by AZpeaker » Wed 06 Jun 2007, 16:18:30
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pip', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AZpeaker', 'H')ey pip, Since you work with the refiners can you answer a question for me. What is the real difference to refiners between light sweet and heavy sour crude with respect to current refinery capacity? I am currently of the understanding that most refining infrastructure is geared for light sweet and will need substantial retrofitting to handle heavy sour crude.
Thanks for any enlightenment.
To convert from sweet to sour, I’d say there are 3 main requirements.
1. Upgrade metallurgy in primary distillation unit. The sulfur in the crude oil is corrosive to regular steel above 500F or so. The higher percentage of sulfur the more corrosive. The refinery must use alloys containing various percentages of chrome to maintain a decent service life. Several piping circuits and vessels would likely need to be replaced with higher chrome when going to sour crude.
2. More sulfur plant capacity. You put more sulfur in with a sour crude, you have to take more sulfur out. The refinery’s sulfur plant capacity may need to be increased.
3. Bottoms upgrading. Heavier crude has more bottoms, ie gas oil, asphalt, and less diesel, jet fuel, and gasoline. The upgrading capacity of a light crude refinery may need to be increased. Bigger cat cracker or hydrocracker, maybe a new coker. This stuff is big bucks. I bet a big coker would approach a billion dollars right now.
Thanks so much for the info. That really puts it into perspective.