Raízen Argentina SA—a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell PLC and Cosan SA 50-50 joint venture Raízen Energia SA—has let a contract to KBR Inc. to supply engineering and technology services for a new unit to be installed at the operator’s 108,000-b/d refinery at Dock Sud in Avellaneda County, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (OGJ Online, Apr. 24, 2018).
As part of the contract, KBR will deliver a basic engineering package as well as reaction and catalyst regeneration technologies for the refinery’s new FCC configuration project to enable the operator to achieve higher unit profitability, enhanced on-stream availability, and a reduced carbon footprint, the service provider said on June 28.
KBR disclosed no further details regarding the specific technologies or unit specifications involved under the agreement.
This most recent contract follows Raízen Argentina’s earlier June contract award to Axens Group for delivery of a modular 10,200-b/sd FCC gasoline hydrodesulfurization unit outfitted with Prime-G+ process technology that will enable the refinery to upgrade the quality of its gasoline pool production to comply with more stringent Euro 5-quality fuel specifications in Argentina taking effect on Jan. 1, 2024 (OGJ Online, June 15, 2021).
The new modular FCC gasoline hydrodesulfurization unit is one of several projects included under Raízen Argentina’s $715-million investment program to modernize and expand operations at the Buenos Aires refinery during the 2020-23 period that will include works to increase the refinery's processing capacity, upgrade existing units and processes, as well as improve energy efficiency and environmental practices at the site.
In late March, the government of Argentina said Raízen Argentina was advancing development of $71-million worth of new units for the refinery under the 2020-23 program, including construction of a new naphtha hydrotreater, diesel hydrotreater, hydrogen production plant, and water treatment plant.
The spending program also includes plans for installation of a new crude distillation column at the site.
Information regarding the precise scope of the refinery’s FCC unit configuration project, however, have yet to be confirmed by the operator.
