EU refiners prepare for new fuel specs

Europe's refiners are working out how they can meet new fuel specifications that come into force in 2000 under European Union law. The EU set new limits for sulfur and aromatics in gasoline and diesel. The European Petroleum Industry Association (Europia) estimates the specs would require investment of $20-23 billion by refiners (OGJ, July 13, 1998, p. 35). Since then, industry observers have said the total spending requirement before 2000 will be less than Europia's estimate, because

Oct. 26, 1998

3 min read

David Knott
London
[email protected]

Europe's refiners are working out how they can meet new fuel specifications that come into force in 2000 under European Union law.

The EU set new limits for sulfur and aromatics in gasoline and diesel. The European Petroleum Industry Association (Europia) estimates the specs would require investment of $20-23 billion by refiners (OGJ, July 13, 1998, p. 35).

Since then, industry observers have said the total spending requirement before 2000 will be less than Europia's estimate, because many refiners will be able to retune their operations rather than invest in new facilities.

Italy's Agip SpA became one of the first refiners to move, deciding to meet the new sulfur levels at its Livorno and Taranto refineries by improving the performance of their acid and tail gas treatment units.

To do this, Agip will use Gas/Spec methyldiethanolamine solvents, rather than generic amines such as diethanolamine, to remove hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from the main treating and tail gas units.

No modifications

Dow Chemical Co., manufacturer of Gas/Spec specialty amines, claims these solvents enable refiners to handle higher overall H₂S removal requirements without major capital modifications.

Shelby Oostwouder, Dow's marketing manager for Gas/Spec technology, said no mechanical modification will be needed at Livorno and Taranto to run specialty amines.

Oostwouder said specialty amines can be used in any "standard-looking main system." Many European refiners have already converted to use generic amines and so can change solvents relatively easily.

"This is generally the case," said Oostwouder, "though, if the refiner changes its crude slate or is near maximum capacity on its sulfur plant, it may need to expand sulfur removal capacity."

Karen Kenny, global technical service manager for Gas/Spec technology, said that, because the two Italian refineries already had amine units, Agip gave Dow its equipment and gas specifications.

"We simulated the application on an in-house program at our Freeport, Tex., research center," said Kenny. "We match simulations to performance data from currently operational plants, so we are confident of our results."

Open options

Oostwouder said it is difficult to predict how many of Europe's refiners will need to make changes to meet the new EU requirements.

"Most refiners have made inquiries with us," he said, "but we don't know yet if they will need to change some products or modify their plants. Certainly they are expected to implement any changes at different rates.

"In the U.S., refiners went through new legislation for low-sulfur diesel, and over 4 years they implemented a variety of changes to comply. We saw lots of crude slate changes so they could keep their options open.

"Now the difference between heavy and light crude oils is not so large, so suppliers need to be prepared for whatever comes along."