METHOD FOR HYDROCRACKING PETROLEUM-BASED HEAVY OIL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for hydrocracking a petroleum-based heavy oil, whereby the heavy oil can be economically and highly converted into light oil in high yield by hydrocracking the petroleum-based heavy oil containing heavy metal components, such as atmospheric distillation residues and vacuum distillation residues, in the presence of an iron catalyst. SOLUTION: (1) The method for hydrocracking the petroleum-based heavy oil comprises: performing the hydrocracking using a slurry bed reactor as a reactor for the hydrocracking and the iron catalyst as a catalyst; and returning a heavy reaction product into the slurry bed reactor for recycling, provided that the heavy reaction product is separated from a reaction product of the hydrocracking. Here, the slurry bed reactor has a gas-liquid separating part at its top, and a fluid from a gaseous part thereof is condensed in a cooler and returned to the slurry bed reactor to be recycled. (2) In the hydrocracking method, the amount of the heavy reaction product (fractions boiling at 343-525°C, +525°C) recycled in the slurry bed reactor is specified. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT