Hydrocracking

Marathon to begin planned maintenance at Robinson, Illinois refinery

The refinery's primary crude unit, which processes both sweet and sour crude, will be down for maintenance, including heat exchanger work. The plant's 85,000-bpd diesel hydrotreater unit, 65,000-bpd vacuum distillation unit and 28,000-bpd hydrocracker unit will also undergo turnaround.

Synergize FCCUs and hydrocracking processing units to maximize refining margins

Synthetic graphite demand drives attractive techno-economics for coker upgrades

This article describes the economic opportunity that synthetic graphite demand growth presents for American and European refiners. It describes the conditions that best suit a plant to be considered for such a revamp. The article also discusses the modifications needed in capital equipment, process conditions and feedstock to execute this change, the typical capital expenditure required to materialize it, and the transformational gross profit enhancements that could result from these modifications, given the product slate upgrade.  

Ebullated bed hydrocracking: A process and mechanical upset scenario

The purpose of this article is to describe, analyze and suggest some technical peculiarities and criticalities that can affect the operation and safety of ebullated bed hydrocracking technology units—a process and mechanical upset scenario during emergency shutdown.

Shell restarting hydrocracker at Louisiana refinery (U.S.)

Shell began restarting the diesel-producing hydrocracker (HCU) at its 233,702-bpd refinery in Norco, Louisiana.

Air Products and Saneg announce $140-MM assets acquisition deal in Uzbekistan

The Fergana refinery in Uzbekistan is starting the industrial production of hydrogen (H2) by transferring its H2 production assets to Air Products.

Marathon to run refineries at 90% of combined capacity in Q3

U.S. crude oil refiner Marathon Petroleum plans to operate its 13 refineries at 90% of their combined 3 MMbpd capacity in the third quarter.

EIA: U.S. refining capacity increased in 2023 with expansions and existing facilities

U.S. refining capacity increased in 2023 for the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the U.S. EIA’s annual Refinery Capacity Report. U.S. operable atmospheric crude oil distillation capacity totaled 18.4 MMbpd at the start of 2024, a 2% increase compared with the start of 2023.

The distinct operational advantages of alumina-supported catalysts for hydrocracker pretreat and hydrotreating applications

Hydroprocessing units in refineries process crude oil feedstocks in the presence of hydrogen and catalysts at high temperatures and pressures to produce clean fuels (i.e., gasoline, diesel, jet) while meeting stringent environmental standards dictated by U.S. and EU frameworks.

Evaluating pressure recovery turbines as a clean energy solution

Petroleum refining is an energy intensive process. Although the level of energy efficiency, in general, is relatively higher in oil refining compared to the steel or cement sectors, there is still a scope for improvement.