Aramco progresses on Ras Tanura refinery’s new naphtha complex

Saudi Aramco has completed delivery and installation of major equipment as part of its previously announced clean-fuels project under implementation at its 550,000-b/d Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, along the Persian Gulf (OGJ Online, Jan. 13, 2017).

Now installed, the 544-tonne naphtha-splitter column is the main feeder to the refinery’s new naphtha complex, which will include the world’s largest continuous catalytic reforming (CCR) and isomerization units—with a total operating capacity of 90,000 b/d and 65,000 b/d, respectively—as well as a new 138,000-b/d naphtha hydrotreater, Aramco said.

The naphtha-splitter column will split hydrotreated naphtha into light and heavy naphtha for the naphtha hydrotreating unit, as well as control the benzene precursors, which will then be sent to the isomerization unit.

The column’s objective is to prepare the feeds to downstream units to meet the acceptable level of the impurities in the feed to the new CCR and isomerization units, according to Aramco.

The clean-fuels project aims to support Aramco’s corporate objective of effectively supplying diesel and gasoline products that comply with future Aramco gasoline and diesel quality specifications conforming to Euro-5 fuels quality standards.

Aramco did not confirm a definitive timeframe for when the entire clean-fuels project would be completed.

Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected].