Marketable transport fuels from Julia Creek shale oil

The naphtha fraction of Julia Creek shale oil (IBP-196 degree C, 6. 2%S, 0. 38%N) has a relatively high aromaticity, but almost one quarter of it consists of thiophene derivatives, with 2- and 2. 5-substitution predominating. Their hydrodesulfurization would require large amounts of hydrogen and lead to low octane rating products. Hydrotreating with a commercial Co-Mo catalyst will remove the majority of heteroatom compounds in the naphtha without significantly affecting the benzene derivatives. The hydrotreated naphtha's high aromatic and naphthenic contents indicate that it can be easily upgraded to specification unleaded gasoline via reforming. Specification jet and diesel fuels can be produced from Julia Creek shale oil using conventional refining technology. Production of naphtha can be minimised by incorporating low quality reforming naphtha in the jet fuel stream. 2 refs.