Method for processing natural gasoline

1. A method for rendering natural gasoline feed suitable for addition to the gasoline pool which comprises providing a source of natural gasoline, subjecting said natural gasoline to steam stripping under conditions of temperature, pressure, and steam/feed ratios which produce an overhead fraction from said feed that contains predominantly C4 and C5 hydrocarbons and a separate bottoms fraction from said feed that contains predominantly C6 and heavier hydrocarbons, said stripping conditions being a stripper overhead temperature of from about 70 to about 200 F at a pressure of from about 10 to about 100 psig, a steam temperature as introduced into said stripper of from about 250 to about 1,000 F at a pressure of from about 10 to about 100 psig, and an introduced steam to natural gasoline feed ratio of from about 0.1 to about 0.4 pounds of steam per pound of natural gasoline feed, said bottoms fraction having a Reid Vapor Pressure substantially lower than said natural gasoline feed, and feeding said overhead fraction to at least one thermal cracking furnace.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said natural gasoline feed has an original Reid Vapor Pressure of at least about 10 psi, and said bottoms fraction has a Reid Vapor Pressure at least about 20% below said original Reid Vapor Pressure.