Water is an essential commodity in the refining process, and in many plants as much water can be used as BBL of oil. Increasing water cost and scarcity creates operating expense savings opportunity in an area that may have historically not been given much attention. Some of the historical challenges when addressing water intensity in a refinery are a lack of ownership within the facility, sparse metering, value at system level not often apparent at equipment level, and a mindset that utilities work never outranks other work.

This session will discuss some of the historical challenges in reducing or controlling water intensity in a complex refinery system. We will identify some no cost and low-cost means to help address issues that can reduce water costs and waste. A detailed drill down will be presented into ways to understand and measure a plants water intensity. This discussion will identify techniques around optimization of specific operating components that make up the primary water users, and how to work toward water reduction and resource conservation in a refinery.

Moderator:
Dan Harbs, Veolia

Speakers:
Johnny Dorminey, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
Dan Harbs, Veolia