   (e) dewaxing the higher boiling fraction of step (c) to obtain a heavy base oil.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock stream is a hydrowax feedstock, a Fischer-Tropsch product or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower boiling fraction of step(c), boils in a temperature range of from 350 to 500° C., and the higher boiling fraction of step (c) , boils in a temperature range of from 425 to 600° C. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein dewaxing is performed by means of a catalytic dewaxing process in the presence of a catalyst comprising a molecular sieve and a group VIII metal. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the molecular sieve is selected from a group consisting of a MTW, MTT, TON type molecular sieve, ZSM-12, ZSM-48, and EU-2. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the Group VIII metal is platinum or palladium. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the catalyst comprises a silica or titania binder. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalytically dewaxed light base oil in step (d) has a cloud point of below −15° C. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalytically dewaxed light base oil in step (d) has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. from 2.5 to 6.0 mm 2 /s. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalytically dewaxed light base oil in step (d) has a pour point of below 0° C. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein steps (d) and (e) occur simultaneously. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalytic dewaxed heavy base oil in step (e) has a cloud point of below −10° C. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalytically dewaxed heavy base oil in step (e) has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. from 5.0 to 12.0 mm 2 /s. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalytically dewaxed heavy base oil in step (e) has a pour point of below −5° C. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the light and heavy base oil are Group II mineral base oils, Group III mineral base oils, and Group III Fischer-Tropsch derived base oils according to the definitions of American Petroleum Institute (API) for category II and III as defined in API publication 1509. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the difference between the cloud point and the pour point of the catalytically dewaxed light base oil of step (d) and of the heavy base oil of step (e) is less than 6° C.