Hydrotreating/isomerization process to produce low pour point distillate fuels and lubricating oil stocks

A process for dewaxing a hydrocarbon feedstock containing at least 10 weight percent waxy paraffins selected from the group of normal paraffins and slightly branched paraffins and sulfur and nitrogen compounds which comprises

• (a) subjecting said feedstock to hydrotreating in a hydrotreating zone containing a Co-Mo or Ni-Mo on alumina catalyst operated at hydrotreating conditions including a temperature of 250.degree. to 400.degree. C., a hydrogen partial pressure of atmospheric to 15,000 kPa, and a liquid hourly space velocity of 0.1 to 10, to remove at least a portion of said sulfur and nitrogen compounds;
• (b) subjecting said hydrotreated feedstock to catalytic dewaxing by contacting said feedstock with a catalyst comprising zeolite beta having a silica/alumina ratio of at least 30:1 and a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation component under isomerization conditions, including a temperature of 200.degree. to 540.degree. C., a hydrogen pressure of atmospheric to 25,000 kPa, and a liquid hourly space velocity of 0.1 to 2.0, and wherein said isomerization conditions are sufficient to isomerize at least a portion of said normal paraffins and wherein a majority of normal paraffins converted are converted by isomerization.