Integration of upgrading in the production of extra heavy crudes from the orinoco belt
- INTEVEP, Caracas (Venezuela)
- CORPOVEN, Caracas (Venezuela)
Four heavy oil upgrading joint ventures with major oil players are currently being developed by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) affiliates. Their objective is to build integrated production-upgrading complexes to transform the low quality heavy oil from the Orinoco Belt into valuable synthetic crude oil (SCO). One of this joint ventures, a partnership between Corpoven, S.A. and ARCO International Oil and Gas Co., thoroughly evaluated the new HDH{trademark} hydroprocessing technology of Intevep, S.A. as an option to upgrade 99 API Hamaca extraheavy crude. This paper summarizes the characteristics and economics of an integrated worldscale production-upgrading complex based on the HDH{trademark} technology as compared to a similar complex based on the well known delayed coking process. It concludes that whenever high liquid yields and/or feedstock cost drives the process economics, HDH{trademark} can compite advantageously with these more conventional technologies. At present, Maraven, S.A., another PDVSA affiliate, is developing the first HDH{trademark} commercial unit, to be built in its Cardon Refinery. It is anticipated that the 100 m{sup 3}/h unit will be in operation by 1998, allowing the demonstration of the process, as well as further optimizations of the scheme, thereby improving its economic competitiveness. 2 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.
- OSTI ID:
- 430617
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960730-; TRN: 96:006487-0128
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 5. world congress of chemical engineering, San Diego, CA (United States), 14-18 Jul 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of The 5th World Congress of chemical engineering: Technologies critical to a changing world. Volume III: Emerging energy technologies clean technologies remediation and emission control fuels and petrochemicals; PB: 1118 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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