Project Synopsis
Develop an FEL-3 process design package for a new yellow wax crude splitter topping unit at a refinery in the Western U.S. in support of a multi-disciplined engineering company client.
Project Summary
Process Engineering Associates, LLC (PROCESS) was subcontracted by a multi-disciplined engineering company to help develop an FEL-3 process design for a new topping unit to produce transportation fuels from yellow wax crude at a U.S. downstream oil & gas operating company (the Ultimate Client). The primary driver of the project was to address a persistent shortfall in jet-A supply for a major local airport. The yellow wax crude is produced from wells mostly located in the Western U.S. The crude will mostly be brought into the facility by truck and the products will be loaded onto both trucks and rail cars. The products made will be LPG, full-range naphtha, jet-A, off-road diesel, and atmospheric residuum.
Based on specific crude assays provided by the Ultimate Client, PROCESS developed a simulation model in Aspen HYSYS to evaluate the expected product yields. Once the expected product yields were determined, PROCESS then developed a more detailed hydraulic model in CHEMCAD to size the piping and equipment.
This scope of work resulted in the following project deliverables:
- Issue-for-Design (IFD) Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs)
- Heat and Material Balance tables
- IFD Piping and Instrument Diagrams (P&IDs)
- Equipment, Instrument and Line (Piping) lists
- Preliminary plot plan layout for the ISBL systems
- Preliminary equipment datasheets (pumps, fired-heater, exchangers, vessels, columns, etc.)
- Preliminary Pressure Safety Valve (PSV) list.
The engineering company client used this information to produce an FEL-3 level cost estimate for the Ultimate Client to evaluate the project economics.
Industry Type
Petroleum Refining
Utilized Skills
- Refinery unit design
- Process simulation
- FEL-3 process design package development.