This session will cover KPIs and operating scenarios for partial burn FCC units, including the challenges and consequences of maloperation. Additionally, this session will focus on considerations taken to ensure safe operation of the CO Boiler. Attendees will come away with a fundamental understanding of the key principles and potential hazards associated with partial-burn operation.
Moderator:
Joe Colmone, Honeywell UOP
Speakers:
Luis Bougrat, W.R. Grace & Co.
Zach Word, Phillips 66
The oil refining process generates a significant volume of wastewater that contains a suite of challenging contaminants, from hydrocarbons to heavy metals and organic compounds. Oil production at a refinery relies on efficient and reliable wastewater treatment as it is impossible for the facility to operate without treating its effluent. Issues with the wastewater treatment systems can result in production limitations, as well as significant environmental impacts and violations. These systems can be complex, and they are sensitive to upset conditions due to poor feed quality, unexpected contaminants, or equipment breakdown.
This presentation will discuss a significant upset condition that impacted both the primary and secondary wastewater treatment system at a large West Coast refinery. We will present the processes that allowed for detection of the upset, and the steps taken by the operations group, technical team, and vendor support that helped maintain target production rates and avoid any environmental violations or impacts. The mitigation steps allowed for storage and post-upset treatment of the problematic effluent streams. The technical team evaluated options for treatment and environmental compliance, and the water treatment vendor supplied specialty biological treatment technology to get the system back online as quickly as possible. All of this contributed to a successful upset response and the implementation of best practices that can help all refineries facing a wastewater oil contamination.
Moderator:
Dan Harbs, Veolia
Speakers:
Angela Wharton, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
Kai Zhang, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
This presentation will discuss the role of benchmarking across refinery peer groups to assess energy inefficiencies and strengths, and will then explore how one refiner performed a deep dive into a major refinery process unit and realized a number of low cost/high value energy reduction opportunities for evaluation. Stepping beyond initial evaluation, with potential energy reductions quantified, road mapping is then explored as a tool used to help allocate resources to allow refiners to strategically move towards organizational energy and sustainability goals.
The initial surge in electric vehicle (EV) adoption has plateaued due to pricing, tax incentive uncertainty, challenges with charging infrastructure, repair costs, and range limitations. Sales of hybrid vehicles (HVs) have recently increased. HVs provide consumers with a choice that balances the efficiency of EVs with the performance of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Consumers will inevitably compare all powertrain technologies to ICE vehicles regarding affordability, reliability, and performance. Recent policy changes have shifted the market toward cautious mainstream consumers. As technology and regulations evolve, consumer decisions will continue to be influenced by cost, reliability, performance, and environmental impact. In this session, an industry expert will present data and insights on current and future decisions.
Moderator:
Matt Goodman, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
As global demand for renewable fuels accelerates, regulatory frameworks are becoming more complex — and increasingly focused on driving deeper greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and improved carbon intensity (CI) scores. This two-part panel will first explore the evolving landscape of biofuel policies and their emphasis on CI performance. The second part will shift to a practical perspective, highlighting how modern farming practices and closer collaboration between refiners and agricultural stakeholders can significantly reduce CI at the source. Together, these insights demonstrate a path toward scalable, low-carbon renewable fuel solutions built on policy alignment and supply chain innovation.
Moderator:
Doug Beshara, Merrick & Company
Speakers:
Chad Asmus, BASF
Kristine Klavers, EcoEngineers
Facilitators:
Cliff Avery, Ketjen Corpotation
CJ Farley, TPM Solutions
1. Commercial Results of 100% Vegetable Oil Processing in an FCCU
Speaker: Andrea de Rezende Pinho, Petróleo Brasileiro S/A - PETROBRAS
In 2023, Petrobras and the Riograndense Refinery (RPR) successfully processed 100% vegetable oil in a Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Unit. Petrobras' technology is based on three pillars: i) triglycerides, such as soybean oil used in the commercial test, ii) ReNewFCC line catalyst and iii) unique operating conditions compared to conventional FCCUs. Biogenic products such as renewable aromatic hydrocarbons (BTX - benzene, toluene and xylene), renewable LPG, and renewable propylene were produced during the commercial trial. Commercial yields, quality of the products, operational challenges and technical adaptations for the trial will be presented.
2. U.S. HEFA Co-processing – Past, Present, and Future Projects
Speaker: Eamon Cullinane, Turner, Mason & Company
HEFA co-processing at U.S. oil refineries has historically not seen the same success as standalone RD/SAF refinery conversions. So why has co-processing in the U.S. been limited in the past and why might we see more of it in the future? We will explore historical production levels of co-processing, economics vs standalone RD/SAF facilities, the regulatory landscape and credit incentives (RINs, BTC, CFPC/45Z, CA LCFS, etc.) driving these economics, and future prospects of co-processing in the U.S.
Panelists:
William Bandy, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Delbert Grotewold, Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions
Nathan Jannasch, Chevron U.S.A, Inc.
Matthew Kawabe, Topsoe, Inc.
Kamyar Keyvanloo, Phillips 66
Many new facilities were commissioned recently to produce renewable diesel and SAF from renewable feedstocks to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels while taking advantage of state and federal credits. Operating experience in this technology has been gathered by operators and their suppliers. This session will capture some of that expertise and share it with the audience in a traditional Q&A format. An experienced panel of Renewables experts from Operating and Technology companies will answer member supplied questions on operations, technology, reliability and lessons learned. Those in attendance are sure to gain valuable knowledge on this important topic.