Summary:

Crude distillation is the first step in refining, essential for refinery profitability and even more critical with cleaner fuel requirements. This program offers a practical, in-depth review of crude distillation, focusing on maintaining smooth operation, capacity, and product quality. Attendees will explore fundamentals like process objectives, crude characterization, flow sequences, desalting, and major equipment design. The course then covers operation, control, troubleshooting, and revamps, helping participants understand the balance of process needs, equipment function, and economic goals.

Outline: 

Introduction and Process Objectives

• Feed and Products
• Importance to Refinery Operations
• General Process Sequences
• Major Equipment
• Heat Integration

Crude Properties

• Crude Types
• Crude Oil Characterization
• Heavy Oil Fractions

Crude Unit Products

• Lights Ends
• Naphthas
• Kerosene and Jet Fuel
• Diesel
• Gas Oils
• Residues

Process Flow Sequences

• Topping and Simple Units
• Conventional Atmospheric-Vacuum
• Preflash Columns and Drums
• Gas Oil Columns
• Vacuum Columns
• Diesel Recovery Options
• Naphtha-Kerosene Recovery Options

Heat Integration and Exchangers

• Heat Exchanger Networks
• Heat Train Limitations
• Cold Versus Hot Train Duties
• Split Trains
• Pinch Analysis
• Exchanger Design
• Typical Operating Conditions and Performance

Desalting

• Corrosion, Fouling, Contaminants
• Single Versus Two-Stage
• Operation
• Salt Content and Removal Efficiency

Fired Heaters

• Heater Types
• Operating Limits
• Heat Flux
• Steam Injection

Atmospheric Distillation

• Process
• Equipment
• Overhead Systems
• Metallurgy

Vacuum Distillation

• Process
• Equipment
• Vacuum Systems
• Metallurgy

Control, Monitoring, Troubleshooting

• Daily Monitoring
• Control Options
• Troubleshooting Common Problems

Revamps

• Revamp Strategies
• Defining Unit Performance
• Discovering Opportunities
• Future Directions: Energy Efficiency and Climate Change

Current Topics

• Light Crudes and Tight Oils
• Diesel Recovery
• Condensate Splitting

Who Should Attend: 

Program participants will have ample opportunity to obtain a broad working knowledge of crude unit operations, to gain insight into current technology and trends, and to interact with others working in this area. The program is ideal for personnel involved in refinery process engineering, plant operations, troubleshooting, and technical services. Process engineers from design and construction companies as well as those providing services to the petroleum refining industry should also find this program beneficial.

Instructor: 

Andrew W. Sloley, an independent consultant with 40+ years of experience in the hydrocarbon processing industry. Specializing in product separation, distillation, and heat integration, he has worked on various petrochemical and refining units, from crude to cryogenic systems. Andrew has authored 400+ publications, holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, and is a licensed professional engineer in Texas. Currently a contributing editor for Chemical Processing magazine, his expertise spans crude units, process optimization, equipment design, and troubleshooting.

Venue & Logistics: 

Hotel Booking Link: Book Hotel Here

*Please note this link expires two weeks before the start of the course. Please notify training@becht.com for any issues with the booking link.

Location:  15700 John F Kennedy Blvd, Houston, TX 77032

• Phone:  +12814425100
• Hotel Website
• Parking available on-site - free for all training attendees

For more information on training logistics, see the linked Attendee Info Sheet.