Low temperature stabilization of liquid oils

A process for hydrotreating a liquid oil stream by, in a continuous operation in a fixed bed reactor, reacting the liquid oil stream with hydrogen in the presence of a reduced nickel (Ni) catalyst at a temperature of 80-250° C., a pressure of 10-200 barg, a liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) of 0.1-6.0 h−1, and a hydrogen to liquid oil ratio, defined as the volume ratio of hydrogen to the flow of the liquid oil stream, of 100-8000 NL/L, thereby forming a stabilized liquid oil stream;

• wherein the reduced Ni catalyst is a supported catalyst having a Ni content of 2-30 wt %, based on the total weight of the catalyst;
• wherein the support is selected from any of:
• alumina (Al2O3), alumina magnesium spinel (MgAl2O4), and combinations thereof;
• optionally in combination with a molecular sieve having topology MFI, BEA or FAU;
• and
• wherein said alumina is any of:
• alumina comprising 90-100 wt % gamma alumina;
• as well as having:
• a BET surface area of 230-250 m2/g, a total pore volume (PV) of 800-900 mL/kg as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry;
• alumina comprising 90-100 wt % gamma alumina;
• as well as having:
• a BET surface area of 165-185 m2/g, a total pore volume (PV) of 950-1100 mL/kg as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry;
• alumina comprising 80-100 wt % theta alumina and 0-20 wt % alpha alumina;
• as well as having:
• a BET surface area of 50-60 m2/g, a total pore volume (PV) of 600-700 mL/kg as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry.