08-05-2015
REFCOMM Galveston brings to focus more production and less risk in refining
Refiners are currently the only money-makers in the energy industry. Against this backdrop, the May 4-8 RefComm Galveston 2015 Conference focused on how to continue operating profitably and safely. Dealing with unexpected surprises at the unit level; shifts in refined product demand; fluctuations in feedstock blends; and concerns about environmental regulations driving limited Capex were just a few of the topics discussed under the meeting’s three major themes: delayed coking, cat cracking and shale processing.
A common theme among the various presentations and discussions was how operation of primary units has changed significantly from just a few years ago. For example, one of the meeting’s cat cracking sessions focused on maximizing LCO in parallel with shifting the diesel-to-gasoline product ratios, affecting FCC catalyst selection and recycle strategies. In the shale and light tight oil sessions, engineers in attendance expressed concerns about processing blends of LTOs with asphaltenic crudes. While these blends provide compelling margins opportunities, the problem is dealing with the crude incompatibility and its effect on everything from fouling pre-heat exchangers to main fractionator overhead corrosion, to catalyst contamination.
One interesting issue surfacing over the week-long event was that while throughput volumes of certain cat crackers and cokers have stagnated (or actually declined), linked downstream fractionation requirements have expanded to meet market demand for sharper cuts. The 430+ delegates in attendance wanted to know how to make these changes without reducing run-lengths --- considering the uptick in corrosion and fouling documented in the crude unit/desalter and into the FCC gas plant and hydrotreating assets.
Many of the 100+ exhibitors and sponsors provided details to the mechanical and metallurgical improvements available to critical valves, actuators, etc., exposed to higher severity operating conditions. Other suppliers emphasized cost-effective solutions for dealing with under-automation in plants that have typically been operating at over 91% utilization rates for the past couple of years. One of the most supportive themes at RefComm Galveston 2015’s training classes and breakout sessions was the importance on developing employee stewardship at the unit level and throughout the refinery.
News Category:
-
Beyond processbook & PI vision: Exploring today’s industrial analytics tools
(Webinar) - In the Manufacturing 4.0 era, industrial organizations have more data at their fingertips than ever, offering the promise of higher production rates, more ...
04-06-2024
-
MOL inaugurates its polyol complex in Tiszaújváros
MOL's EUR 1.3 billion polyol complex in Tiszaújváros, boasting a capacity of around 200,000 tonnes of polyol per year, has been inaugurated. The ceremony, addressed ...
15-05-2024
-
NEXTCHEM completes the acquisition of GasConTec
Further to the announcement made on 4 March 2024, MAIRE announces that NEXTCHEM has finalized the acquisition of 100% of GasConTec GmbH, an innovative company specialized ...
15-05-2024
-
KBR awarded digital solutions contract by OCI
KBR announced today it has been awarded a contract by OCI Global to design and deploy its proprietary operator training simulator for OCI's 3,000 metric tonnes ...
13-05-2024
-
Worley awarded Bayou Bend CCS carbon capture and storage facility contract
We’ve been selected to design and evaluate CO2 gathering, handling and sequestration facilities located along the Gulf Coast in Southeast Texas. Bayou Bend ...
13-05-2024
-
Black & Veatch delivers feasibility study for Andes Energy LNG Terminal
Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure solutions leader Black & Veatch has completed a feasibility study for the planned Andes Energy Terminal, LNG regasification ...
09-05-2024
-
Shell to sell interest in Singapore Energy and Chemicals Park to CAPGC
Shell Singapore Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Shell plc, has reached an agreement to sell its Energy and Chemicals Park in Singapore to CAPGC Pte. Ltd., a joint venture company ...
08-05-2024
-
Integrated Global Services recognized for role in mega turnaround
Integrated Global Services has been recognized as a major contributor to the successful Ras Tanura Refinery 2024 Mega Turnaround and Inspection for Saudi Arabian Energy ...
08-05-2024
-
Ebara Elliott Energy to provide compressor for SAF project in Thailand
Ebara Elliott Energy, formerly Elliott Group, announces it has been contracted to provide a motor-driven recycle compressor with a variable frequency drive (VFD) for ...
07-05-2024
-
ETH Zurich select hte to provide high throughput test system designed for CO2 electroreduction
hte – the high throughput experimentation company was awarded a contract by the technical university ETH Zurich to provide a high throughput test system designed for ...
07-05-2024