State Oil Co. of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) has let a contract to Honeywell UOP LLC to provide technology to support modernization and expansion works under way at the Heydar Aliyev refinery at Baku.
Honeywell UOP will deliver technology licensing for its proprietary pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) technology for two PSA units at the refinery, both of which will be controlled by Honeywell Process Solutions C300 distributed control systems, the service provider said.
The new units—which will supply high-quality hydrogen at the site and help Azerbaijan meet growing domestic demand for transportation fuels meeting Euro 5 standards—come as part of SOCAR’s Heydar Aliyev modernization and upgrading program that aims by 2021 to expand crude capacity to 150,600 b/d from 120,500 b/d (OGJ Online, June 9, 2017).
Honeywell UOP disclosed neither a value of the contract nor a specific timeframe for completion of its phase of work on the project.
Once fully commissioned, the modernization and expansion will enable the refinery to process a blend of locally sourced crudes—including heavier Neft Dashlari and lighter Surakhani and Shirvan crudes—for 100% production of Euro 5-quality gasoline and diesel, jet fuel, and asphalt, as well as high-quality raw feedstock for SOCAR subsidiary Azerikimya Production Union’s nearby petrochemical plant (OGJ Online, Sept. 14, 2016; Mar. 16, 2016).
To be implemented in three stages, the modernization project will involve upgrades to existing equipment as well as installation of 14 units, SOCAR previously said.
Phase 1, to be completed by yearend, includes construction and startup of a bitumen plant, unidentified associated plants, and a gas-filling station at the site (OGJ Online, Dec. 21, 2017; Apr. 26, 2016).
Scheduled for completion by yearend 2020, Phase 2 will include construction of storage installations for Euro 5-quality diesel as well as reconstruction of unidentified units.
Phase 3, which will be completed by 2021, involves construction of an A-92/95/98 gasoline plant with products conforming to Euro 5 standards.
Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected].
