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 two or more paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock streams; b) subjecting a first paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock stream provided in step a) to a hydrocracking/hydroisomerization step to obtain a first at least partially isomerised product stream; c) subjecting a second paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock stream provided in step a) to a hydrocracking/hydroisomerization step to obtain a second at least partially isomerised product stream; d) separating the first product stream of step b), thereby obtaining a first lower boiling fraction and a first higher boiling fraction; e) separating the second product stream of step c), thereby obtaining a second lower boiling fraction and a second higher boiling fraction; f) combining the first lower boiling fraction of step d) with the second lower boiling fraction of step e) thereby obtaining a combined lower boiling fraction; g) combining the first higher boiling fraction of step d) with the second higher boiling fraction of step e) thereby obtaining a combined higher boiling fraction; h) dewaxing the combined lower boiling fraction of step f) to obtain a lightbase oil; and i) dewaxing the combined higher boiling fraction of step g) 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 two or more paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock streams;   (b) subjecting a first paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock stream provided in step (a) to a hydrocracking/hydroisomerization step to obtain a first at least partially isomerised product stream;   (c) subjecting a second paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock stream provided in step (a) to a hydrocracking/hydroisomerization step to obtain a second at least partially isomerised product stream;   (d) separating the first product stream of step (b), thereby obtaining a first lower boiling fraction and a first higher boiling fraction;   (e) separating the second product stream of step (c), thereby obtaining a second lower boiling fraction and a second higher boiling fraction;   (f) combining the first lower boiling fraction of step   (d) with the second lower boiling fraction of step (e) thereby obtaining a combined lower boiling fraction;   (g) combining the first higher boiling fraction of step (d) with the second higher boiling fraction of step (e) thereby obtaining a combined higher boiling fraction;   (h) dewaxing the combined lower boiling fraction of step f) to obtain a light base oil; and   (i) dewaxing the combined higher boiling fraction of step (g) to obtain a heavy base oil.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock is a hydrowax feedstock, a Fischer-Tropsch product or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second lower boiling fractions of steps (d) and (e), boils in a temperature range of from 350 to 500° C., and the first and second higher boiling fractions of step (d) and (e), 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 (h) has a cloud point of below −15° C. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalytically dewaxed light base oil in step (h) 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 (h) has a pour point of below 0° C. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalytic dewaxed heavy base oil in step (i) has a cloud point of below −10° C. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalytically dewaxed heavy base oil in step (i) has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. from 5.0 to 12.0 mm 2 /s. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalytically dewaxed heavy base oil in step (i) has a pour point of below −5° C. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the light and heavy base oils 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. 
     
     
         15 . 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 (h) and of the heavy base oil of step (i) is less than 6° C.