CLG's efficient hydrocracking
process, ISOCRACKING, boosts VI by chemically
converting low VI components to
higher VI base oils. Unlike older solvent refining
processes that produce raffinate and a highly aromatic, low-value extract,
the by-products of ISOCRACKING include valuable transportation fuels such as
gasoline, jet and diesel.
For a given feedstock (typically VGO
and/or DAO), ISOCRACKING creates higher
VI components and preserves more
molecules in the base oil boiling range than
solvent refining. Consequently, only ISOCRACKlNG gives refiners the flexibility
to produce higher base oil yield for a target
VI or higher product
VI when
processing to an equivalent yield level. ISOCRACKlNG also allows the use of
lower VI VGOs
as base oil feedstocks, such as those derived from Iranian Heavy
and Alaskan North Slope crudes. With ISOCRACKlNG, refiners can maximize both
feedstock flexibility and product performance.