By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 17 -- Italy's Eni SPA let a contract to GE Oil & Gas for the largest refinery reactors of their type ever to be manufactured. The reactors will be a critical part of Eni refining and marketing division's project to boost production at its refinery in Sannazzaro, Italy.
The reactors, which will weigh about 2,000 tons each, will be the centerpiece of a new process technology designed to enable Eni to produce more middle distillates from each barrel of feedstock.
The refinery will highlight a proprietary Eni process called Eni slurry technology that enables increased efficiency in unconventional oils, heavy oils, and residues distillation. Unlike other heavy oil cracking processes, the process produces no residues.
The two reactors are scheduled for delivery to the Eni refinery in first quarter 2011, with commercial operation expected in 2012.