• Believing in Downstream Market Efficiency

• Equating Automation with Profitability and Efficiency

• Challenges with Coker Gas Oil Hydrocracking
• Diolefins and Acetylenes Removal
• Dimethyl Ether Production
• European Refiners Face Hydrogen Challenges
• Monitoring Heat Exchanger Networks

• Refiners Plan to Increase High-quality Diesel Production in Asia, Latin America

• Asia
• Europe
• Middle East
• Latin America

Equating Automation with Profitability and Efficiency

From refinery unit operations to supply and distribution, and centralized management and control challenges, there is an array of advanced control systems, networking and database management to be integrated. Assuming responsibility for management of these systems requires a team approach.

Challenges with Coker Gas Oil Hydrocracking

In spite of the current trough in refining industry profitability, several large hydrocracking projects are still planned for the 2010-2012 time period. For these new units, selection of vacuum gas oil or coker gas oil are two of the most important feedstocks to model into the reactor design.

Diolefins and Acetylenes Removal

Increasing run lengths in refinery fluid catalytic cracking operations involves many important processing and operational issues, such as the avoidance of polymer formation from diolefins and acetylenes. The diolefins and acetylenes typically seen in refinery and petrochemical C3, C4 and C5 streams can be reduced by selective hydrogenation.

Dimethyl Ether Production

With cost-effective methanol technology now available for production of more than 5000 tons per day (t/d) of methanol, there have been some incentives for developing other downstream technologies for the conversion of methanol to more valuable products.

European Refiners Face Hydrogen Challenges

The de-coupling of gasoline production from diesel production in European refining configurations means there is less hydrogen available from the catalytic reformer to meet the generally higher hydrogen partial pressures needed for higher-severity hydrotreating.

Monitoring Heat Exchanger Networks

The process industry’s emphasis on maintenance and reliability includes a focused effort on reducing heat exchanger fouling.

How Refiners Plan to Increase High-Quality Diesel Production in Asia, Latin America

Heating oil and off-road diesel demand is shrinking while fuel quality standards for diesel generally are becoming more stringent throughout the world. Technology is available for meeting reduced sulfur standards, but other quality parameters may be more difficult to achieve.

Asia

Previously postponed projects in Asia are restarting again with the help of global partnerships involving state-run enterprises and oil majors. Some of these projects involved integrated refinery/petrochemical facilities.

Europe

A master site agreement has been inked by Jacobs that involves Europe’s largest refinery. Jacobs has been providing various engineering, procurement and construction management services for the facility since 2004.

Middle East

Major Middle East projects include significant increases in gasoline production. One refiner near Cairo is upgrading fuel residue to high quality gasoline and diesel.

Latin America

In spite of 2009 earnings dropping by half, Ecopetrol still plans to push forward with plans to produce Euro-4 quality diesel. Projects that are nearing completion for this objective include a hydrotreatment unit.

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