Suncor’s Post

If you were to choose between a refinery with Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) based configuration and a refinery with Hydrocracker (HCU) based configuration, which one would you choose?! If the choice was mine I would choose the latter one mainly due to the hydrocracker’s inherent flexibility to shift towards petrochemicals In a most recent trend, the reduction in transportation fuels demand is leading the refiners to look for closer integration with petrochemical assets, creating a necessity to maximize the yield of petrochemicals in the refineries. The use of residue upgrading technologies as the HCU to produce petrochemicals against transportation fuels is an attractive option in the current/future markets Someone may argue that the synergy between FCC and HCU can also be used as a strategy to maximize the refinery's margin but it's definitely a relatively high capital investment that needs to be examined very carefully

A leading #petroleum refiner was not able to confidently identify which CMLs provided optimal inspection coverage for one of its hydrocarbon reformer units, which led to overspending on inspections. To address this problem, a #QuantitativeReliabilityOptimization (#QRO) pilot was implemented on the unit to quantify the value of its CML placements and optimize the site’s inspection budget for value-adding CMLs. Based on the pilot, the refinery is projected to gain a total value of about $800,000 over the next five years from the cost reduction and increased availability resulting from removing inspections that do not provide value and adding CMLs that provide optimal coverage. Learn more about the project: https://lnkd.in/ggM_D_b6 #conditionmonitoring #mechanicalintegrity #refining #refinery #datadrivenreliability #pinnaclereliability

Tank farms are among the most important assets in a crude oil refinery and are responsible for the worst emergency scenarios in a crude oil refinery, for this reason, these assets demand special attention during design, operation and maintenance steps. Unfortunately, part of the refining personnel and managers do not have adequate knowledge about the relevance of this operating area in a crude oil refinery and the priority of maintenance and capital investments in transfer and stockpiling assets are underrated in relation to the refining units. The video below is a didactic example of how severe is a fire in a hydrocarbon storage tank farm and remind us to the necessity to consider the risks scenarios of the stockpiling area in the emergency plans of a crude oil refinery, especially those related to the necessity to evacuate adjacent communities, this accident occurred in the Intercontinental Terminals Company, in USA, on 17 march 2019 and was initiated due to a contention loss during a butane-enriched naphtha transfer operation to a storage tank where the seal of the transfer pump failed, the hydrocarbons was flamed and the fire and explosion destroyed 09 storage tanks of the terminal. This kind of accident should be used as an example of how an inadequate asset management policy can produce severe and drastic consequences. As asset managers we always need to ask if all the scenarios were considered in the design step of the processing asset, how is the preventive maintenance of our equipement, are we dedicating adequate attention, resources and investments to keep the reliability and process safety of the whole refinery? It's important taking into account that a crude oil refinery is a complex organism where the systems are highly integrated and a little mistake can severely impact the whole refinery. Despite this case description, it's important to keep our vulnerability sense and understand that all downstream player in any country is subjected to these risks and the actions which really can block these occurrences is an adequate and sustainable asset management policy based on the sustainability tripod People, Planet, and Profit (Three Ps) that establishes the bases of a most sustainable management aiming to prioritize the life and environment in detriment of the business if necessary... How is your asset management policy? #downstreamoilandgas #refining #safetymanagementsystems #processsafety #stockpilingoperations #assetmanagement #riskmanagement More details about this process safety accident can be found at the CSB (Chemical Safety Board) website available at the following link: https://lnkd.in/d6g6D-3J

Tank farms are among the most important assets in a crude oil refinery and are responsible for the worst emergency scenarios in a crude oil refinery, for this reason, these assets demand special attention during design, operation and maintenance steps. Unfortunately, part of the refining personnel and managers do not have adequate knowledge about the relevance of this operating area in a crude oil refinery and the priority of maintenance and capital investments in transfer and stockpiling assets are underrated in relation to the refining units. The video below is a didactic example of how severe is a fire in a hydrocarbon storage tank farm and remind us to the necessity to consider the risks scenarios of the stockpiling area in the emergency plans of a crude oil refinery, especially those related to the necessity to evacuate adjacent communities, this accident occurred in the Intercontinental Terminals Company, in USA, on 17 march 2019 and was initiated due to a contention loss during a butane-enriched naphtha transfer operation to a storage tank where the seal of the transfer pump failed, the hydrocarbons was flamed and the fire and explosion destroyed 10 storage tanks of the terminal. This kind of accident should be used as an example of how an inadequate asset management policy can produce severe and drastic consequences. As asset managers we always need to ask if all the scenarios were considered in the design step of the processing asset, how is the preventive maintenance of our equipement, are we dedicating adequate attention, resources and investments to keep the reliability and process safety of the whole refinery? It's important taking into account that a crude oil refinery is a complex organism where the systems are highly integrated and a little mistake can severely impact the whole refinery. Despite this case description, it's important to keep our vulnerability sense and understand that all downstream player in any country is subjected to these risks and the actions which really can block these occurrences is an adequate and sustainable asset management policy based on the sustainability tripod People, Planet, and Profit (Three Ps) that establishes the bases of a most sustainable management aiming to prioritize the life and environment in detriment of the business if necessary... How is your asset management policy? #downstreamoilandgas #refining #safetymanagementsystems #processsafety #stockpilingoperations #assetmanagement #riskmanagement More details about this process safety accident can be found at the CSB (Chemical Safety Board) website available at the following link: https://lnkd.in/d6g6D-3J

In recent years we are seeing crude oil refining companies trying to improve their ESG (Environmental, Sustainability, and Governance) policies in order to reduce their potential negative impacts over the communities and environment and maximize the positive impact like economic and social development of the adjacent communities. Unfortunately, despite being an essential industry, the petroleum refining sector presents significant process safety risks which demand adequate management and policies to put under control these risks and ensure safe and clean operations to refineries. Process safety accidents in crude oil refineries normally have significant impacts to the life, environment, and assets which causes severe impacts to the life of adjacent communities, unfortunately an example of this scenario was the explosion and fire occurred in the Husky Superior refinery in USA at april 2018. During a planned shutdown of the FCC (Fluid Catalytic Cracking) unit a hydrocarbon leakage creates an explosive atmosphere which was flamed leading to a explosion, the scenario was worsened due to a damage in a adjacent asphalt tank that starts to leak and fuel the flames as presented in the video below. Unfortunately, the refining asset was severely damaged and was re-started safely only in 2023 impacting the lifes of adjacent communities, according to informations of new operator of the refinery, the plant employs 350 works and generate close to US$ 30 million annual payroll contributing significantly for the economic development of the Superior area. The startup and shutdown of crude oil refining processing units are critical moments due to put and drain energy to the process equipment and demands special attention regarding compliance with operating procedures and maintenance of critical systems. Despite this case description, it's important to keep our vulnerability sense and understand that all downstream player in any country is subjected to these risks and the actions which really can block these occurrences is an adequate and sustainable asset management policy based on the sustainability tripod People, Planet, and Profit (Three Ps) that establishes the bases of a most sustainable management aiming to prioritize the life and environment in detriment of the business if necessary... How is your asset management policy? Do you completely understand the desired changes to your refining and/or petrochemical asset? How is this change analyzed and managed? More details about the described process safety accident can be found at the following link: https://lnkd.in/dxTx8DtQ Information about the rebuilt of the Superior refinery can be found at the following link: https://lnkd.in/d3BVfQUE Thanks Mr. George Hoekstra for the insights that support this publication.

Good questions: "Asset managers need to ask if all the scenarios were considered in the design step of the processing asset, how is the preventive maintennance of the equipment, are they dedicating adequate attention, resources and investment to keep the reliability and process safety of the whole system?" #processhazardanalysis #deviation #assetmanagement #abnormality #processknowledge

Tank farms are among the most important assets in a crude oil refinery and are responsible for the worst emergency scenarios in a crude oil refinery, for this reason, these assets demand special attention during design, operation and maintenance steps. In some cases, part of the refining personnel and managers do not have adequate knowledge about the relevance of this operating area in a crude oil refinery and the priority of maintenance and capital investments in transfer and stockpiling assets are underrated in relation to the refining units. The video below is a didactic example of how severe is a fire in a hydrocarbon storage tank farm and remind us to the necessity to consider the risks scenarios of the stockpiling area in the emergency plans of a crude oil refinery, especially those related to the necessity to evacuate adjacent communities, this accident occurred in the Garyville refinery, in USA, on 25 august 2023 was initiated due to a leakage which provoked fire in two naphtha storage tanks, the fire was considered under control after 4 days. As asset managers we always need to ask if all the scenarios were considered in the design step of the processing asset, how is the preventive maintenance of our equipement, are we dedicating adequate attention, resources and investments to keep the reliability and process safety of the whole refinery? It's important taking into account that a crude oil refinery is a complex organism where the systems are highly integrated and a little mistake can severely impact the whole refinery. Despite this case description, it's important to keep our vulnerability sense and understand that all downstream player in any country is subjected to these risks and the actions which really can block these occurrences is an adequate and sustainable asset management policy based on the sustainability tripod People, Planet, and Profit (Three Ps) that establishes the bases of a most sustainable management aiming to prioritize the life and environment in detriment of the business if necessary... How is your asset management policy? #stockpilingoperations #tankfarmmanagement #processsafety #refining #assetmanagement #riskmanagement

Tank farms are among the most important assets in a crude oil refinery and are responsible for the worst emergency scenarios in a crude oil refinery, for this reason, these assets demand special attention during design, operation and maintenance steps. In some cases, part of the refining personnel and managers do not have adequate knowledge about the relevance of this operating area in a crude oil refinery and the priority of maintenance and capital investments in transfer and stockpiling assets are underrated in relation to the refining units. The video below is a didactic example of how severe is a fire in a hydrocarbon storage tank farm and remind us to the necessity to consider the risks scenarios of the stockpiling area in the emergency plans of a crude oil refinery, especially those related to the necessity to evacuate adjacent communities, this accident occurred in the Garyville refinery, in USA, on 25 august 2023 was initiated due to a leakage which provoked fire in two naphtha storage tanks, the fire was considered under control after 4 days. As asset managers we always need to ask if all the scenarios were considered in the design step of the processing asset, how is the preventive maintenance of our equipement, are we dedicating adequate attention, resources and investments to keep the reliability and process safety of the whole refinery? It's important taking into account that a crude oil refinery is a complex organism where the systems are highly integrated and a little mistake can severely impact the whole refinery. Despite this case description, it's important to keep our vulnerability sense and understand that all downstream player in any country is subjected to these risks and the actions which really can block these occurrences is an adequate and sustainable asset management policy based on the sustainability tripod People, Planet, and Profit (Three Ps) that establishes the bases of a most sustainable management aiming to prioritize the life and environment in detriment of the business if necessary... How is your asset management policy? #stockpilingoperations #tankfarmmanagement #processsafety #refining #assetmanagement #riskmanagement

This reinstates the need to invest in digital technologies for critical process units like Tank Farms. Overfills many times could also lead to such disasters. These can be anticipated as data says in every 3000 fills there is a overspill. Tank gauging, Corrosion monitoring and overfill protection are the safety pillar solutions to be mandated

The downstream industry is facing a challengeful period where is observed a increasing pressure to minimize the carbon footprint of the global energetic matrix, this fact is one of the drives of the forecasted contraction in the fossil fuels demand. Under this scenario, the refiners are called to diversify their operations aiming to maximize added value to the processed crude through the production of non-energetics derivatives like petrochemicals which present growing demand and high added value. The capacity to maximize the production of these valuable derivatives in detriment of transportation fuels like gasoline and diesel is strictly related to the bottom barrel conversion capacity of the refineries and the hydrocracking technologies can significantly contribute with this competitive advantage among the refiners. In the September 2024 issue of the IACPE Magazine we contribute with an article versing of how the combination of the role of hydrocracking and naphtha steam cracking technologies can be an attractive route to maximize added value to the processed crude helping the downstream players to get a better competitive positioning in a changing market... #residueupgrading #downstream #refining #hydrocracking #steamcracking The Issues of IACPE Magazine can be found at the following link: https://lnkd.in/dM44aJGm Thanks, Mr. Karl Kolmetz CPE, CPPM, CPSP for this outstanding opportunity.