Process for the preparation of a gas oil fraction

1. A process for the preparation of a gas oil fraction comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first stream of a first hydrocarbon product of which a major portion of the hydrocarbons have a boiling point in the range of from 370-540° C. and a second stream of a second hydrocarbon product of which a major portion of the hydrocarbons have a boiling point of less than 370° C.;

(b) separating at least part of the first stream of the first hydrocarbon product in a separating section into a first gaseous stream and a first liquid stream;

(c) separating at least part of the second stream of the second hydrocarbon product in a separating section into a second gaseous stream and a second liquid stream;

(d) introducing at least part of the first liquid stream as obtained in step (b) and at least part of the second liquid stream as obtained in step (c) into a fractionating section to obtain a number of fractions of hydrocarbons including a gas oil fraction, wherein the at least part of the first liquid stream as obtained in step (b) is introduced into the fractionating section at a level which is lower that the level at which the at least part of the second liquid stream as obtained in step (c) is introduced into the fractionating section; and

(e) recovering from the fractionating section the gas oil fraction.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the first stream of the first hydrocarbon product contains at least 75 wt % of hydrocarbons having a boiling point in the range of from 370-540° C., based on the total weight of the first hydrocarbon product, and the second stream of the second hydrocarbon product stream contains at least 75 wt % of hydrocarbons having a boiling point of less than 370° C., based on the total weight of the second hydrocarbon product.

3. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the second stream of the second hydrocarbon product comprises less than 20 ppm sulphur.

4. A process according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of the first stream of the first hydrocarbon product is derived from a hydrocracking process and at least part of the second stream of the second hydrocarbon product is derived from a hydrotreating process.

5. A process according to claim 4 , wherein the hydrocracking process is a mild hydrocracking process and the hydrotreating process is a hydrodesulphurization process.

6. A process according to claim 1 , wherein steps (b) and (c) are each carried out at a temperature in the range of from 175-300° C. and a pressure in the range of from 40-175 bar.

7. A process according to claim 1 , wherein in step (d) the bottom part of the fractionating section is operated at a temperature in the range of from 250-400° C., and the upper part of the fractionator is operated at a temperature in the range of from 50-150° C. and a pressure is applied in both parts in the range of from 1-8 bar.

8. A process according to claim 1 , wherein steps (b) and (c) are carried out in different separating sections of a single separating entity.

9. A process according to claim 1 , wherein in step (e) in addition to the gas oil fraction a naphtha fraction, a kerosene fraction and/or a wax fraction are recovered.