You can only gain access to certain items and special pricing if you have logged in. Login Now.

AM-97-21 DEBOTTLENECKING ECONOMICS - MAXIMIZING PROFITABILITY WITH MINIMUM CAPITAL

Donald F. Schneider; Stratus Engineering, Inc.Houston, Texas

Format:
Electronic (digital download/no shipping)

Associate Member, International Member, Petrochemical Member, Refining Member - $0.00
Government, NonMember - $35.00

Description:

Market and regulatory pressures continue to reduce the number of Refineries in the United States (Figure 1). Improvements in transportation systems cause niche markets to disappear shutting regional facilities. Tight product margins force low volume locations to close. Environmental requirements, population encroachment, and heightened public quality of life expectations increase the barrier to plant profitability. Finally, many older units simply wear out - it is sometimes more profitable to shift operations to newer plants than to rebuild aging facilities. Against this backdrop, Petroleum demand in the United States has been increasing steadily since its most recent nadir in 1983 (Figure 2). Nearly continuous economic growth since then resulted in analogous increasing Petroleum consumption. These two trends, fewer Refineries and increasing Petroleum demand, combine to raise Refinery Capacity Utilization rates to high levels (Figure 3). More product from fewer locations. Increasing production to accommodate demand can be accomplished by building new units or by debottlenecking existing capacity. This paper reviews debottlenecking opportunities and strategies. Emphasis is placed on finding the lowest capital solution which provides the highest payback.

Product Details:

Product ID: AM-97-21
Publication Year: 1997