CONOCO'S HUMBER REFINERY READY FOR EC REGS

Conoco Ltd. believes its Humber (South Killinghome) refinery on the U.K.'s east coast is better prepared than most of its competitors' plants to meet forthcoming European Commission (EC) rules on low sulfur diesel fuel.

Terry Indreland, general manager of the refinery on the River Humber, told Oil & Gas Journal relatively small investment has been made so far for refinery projects required to meet low sulfur rules scheduled to take effect in 1996.

A number of other Humber upgrades are planned for the next 5 years. They are designed to keep the plant's operating margins and emissions performance among the best of any European refinery.

Indreland said Conoco had to spend little in bringing Humber in line with the EC's 1996 standards. The standards call for the sulfur level in diesel fuel to be reduced to no more than 0.05 wt % by October 1996.

The reason for the small outlay is that the plant runs very low sulfur crude oil and already desulfurizes most of the diesel components.

An investment of 750,000 ($1.2 million) on a diesel blending and run down system will allow the refinery to produce low sulfur diesel.

Indreland said, "When the EC gets around to lowering the sulfur requirement for heating oils in line with diesel fuels, we, like other refineries, will likely have to make a big investment."

Maximum sulfur content of heating oils was set at 0.2 wt % effective last month by EC. So far, EC has not fixed a date for a further reduction.

Indreland said the Humber refinery will need to add a distillate hydrodesulfurization unit and hydrogen unit to bring its sulfur content of heating oils to less than 0.05 wt %. This will require an investment of about $200 million.

"GREEN" PROJECTS

Conoco plans three installations at Humber to meet EC rules slated for introduction beyond 1996.

A total $120 million will be spent on environmental projects, not including outlay for a low sulfur distillate plant, during the next 6 years. This will be part of a $300 million investment program at the plant during the period (OGJ, Sept. 12, p. 106).

Conoco will install an effluent water treatment plant at the refinery to meet U.K. pollution inspectorate rules due in place in 1997. The company has let contract to Acer Consultants Ltd., Guildford, U.K., for design and procurement of an effluent treatment system.

Water treatment will involve replacement of biological oxidation of waste water collected around the refinery. Construction of the water treatment plant is expected to begin in about 6 months, with the effluent unit scheduled for start-up in second quarter 1996.

Installation of improved dust abatement equipment began late last month, with a completion target in late 1996. The project is intended to reduce dust emissions from the refinery's three calciners, which process petroleum coke.

Two vapor recovery units also are slated for installation. One will be fitted at the rail exports loading terminal for start-up in 1998.

Another will be installed at ship loading import and export facilities at nearby Immingham terminal. This is scheduled for operation in 2001. Conoco recently opened a new berth at the terminal (OGJ, Aug. 15, p. 32).

PLANT STATISTICS

The Humber refinery, on stream since October 1969, was designed to refine Libyan crude oil with throughput capacity of 65,000 b/d.

Indreland said building the plant on Britain's east coast was fortunate, considering later development of the North Sea oil industry on the plant's doorstep.

A number of changes to the plant have been made during its 25 years of operation. These include modification of crude units, expansion of cokers and calciners, addition of a second reformer, and installation of catalytic polymerization, fluid catalytic cracking and alkylation plants.

Now the plant can run 130,000 b/d of crude oil and 70,000 b/d of other feedstocks, including gas oils and residual products.

The refinery is unconventional by European standards in relying on thermal cracking, said Indreland, and in producing graphite and regular coke.

Gasoline now makes up 35 wt % of output and distillates 45 wt %, while liquefied petroleum gas makes up another 5 wt % and coke 5 wt %. Coke is sold mainly in western and eastern Europe.

Indreland said, "Humber is a ven, high conversion refinery-one of the highest in Europe. It also is one of the most profitable refineries in Europe."

Indreland said Humber is by far the lowest emitter of sulfur among U.K. refineries and one of the lowest in Europe. Output is about 7,200 metric tons/year.

Emissions of FCC catalyst dust at about 50 mg/cu m also are claimed to be by far the lowest in the U.K. and among the lowest in Europe due to installation of the U.K.'s only FCC electrostatic precipitator last April.

WORK IN PROGRESS

Humber refinery has two crude units but only one two-stage vacuum distillation unit of 85,000 b/d capacity. Work is under way on design of a new 45,000 b/d vacuum unit. Due on stream in July 1996, it will enable Conoco to run two trains comprising a crude and vacuum unit.

An expansion of the refinery's coking plant will add 120,000 metric tons/year of reduction. The expanded plant is expected back on stream early this month.

Work on the coking plant has included installation of a new heater, tower, and fractionator and modifications to the exchanger train.

Conoco also is entering the final stages of installation of distributed control system throughout the refinery, operated from a central control room.

Indreland said about $6 million will be spent on control systems and advanced control during the next 5 years.

Conoco also is considering installation of a second fractionator at the refinery for production of polymer grade propylene. The company could produce 120,000 metric tons/year of propylene at the site with a capital outlay of $40 million.

Another prospect is construction of a 10,000 kw cogeneration plant at the site. It could burn refinery gas to help meet site electricity requirements of about 50,000 kw.

An existing generating plant provides about 40,000 kw.

Issue date: 11/07/94