208 PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMICS, AND POLITICS
distributed between liquefied petroleum gas, jet fuel, diesel fuel,
and a small quantity of coke. Many such refineries also incorporate
solvent extraction processes for manufacturing lubricants and petrochemical units with which to recover propylene, benzene, toluene, and xylenes for further processing into polymers.
To convert crude oil into desired products in an economically
feasible and environmentally acceptable manner. Refinery process
for crude oil are generally divided into three categories:
1. Separation processes, of which distillation is the prime
example
2. Conversion processes, of which coking and catalytic
cracking are prime examples
3. Finishing processes, of which hydrotreating, to remove
sulfur, is a prime example.
Furthermore, as noted elsewhere (Chapter 6), the overall economics or viability of a refinery depends on the interaction of five
key elements:
1. The crude slate (i.e. the choice of crude oils accepted
by the refinery)
2. The refinery configuration (i.e. the complexity of the
refining equipment or refinery configuration)
3. The product slate (i.e. the desired type and quality of
products produced)
4. The refinery utilization rates (i.e. portion of the refinery capacity that is utilized)
5. Environmental considerations.
Using more expensive and lighter, sweeter crude oil requires
less refinery upgrading, but supplies of light, sweet crude oil are
decreasing and the differential between heavier and sourer crudes
is increasing. Using cheaper heavy oil means more investment in
upgrading processes. Costs and payback periods for refinery processing units must be weighed against anticipated crude oil costs
and the projected differential between light and heavy crude oil
prices. Crude slates and refinery configurations must take into
account the type of products that will ultimately be needed in the
marketplace. The quality specifications of the final products are
also increasingly important as environmental requirements become
more stringent.
distributed between liquefied petroleum gas, jet fuel, diesel fuel,
and a small quantity of coke. Many such refineries also incorporate
solvent extraction processes for manufacturing lubricants and petrochemical units with which to recover propylene, benzene, toluene, and xylenes for further processing into polymers.
To convert crude oil into desired products in an economically
feasible and environmentally acceptable manner. Refinery process
for crude oil are generally divided into three categories:
1. Separation processes, of which distillation is the prime
example
2. Conversion processes, of which coking and catalytic
cracking are prime examples
3. Finishing processes, of which hydrotreating, to remove
sulfur, is a prime example.
Furthermore, as noted elsewhere (Chapter 6), the overall economics or viability of a refinery depends on the interaction of five
key elements:
1. The crude slate (i.e. the choice of crude oils accepted
by the refinery)
2. The refinery configuration (i.e. the complexity of the
refining equipment or refinery configuration)
3. The product slate (i.e. the desired type and quality of
products produced)
4. The refinery utilization rates (i.e. portion of the refinery capacity that is utilized)
5. Environmental considerations.
Using more expensive and lighter, sweeter crude oil requires
less refinery upgrading, but supplies of light, sweet crude oil are
decreasing and the differential between heavier and sourer crudes
is increasing. Using cheaper heavy oil means more investment in
upgrading processes. Costs and payback periods for refinery processing units must be weighed against anticipated crude oil costs
and the projected differential between light and heavy crude oil
prices. Crude slates and refinery configurations must take into
account the type of products that will ultimately be needed in the
marketplace. The quality specifications of the final products are
also increasingly important as environmental requirements become
more stringent.