Refiner options for converting and utilizing heavy fuel oil
- SFA Pacific, Inc., Mountain View, CA (United States)
Ongoing advances in established technologies, together with recent commercial applications of residue fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC), automated residue demetallization, solvent deasphalting and gasification of pitch and coke, have markedly enhanced options for processing and economically using residues. Key long-term driving forces for processing strategies are: the need for flexibility to handle heavy, high-metals crude oils, and the economic benefit of being able to convert low-value residues to high-value light transportation fuels, hydrogen and electric power. Narrowing light/heavy crude oil price differentials and relatively low crude oil price levels since the early 1990s until the first quarter of 1996 have slowed the addition of new bottom-of-the-barrel conversion projects over the past two years. At the same time, world crude oil demand has increased at an annual average rate of nearly one million barrels/day (MMbpd) since 1985. Some major producer/refining companies forecast this rate of increase to continue well into the next decade. The inevitable net result will be the increased production of heavier crude oils. The authors project that this will be accompanied by flat or declining markets for heavy fuel oil and a resultant need for additional residue conversion/utilization capacity. The paper discusses technology application and status, economic observations, and technology outlook.
- OSTI ID:
- 445577
- Journal Information:
- Hydrocarbon Processing, Vol. 76, Issue 2; Other Information: DN: Presented at the sixth annual KFUPM Research Institute workshop on catalysts in petroleum refining and petrochemicals, Dec. 1--3, 1996, Dhahran (SA); PBD: Feb 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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