Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. is nearing completion of its $670 million Shell Tabangao Asset Renewal (STAR) project designed to hike output, products quality, and feedstock flexibility at its Philippines refinery.
Shell's Tabangao refinery at Batangas currently can handle crude throughput of 70,000 b/d through two units, one 30,000 b/d and one 40,000 b/d. A new 110,000 b/d is being commissioned and is due on stream in January, 1995.
As the new unit comes on stream, the 30,000 b/d unit will be mothballed and the 40,000 b/d plant closed temporarily for upgrading.
A $2 million upgrading program is expected to bring the larger of the old units back on stream at 45,000 b/d throughput capacity in May 1995.
Bill Jones, general manager at the refinery, said in late November that gas is being circulated in the new plant in the buildup to first oil throughput, while a significant shutdown was planned to refurbish and mothball old units.
"The new unit is justified by increasing diesel fuel demand in the Philippines," said Jones. "Also, the old refinery had a need to import Far East crudes to give high middle distillate yields. Our new thermal cracker will give similar distillate yields from much cheaper feedstock."
PROJECT BENEFITS
Operating costs are expected to be reduced to 42/bbl including the new unit from 58/bbl for the old plant.
Janos Herczog, process manager at Shell's Tabangao refinery, said the new plant will yield 30.9% gas oil and 19.9% motor gasoline, compared with 26.8% and 12.6% respectively, for the old plant.
The new unit also can produce unleaded gasoline, even though Philippines' legal limit on lead content is still as high as 0.6 g/l. Similarly, sulfur content of diesel fuel will be less than legal requirements at 0.2 wt % against a limit of 0.5 wt %.
Herczog claims the design of the new plant is unique because of the way individual processes are linked to overcome needs for intermediate storage (see flow diagram).
"This is the first plant in the world to have such a high level of integration," said Herczog. "If you look at the plant, it is difficult to recognize any particular unit. Bits of equipment are spread around, unlike a traditional design."
Copyright 1994 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
