An oxidative treatment process, e.g., oxidative desulfurization or denitrification, is provided in which the oxidant is produced in-situ using an aromatic-rich portion of the original liquid hydrocarbon feedstock. The process reduces or replaces the need for the separate introduction of liquid oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide, organic peroxide and organic hydroperoxide in an oxidative treatment process.

Deep desulfurization of hydrocarbon feeds containing undesired organosulfur compounds to produce a hydrocarbon product having low levels of sulfur, i.e., 15 ppmw or less of sulfur, is achieved by hydrotreating the feed under mild conditions, and separating the hydrotreated effluent into an aromatic-rich fraction which contains a substantial amount of the aromatic refractory and sterically hindered sulfur-containing compounds, and an aromatic-lean fraction. The aromatic-rich fraction is contacted with isomerization catalyst, and the isomerized aromatic-rich fraction is recycled to the mild hydrotreating process.

A method wherein either crude oil or a used oil lubricant is processed to produce an intermediate lube distillate which is then hydrotreated to produce a hydrotreated base oil which is then processed by solvent treatment to produce a higher viscosity index base oil (such as Groups II+ and/or III) and a lower viscosity index base oil (such as Groups I and/or II), in each case as compared with the viscosity index of the hydrotreated base oil. In the solvent treatment, one or more solvents are utilized to selectively separate higher viscosity index components from lower viscosity index components found in the hydrotreated base oil, and after the separations have occurred, the solvent is preferably recovered for re-use in the process.

A process for heavy base oil production, comprising: a. performing an aromatic extraction of a first hydrocarbon feed to produce an aromatic extract, and a waxy raffinate; b. mixing the aromatic extract with a second hydrocarbon feed to make a mixed feed having greater than 2,000 wt ppm sulfur; c. feeding the mixed feed to a hydroprocessing unit to produce a heavy API Group II base oil having a kinematic viscosity at 70 C. from 22.6 to 100 mm.sup.2/s. An integrated refinery process unit for making heavy base oils, comprising: a. an aromatic extraction unit fluidly connected to a solvent dewaxing unit and a hydroprocessing unit; b. a first line from the aromatic extraction unit, that feeds an aromatic extract to a second hydrocarbon feed to make a mixed feed having greater than 2,000 wt ppm sulfur; and c. a connection that feeds the mixed feed to the hydroprocessing unit.

A selective mid-distillate hydrotreating process is provided for production of hydrocarbon fuels with an ultra-low level of sulfur in which the initial hydrocarbon feedstock is introduced into to an aromatic extraction zone to produce an aromatic-lean fraction and an aromatic-rich fraction, which contain different classes of organosulfur compounds having different reactivities when subjected to hydrotreating reactions. The aromatic-lean fraction contains primarily labile heteroatom-containing compounds, and is passed to a first hydrotreating zone operating under mild conditions to remove the sulfur heteroatom from organosulfur hydrocarbon compounds. The aromatic-rich fraction contains primarily refractory heteroatom-containing compounds, including aromatic molecules such as certain benzothiophenes (e.g., long chain alkylated benzothiophenes), dibenzothiophene and alkyl derivatives, such as sterically hindered 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene, and is passed to a hydrotreating zone operating under relatively severe conditions to remove the heteroatom from sterically hindered refractory compounds.

Methods are provided for upgrading disadvantaged feeds for use in lubricant base stock production. A disadvantaged feed can be upgraded by hydroprocessing the feed to form a hydroprocessed bottoms fraction. The hydroprocessed bottoms fraction can then be used as a feed for forming Group I and/or Group II lubricant base stocks, optionally in combination with a conventional feed for lubricant production. The remaining portions of the hydroprocessing effluent can optionally be used for FCC processing and/or for other conventional applications of naphtha and distillate fractions.

Methods are provided for forming lubricant base stocks from feeds such as vacuum resid or other 510 C.+ feeds. A feed can be deasphalted and then catalytically and/or solvent processed to form lubricant base stocks, including bright stocks that are resistant to haze formation.

Methods are provided for forming lubricant base stocks from feeds such as vacuum resid or other 510 C.+ feeds. A feed can be deasphalted and then catalytically and/or solvent processed to form lubricant base stocks, including bright stocks that are resistant to haze formation.

Methods are provided for forming lubricant base stocks from feeds such as vacuum resid or other 510 C.+ feeds. A feed can be deasphalted and then catalytically and/or solvent processed to form lubricant base stocks, including bright stocks. The catalytic processing can correspond to processing in at least two stages. The amount of conversion performed in each stage can be varied to produce bright stocks with various properties.

Systems and methods are provided for integration of use deasphalted resid as a feed for fuels and/or lubricant base stock production with use of the corresponding deasphalter rock for gasification to generate hydrogen and/or fuel for the fuels and/or lubricant production process. The integration can include using hydrogen generated during gasification as a fuel to provide heat for solvent processing and/or using the hydrogen for hydroprocessing of deasphalted oil.