Upgrading light olefins

A method, comprising:

• contacting an oligomerization catalyst formed of at least one of chromium and nickel on a solid support with a fuel gas containing greater than 15% by volume methane and less than 75% by volume of olefins that are at least one of ethylene, propylene and butylenes, wherein the contacting is at a pressure below 1400 kilopascals and at a first temperature between 20° C. and 300° C. and oligomers of the olefins produced from the contacting are adsorbed on the catalyst;
• and
• heating the catalyst to a second temperature between 200° C. and 500° C. and at least 50° C. higher than the first temperature, wherein the heating desorbs the oligomers that are then separated into gasoline and distillate range products.

A system, comprising:

• a reactor containing an oligomerization catalyst and coupled to a feed of olefins selected from at least one of ethylene, propylene and butylenes, wherein the reactor is configured to cycle between an oligomerization and adsorption operation in which the olefins and the catalyst are in fluid communication for contact at a first temperature and a recovery operation in which heating to a second temperature higher than the first temperature desorbs from the catalyst oligomers of the olefins.