Sunday, 24 September 2006
RIYADH: Cleaner-burning diesel fuel means cleaner air, and the Diesel Hydrotreater Complex Project at Saudi Aramco's Riyadh Refinery will contribute to a significant decrease in diesel-fuel sulfur emissions in the central region.
The diesel hydrotreating process reduces sulfur emissions from 10,000 parts per million (ppm) to about 500 ppm and puts the product in the low-sulfur diesel fuel category.The project - which included a diesel hydrotreating unit, a hydrogen production unit, an amine regeneration unit and a sulfur-recovery unit - began in 2003 and was completed in May. Commissioning of the facilities is being completed.
The refinery also received several upgrades, including an additional cooling tower, nitrogen storage and vaporizer along with the recommissioning of idled diesel storage tanks. Several utility upgrades also were included.
An integrated project team with representatives from Project Management, Riyadh Refinery and other stakeholders worked on the project. The lump-sum, turnkey project, which was completed under budget and on schedule, was executed by Technip of Italy.
Key project personnel said the greatest challenges in the hydrotreater project were working in an operational facility and coordinating activities between different entities.
Riyadh is just one Saudi Aramco refinery receiving the Diesel Hydrotreater Unit improvements. A similar project in Yanbu' is nearing completion, and another project at Ras Tanura is just beginning.
© The Saudi Gazette 2006
