Saudi Aramco upgrades Yanbu refinery

April 6, 2011
Saudi Aramco has completed a total shutdown of its wholly owned hydroskimming refinery at Yanbu on the Red Sea in an upgrade that increased throughput capacity to 250,000 b/d.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 6
-- Saudi Aramco has completed a total shutdown of its wholly owned hydroskimming refinery at Yanbu on the Red Sea in an upgrade that increased throughput capacity to 250,000 b/d.

One of 30 projects conducted during the shutdown was the upgrade to high-capacity stainless steel in crude-tower trays as part of a total revamp that will improve diesel quality and accommodate the throughput increase. The refinery had been operating at about 225,000 b/d.

In another project, the continuous catalyst regeneration/platformer reactor’s center pipes and scallops were upgraded to a more-robust design to improve integrity and reliability.

The shutdown was completed in the scheduled 38 days.