AM-93-20 DESIGN AND ECONOMICS FOR LOW PRESSURE DELAYED COKING

Description:

As we approach the 21st century, the petroleum industry faces many new challenges to remain competitive in the world fuels market. These challenges include fully utilizing existing petroleum resources while responding to the need to protect our environment. The current refining trend is to run heavier crudes with a growing emphasis on bottom of the barrel resid upgrading. In general, a reduction in light crude availability and a corresponding increase in the price differential between light and heavy crudes makes the processing of heavier crudes highly attractive. United States Department of Energy data indicate that between 1985 and 1989 the average API gravity of crude being processed in the U.S. dropped from 32.46 to 32.14 degrees while the average sulfur content increased 0.15 wt%.l As crudes get heavier and the demand for light, clean fuels increases, expanded resid upgrading capacity is rapidly becoming a necessity for most refiners.