The invention describes a process for start-up of a hydrotreatment or hydroconversion unit carried out in the presence of hydrogen, in at least 2 catalytic beds, process in which At least one bed contains at least one presulfurized and preactivated catalyst and at least one catalytic bed that contains a catalyst whose catalytic metals are in oxidized form, A so-called starting feedstock, which is a hydrocarbon fraction that contains at least 0.5% by weight of sulfur, lacking olefinic compounds and not containing an added sulfur-containing compound, passes through a first catalytic bed that contains said presulfurized and preactivated catalyst and then passes through at least one catalytic bed that contains a catalyst whose catalytic metals are in oxidized form, And the first presulfurized and preactivated catalyst bed reaches a temperature of at least 220 C.

The invention describes a process for start-up of a hydrotreatment or hydroconversion unit carried out in the presence of hydrogen, in at least 2 catalytic beds, process in which At least one bed contains at least one presulfurized and preactivated catalyst and at least one catalytic bed that contains a catalyst whose catalytic metals are in oxidized form, A so-called starting feedstock, which is a hydrocarbon fraction that contains at least 0.5% by weight of sulfur, lacking olefinic compounds and not containing an added sulfur-containing compound, passes through a first catalytic bed that contains said presulfurized and preactivated catalyst and then passes through at least one catalytic bed that contains a catalyst whose catalytic metals are in oxidized form, And the first presulfurized and preactivated catalyst bed reaches a temperature of at least 220 C.

The present invention relates to a process for the partial upgrading of properties of heavy and/or extra-heavy crude oil by low severity catalytic hydrotreatment in only one reaction step. The process of the present invention is obtained upgraded oil with properties required for its transportation from offshore platforms either to maritime terminal or to refining centers. The process reduces the viscosity of heavy and/or extra-heavy crude oil, and decreases the concentration of impurities, such as sulfur, nitrogen, and metals, in such a way that heavy and/or extra-heavy crude oils can be transported to maritime terminals or to refining centers. The process increases the lifetime of the catalyst and decreased operating costs by reducing consumption of utilities because the operation of the process is carried out at lower severity. The partially upgraded oils obtained in this process can be transported directly to the maritime terminals or to existing refineries.

The present invention relates to a process for the partial upgrading of properties of heavy and/or extra-heavy crude oil by low severity catalytic hydrotreatment in only one reaction step. The process of the present invention is obtained upgraded oil with properties required for its transportation from offshore platforms either to maritime terminal or to refining centers. The process reduces the viscosity of heavy and/or extra-heavy crude oil, and decreases the concentration of impurities, such as sulfur, nitrogen, and metals, in such a way that heavy and/or extra-heavy crude oils can be transported to maritime terminals or to refining centers. The process increases the lifetime of the catalyst and decreased operating costs by reducing consumption of utilities because the operation of the process is carried out at lower severity. The partially upgraded oils obtained in this process can be transported directly to the maritime terminals or to existing refineries.

A process for ex-situ treatment of a catalyst that contains at least one hydrogenating phase, and at least one amorphous silica-alumina or a zeolite that contains acid. The process includes: a stage for introducing nitrogen by contact at a temperature that is less than 100 C., with at least one basic nitrogen-containing compound that is ammonia or a compound that can be decomposed into ammonia, the compound being introduced at a rate of 0.5-10% by weight (expressed in terms of N), and a sulfurization/activation stage with a gas that contains hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide at a temperature of at least 250 C., with this stage being carried out before or after the stage for introducing said nitrogen-containing compound, and optionally drying the catalyst that is obtained. This treatment allows a rapid, effective start-up on the hydrocracking unit.

A process for ex-situ treatment of a catalyst that contains at least one hydrogenating phase, and at least one amorphous silica-alumina or a zeolite that contains acid. The process includes: a stage for introducing nitrogen by contact at a temperature that is less than 100 C., with at least one basic nitrogen-containing compound that is ammonia or a compound that can be decomposed into ammonia, the compound being introduced at a rate of 0.5-10% by weight (expressed in terms of N), and a sulfurization/activation stage with a gas that contains hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide at a temperature of at least 250 C., with this stage being carried out before or after the stage for introducing said nitrogen-containing compound, and optionally drying the catalyst that is obtained. This treatment allows a rapid, effective start-up on the hydrocracking unit.

A catalyst preparation unit for producing an activated hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture. The catalyst preparation unit includes one or more catalyst reactant input conduits; a hydrocarbon input conduit; a water input conduit; one or more catalyst reactant mixing and conveyance systems for receiving and mixing catalyst reactants from the catalyst component input conduits and water provided by the water input conduit to provide one or more catalyst reactant solutions; one or more hydrocarbon mixing and conveyance systems for receiving and mixing the catalyst reactant solutions and hydrocarbons provided by the hydrocarbon input conduit to produce a hydrocarbon-catalyst reactant mixture; at least one reactor located downstream of the mixers, for receiving and activating the hydrocarbon-catalyst reactant mixture, thereby producing the activated hydrocarbon catalyst mixture; a gas/liquid separator located downstream of the reactor, for removing vapors and gas from the activated hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture; and an output conduit for transporting the activated hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture away from the catalyst preparation unit.

A hydrocracking system is upgraded by modifying an existing ebullated bed initially utilizing a supported ebullated bed catalyst to thereafter utilize a dual catalyst system that includes metal sulfide catalyst particles and supported ebullated bed catalyst. The upgraded hydrocracking system achieves at least one of: (1) hydroprocess lower quality heavy oil; (2) increase conversion of higher boiling hydrocarbons that boil at 524 C. (975 F.) or higher; (3) reduce the concentration of supported ebullated bed catalyst required to operate an ebullated bed reactor at a given conversion level; and/or (4) proportionally convert the asphaltene fraction in heavy oil at the same conversion level as the heavy oil as a whole. The metal sulfide catalyst may include colloidal or molecular catalyst particles less than 1 micron in size and formed in situ within the heavy oil using a catalyst precursor well-mixed within the heavy oil and decomposed to form catalyst particles.

A hydrocracking system is upgraded by modifying an existing ebullated bed initially utilizing a supported ebullated bed catalyst to thereafter utilize a dual catalyst system that includes metal sulfide catalyst particles and supported ebullated bed catalyst. The upgraded hydrocracking system achieves at least one of: (1) hydroprocess lower quality heavy oil; (2) increase conversion of higher boiling hydrocarbons that boil at 524 C. (975 F.) or higher; (3) reduce the concentration of supported ebullated bed catalyst required to operate an ebullated bed reactor at a given conversion level; and/or (4) proportionally convert the asphaltene fraction in heavy oil at the same conversion level as the heavy oil as a whole. The metal sulfide catalyst may include colloidal or molecular catalyst particles less than 1 micron in size and formed in situ within the heavy oil using a catalyst precursor well-mixed within the heavy oil and decomposed to form catalyst particles.

The catalyst for mild-hydrocracking of residual oil includes a porous alumina support a plurality of transition metals impregnated on the alumina support. The support has a specific surface area greater than 150 m.sup.2/g, a total pore volume ranging from about 0.25 ml/g to about 1.5 ml/g, about 20% of the pores having a diameter greater than 150 nm, about 70% of the pores having a diameter ranging from about 2 nm to about 150 nm, and about 10% of the pores having a diameter less than 2 nm. The plurality of transition metals include one Group VIII element and one or more Group VI elements.