Process units from 30,000 barrels per day Lube OIL refinery
Process Units:
The manufacture of lubricating oil basestock/bitumen is done through five (5) distinct unit processes, namely:
High Vacuum Unit (HVU). The HVU processes the reduced crude (long residue) feedstock into four (4) distillate products. It also produces gas
oil and a short residue bottoms product. Distillation is done by heating the feedstock to about 380°C and then feeding it into a vacuum tower where high vacuum is maintained.
Propane Deasphalting Unit (PDU). The PDU processes short residue (vacuum residue) from the High Vacuum Unit. The process employs the principle
of solvent extraction to separate the lighter paraffinic fraction from the heavier asphaltic fraction of the charge stock. Liquid propane is used as the solvent which removes the deasphalted oil (DAO),
leaving an asphalt stream behind for use in the manufacture of bitumen and fuel oil which are sold as secondary products. Propane extraction is accomplished in two extraction towers operated at about 30
bar.
Furfural Extraction Unit (FEU). The FEU processes distillates and DAO and uses furfural solvent to remove the aromatic molecules from the
feed. A high level of aromatic components is detrimental to lube oil performance and so the majority is removed in this unit and blended into the refinery fuel oil pool.
MEK Dewaxing Unit (MDU). The MDU processes raffinates from the FEU and deasphalted oil (DAO) from the PDU. It uses a mixture of MEK (Methyl
Ethyl Ketone) and Toluene as solvent in extracting wax from the lubeoil and makes it suitable for low temperature applications. The wax that is removed is either blended into fuel oil or sold as
secondary product.
Bitumen Blowing Unit (BBU). The BBU and its attendant facility, was constructed to produce high quality bitumen that meets Shell brand
specifications. The Bitumen Blowing Unit (BBU) improves the quality of the present paving grade production through oxy-conversion.
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