Naphtha Catalytic Cracking in FCC Units Past and Present

Conference:

With the increasing production of Shale Oil and Shale Gas, refineries are processing lighter crudes containing more light straight or paraffinic naphtha. Increased condensate from traditional natural gas production is also increasing naphtha supply.

In addition, increasing demand for diesel, less gasoline demand and a shift in ethylene steam cracking production from naphtha and heavier feedstocks to ethane is adding to the supply of straight run naphtha. Therefore one alternative to increase naphtha demand is to catalytically crack it in a Fluid Catalytic Cracker.