Chevron and Honeywell Announce Start-up of World's First Commercial ISOALKY™ Ionic Liquids Alkylation Unit

 Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) and Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced the commissioning and start-up of the world’s first commercial-scale ISOALKY™ process unit that utilizes ionic liquids to produce alkylate. The ISOALKY™ technology represents a major innovation in alkylation technology.

First used in Chevron’s Salt Lake City refinery, the ISOALKY™ technology is designed to meet the refining industry’s needs for a cost-effective alternative to conventional liquid acid systems that offers process safety advantages. Using a non-aqueous liquid salt, or ionic liquid, the revolutionary new catalytic process is handled with standard personal protective equipment and produces a valuable high-octane blending component that helps lower the environmental impact of gasoline. Pioneered by Chevron U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron, and licensed to Honeywell UOP, the technology is offered to the entire industry under the ISOALKY™ brand name.

“The ISOALKY™ plant is an exciting achievement for Chevron and the Salt Lake Refinery, and it’s poised to be a game changer for the refining industry,” said Mike Coyle, president of Chevron Manufacturing. “We are proud of the talent and teamwork demonstrated by our people and Honeywell UOP to bring this project to fruition.”

“ISOALKY™ is a groundbreaking new technology for refiners, and a lower-risk and economical solution compared to conventional liquid acid technologies that produce alkylate,” said Bryan Glover, president and CEO of Honeywell UOP. “Ionic liquids have strong acid properties that enable them to produce alkylate without the volatility of conventional acids, allowing for simpler handling procedures. Together with Chevron, Honeywell UOP has commercialized a solution that meets the rising global demand for cleaner-burning fuels at a lower cost while simplifying complex handling requirements.”

ISOALKY™ technology can be used in new refineries as well as in existing facilities undergoing capital expansion or retrofit applications. ISOALKY™ technology has wider and improved feed flexibility relative to conventional alkylation technologies. Ionic liquids are regenerated on-site, eliminating the need for road or marine transportation for offsite regeneration and polymer byproduct handling. More information about ISOALKY™ technology can be found here.

L&T Heavy Engineering Flags Off World’s Heaviest LC-Max Reactors Ahead of Schedule

 Achieving another milestone in the engineering world, the Heavy Engineering business of Larsen & Toubro, has completed and flagged off World’s Heaviest LC-Max Reactors ahead of schedule in the presence of Mr. M K Surana, Chairman & Managing Director, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation.

The super-heavy reactors, weighing 2313 Metric Tons (MT) each, will enable India’s first Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation’s Visakh Refinery to convert the heaviest oils to high-quality BS-VI diesel, as well as increase feedstock and improve product flexibility. The reactors will sail in ‘single piece’ directly to Visakhapatnam from Larsen & Toubro’s fully integrated, state-of-the-art, digitally-enabled manufacturing facility located at Hazira in Gujarat.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. M K Surana, Chairman & Managing Director, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, said, “L&T has been our valuable partner in our journey to modernize and upgrade our refineries. We thank L&T team for early delivery of these reactors.”

Mr. Vinod S Shenoy, Director Refinery, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, said, “Manufacturing this first of its kind critical equipment with good workmanship and utmost safety is truly remarkable. We are glad that with this early delivery of LC Max Reactors, our Visakh program stands benefitted.”

Commenting on this achievement, Mr. S.N. Subrahmanyan, CEO & MD, Larsen & Toubro said, “We are delighted to deliver these unique reactors in record time for our esteemed client HPCL.

Our heavy engineering shops are the only ones in the country to have consistently dispatched the largest, heaviest, longest and most complex process plant equipment to the global clients ahead of schedule. This track record remains unbroken in the unprecedented pandemic situation or otherwise.” 

Mr. Anil Parab, Executive Vice President and Head, L&T Heavy Engineering, said, “We thank HPCL for their continued faith in us to deliver World’s Heaviest LC-Max Reactors and be a part of India’s First RUF project. We are proud that we have lived up to HPCL`s expectations and flagged off these reactors ahead of schedule. This is one more example of L&T’s contribution to Honourable Prime Minister’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” Mission.

L&T Heavy Engineering supplies high technology reactors and systems to global customers in Refinery, Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Fertilizer and Nuclear Power industries.

Axens Selected For Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project In India

Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), a subsidiary of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India) has selected Axens to supply advanced technologies in gasoline block for its Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project (NREP).

Numaligarh refinery is located at Golaghat District in Assam (India) and was commissioned in 2000 with a capacity of 3 million tons-per-annum (MTPA) to process local crude oil Assam.

NRL is now planning to expand the refinery capacity from 3 MTPA to 9 MTPA by implementing in parallel a new refinery of 6 MTPA crude capacity with downstream grassroots facilities at the same location of the existing refinery in Golaghat, Assam.

Axens has provided key technologies to the Indian Refineries for the production of clean fuels, especially to remove sulfur from gasoline pool to meet Bharat Stage VI (BS VI) specifications.

For the last two decades, Axens has developed a strong and trustful relationship with NRL, involving supply of technologies, catalysts, technical services and supporting NRL through different phases of projects.

As part of the Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project (NREP), Axens has been selected by NRL to license the following technologies:

Naphtha Hydrotreating unit

Continuous Catalytic Reforming unit (OctanizingTM)

C5-C6 Isomerization unit

FCC Gasoline Selective desulfurization (Prime-G+®) unit.

The scope of Axens’ work includes the supply of basic engineering design package, catalysts & adsorbents, proprietary equipment, trainings and technical services.

Axens’ Process Licensing Global Business Unit Executive Vice-President Patrick Sarrazin said: “The expansion of the Numaligarh Refinery will help NRL to meet growing domestic demand for clean fuels reaching BS VI specifications. We are delighted to support NRL by supplying our extensive refining technology expertise, global capabilities in basic engineering design, catalysts, equipment and services.”

About Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL)

The Numaligarh Refinery (www.nrl.co.in), located at Golaghat district, Assam in India is a petroleum refinery owned by Numaligarh Refinery Limited, a joint venture between Bharat Petroleum, Oil India Limited and Government of Assam. The present crude processing capacity of the refinery is 3 MMTPA. The refinery plays a strategic role towards catering to the fuels demand of North-Eastern regions of India. In 2019, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Govt. of India approved the plan to increase the refinery capacity to 9 MMTPA.

https://www.axens.net/news-and-events/news/508/axens-selected-for-numaligarh-refinery-expansion-project-in-india.html#.YEHzkGj7SUl

Lukoil To Expand Kstovo Refinery With Honeywell Technology

 Honeywell today announced that Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez, a subsidiary of Lukoil, will use a range of Honeywell UOP process technologies at its  Kstovo refinery to produce cleaner-burning high-octane fuels that comply with Euro-V and Class 5 standards in Russia.

UOP will provide technology licensing, design services, key equipment and state-of-the-art catalysts and adsorbents for the project at the refinery in the Nizhny-Novgorod region in central Russia. When completed, the production capacity of the unit will exceed 215,000 metric tons per year of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a high-octane gasoline additive that reduces emissions in automobile exhaust.

The project includes the installation of a new UOP Ethermax™ unit that converts isobutylene and methanol into a high-octane MTBE blending agent that contains no benzene or aromatics. Earlier in 2020, UOP completed the revamp design for two existing Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) units and Merox unit to increase production of propylene at the refinery while maintaining high yield of gasoline production.

“These technologies will allow Lukoil to increase production of additives for cleaner-burning gasoline and meet Euro-V emission standards,” said Bryan Glover, vice president and general manager, UOP Process Technologies. “Lukoil elected to integrate the Ethermax technology into its existing FCC complex to reduce operating and capital costs, and begin operations more quickly.”

The Ethermax technology delivers a high MTBE yield and is extensively used worldwide. MTBE is produced from a chemical reaction between methanol, and isobutylene,. Due to its high octane number, MTBE is an effective anti-knocking fuel additive to produce cleaner-burning gasoline.

The project also includes revamping existing Selective Hydrogenation (SHP) units and process revamp study of hydrofluoric alkylation units to maximize the production of alkylate, which produces cleaner-burning fuels.

The Euro V standard limits sulfur content to less than 10 parts per million in transportation fuels and restricts emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides and particulate matter from gasoline and diesel vehicles and will improve overall refinery emissions.

Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez is one of the largest petroleum refineries in Russia and has been operating in the Nizhny Novgorod region since 1958. It is the largest refinery operated by PJSC Lukoil, a Russian multinational energy corporation headquartered in Moscow, specializing in the business of extraction, production, transport, and sale of petroleum, natural gas and petroleum products.,

https://uop.honeywell.com/en/news-events/2021/march/lukoil-to-expand-kstovo-refinery-with-honeywell-technology

Galp to concentrate refining operations in Sines

 The structural changes in oil products demand patterns, driven by the regulatory context in Europe and the effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to a significant impact on Galp’s downstream industrial activities.

After thoroughly assessing the alternatives, Galp will be concentrating its core refining activities and future developments in Sines, while discontinuing the refining operations in [http://www.abarrelfull.co.uk/Porto_Refinery Matosinhos], from 2021.

While managing appropriate solutions for the necessary labour reduction, Galp will continue to supply the regional market by maintaining all key Matosinhos’ import, storage and distribution facilities. Galp will also be assessing alternative uses for the site.

Security of fuel distribution supply in the country will not be impacted by this decision.

The system reconfiguration should reduce average annual fixed costs and recurrent capex by over €90 m per year and contribute to an annual reduction of c.900 kton of CO2e emissions (scope 1 and 2). The book value of the Matosinhos’ assets to be decommissioned are estimated at c.€200 m.

The Company will focus on enhancing the resilience and competitiveness of the Sines industrial site, with a crude processing capacity of 220 kbpd and equipped with deep conversion units. Solutions are being analysed to improve Sines’ energy and process efficiency, and to integrate the production of advanced biofuels and other cleaner and more valuable products, with potential investments supported by the restructuring savings and energy transition support mechanisms.

FINAL INVESTMENT DECISION TAKEN FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE CABINDA REFINERY

 Sonangol makes public that on Thursday, October 29, 2020, Gemcorp, a trade and investment group in emerging markets, in alignment with the national oil company, took the final investment decision for the construction of the Cabinda Refinery .

 The refinery, which will be built on the Malembo plain, 30 kilometers north of the capital of Cabinda, will be the first private investment of this nature in Angola and will use the latest North American technology for its design, operation and development in 3 phases, with adherence to the Equator Principles.

 The 1st phase of the Project is expected to include 30,000 barrels per day of the Crude Distillation Unit, with a desalinator, kerosene treatment and auxiliary infrastructure, including a conventional float anchoring system, pipelines and storage facility for more than 1.2 million barrels. First phase expenses are approximately US $ 220 million (two hundred and twenty million US dollars). The 2nd and 3rd phases will turn the Cabinda Refinery into a total conversion refinery, with an additional refining capacity of 30,000 barrels per day and the installation of a new catalytic reformer, hydrotreater and catalytic cracking unit, which should total USD 700,000. 000 (seven hundred million US dollars).

 The formal construction of the site started in March 2020, with the complete cleaning and preparation of the land, completed in August 2020. The fence of the site started in September 2020 for 313 hectares of land. The main long-term items were ordered in early November 2020 and the Refinery is expected to start operating in the first quarter of 2022.

The project will create approximately 2,000 direct and indirect jobs for the community, sustaining and supporting local and national economies. These opportunities cover the areas of construction, engineering, logistics, security and administration. Once operational, the Refinery will also contribute to the sovereign energy security of Angola, reducing its dependence on the import of refined products, as well as increasing their exports with higher margins.

“This final investment decision represents one of the main strategic objectives of the Angolan Government. The construction of this Refinery will provide an increase in the capacity for processing crude oil at the national level and a considerable reduction in the country's dependence on imports of refined products, as provided for in the National Development Plan. Sonangol is pleased to support this private initiative which not only makes a major contribution to the socio-economic development of Angola, but also encourages increased foreign direct investment in the country, ”said Sebastião Gaspar Martins, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sonangol EP.

 “The private investment of the Cabinda Refinery demonstrates Gemcorp's commitment to the development of Angolan strategic assets and our ability to deliver in the most challenging moments. Gemcorp is excited to deliver this project and support the Angolan government's long-term strategic goals of energy independence and job creation in Angola. Through the Cabinda Refinery, Gemcorp will accelerate community outreach, training and social impact. The long-term plan is for the Cabinda Refinery to maximize local employment and transition to operation by a fully Angolan workforce, ”said Atana Bostandjiev, President of Gemcorp.

 “The final investment decision is an important milestone in Gemcorp's efforts to continue formal construction on the ground. This private investment will support Angola's goal of achieving energy independence and reducing imports of refined products. Using the plan agreed with Sonangol and the Government of Angola, the refinery will replace the need for expensive imports and create thousands of job opportunities, providing significant long-term benefits for the Angolan economy, especially in the Cabinda region. With the support of Sonangol and the Government of Angola, the Gemcorp group was able to overcome the challenges presented by COVID-19 and committed to delivering the Cabinda Refinery on time and maximizing the delivery of refined products dedicated to local consumption, ”he said. Reginald Crawford,

bp to cease production at Kwinana refinery and convert to fuel import terminal

 bp Australia today announced that it will cease fuel production at its Kwinana Refinery and convert it to an import terminal, helping to ensure ongoing security of fuel supply for Western Australia

The refinery, near Fremantle, has provided fuels for Western Australia for 65 years. However, the continued growth of large-scale, export-oriented refineries throughout Asia and the Middle East has structurally changed the Australian market.

Regional oversupply and sustained low refining margins mean the Kwinana Refinery is no longer economically viable. Having explored multiple possibilities for the refinery’s future, bp has concluded that conversion to an import terminal is the best option.

bp Australia Head of Country Frédéric Baudry said: “bp’s Kwinana Refinery has played an important role in the development of Western Australia. It helped underpin the early development of the surrounding community and key industries. Generations of Western Australians have worked at the facility, building a fantastic legacy of safe and reliable operations that we will always be proud of.

“Today’s decision to cease refining is a difficult one and not in any way a result of local policy settings. It comes in response to the long-term structural changes to the regional fuels market. Converting to an import terminal will not impact the safe and reliable supply of quality fuel products to Western Australia; however, it will require fewer people to run. We deeply regret the job losses that will result and will do everything we can to support our people through the transition.”

The refinery currently employs around 650 people – 400 permanent staff and 250 contractors. Refining activities will wind down over the next six months, with a conversion workforce supporting site works. The new terminal will support construction work out to 2022. Once complete, the import terminal is expected to support around 60 jobs.

“bp is committed to playing a leading role in growing Australia’s future prosperity, making significant investments in natural gas production, as well as in convenience and mobility businesses,” Frédéric Baudry said.

This includes building on its position in the North West Shelf joint venture through gas exploration at Ironbark and investing in retail growth, as well as progressing low carbon projects with Lightsource bp. It is also assessing the feasibility of a large-scale hydrogen export plant in Geraldton (WA) in partnership with the Federal Government.

“We are particularly excited by the shared ambitions with Western Australia to be net zero by 2050 and the opportunities this can offer,” Frédéric Baudry added.

In addition to investing in an import terminal at Kwinana, bp is also exploring future options for the site including a potential clean energy hub to harness the existing and emerging technologies required for the decarbonisation of the Western Australian economy. A multiuse clean energy hub could produce and store lower carbon fuels, including sustainable aviation and marine fuels and waste-to-energy solutions such as renewable diesel.