To optimize economic output and to meet more stringent environmental regulations, such as the IMO 2020 regulations (< 0.5 wt% S, as compared to the previous 3.5 wt% S standard for HSFO), refiners are looking for new opportunities to upgrade naphtha deprived, heavy residues. Deeper residue processing based on mature solvent deasphalting (SDA) technology become part of the solution. To deal with the disappearing market for 3.5 wt% HSFO, SDA capacity is combined with hydroprocessing technology to increase heavy vacuum residue (HR) conversion. For example, Axens utilizes an integrated solvent more »
