Lead, vapor pressure reductions alter domestic refining and gas processing operations

Journal Article · Mon Mar 24 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5865249

Smith, L D

Refiners have altered their operations to accommodate the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) lead phasedown rules that went into full effect (maximum 0.1 g/gal) on January 1 of this year. Anticipated new rules governing maximum gasoline vapor pressure will cause further adjustment. Gas processors and gasoline marketers will also be affected. In general, the moves made by refiners to increase octane capability have followed earlier projections. The authors projected that about 250,000 b/d of C/sub 5//C/sub 6/ isomerization would be built - almost 200,000 b/d has already been announced. They estimated that about 500,000 b/d of reforming capacity would be modified or replaced - more than 100,000 b/d of new reformers and almost 200,000 b/d of reformer revamps have already been announced. The use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and alcohol is up dramatically, also as expected. An important new developemnt in octane improvement has been the use of ''high octane'' fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts. These catalysts have contributed a significant direct octane increase by raising FCC gasoline octane and an indirect effect by increasing FCC olefin production, allowing an increase in the production of high-octane alkylate. Increasing alkylate production in the summer of 1985 dramatically increased refinery isobutane demand.

• Research Organization: Purvin and Gertz Inc., Houston, TX
• OSTI ID: 5865249
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 84:12; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400* -- Petroleum-- Processing
023000 -- Petroleum-- Properties & Composition
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
ALKANES
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC CRACKING
CATALYTIC REFORMING
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRACKING
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
FUELS
GASOLINE
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
ISOMERIZATION
LEAD
LIQUID FUELS
MARKETERS
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NATURAL GAS PROCESSING PLANTS
OCTANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PYROLYSIS
REFORMER PROCESSES
REGULATIONS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
UNLEADED GASOLINE
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VAPOR PRESSURE