Clariant began production of new ReforMax 330 LDP Plus catalyst

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Clariant’s new ReforMax® 330 LDP Plus catalyst significantly increases energy and production efficiency at ammonia plant, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The first commercial reference for Clariant’s ReforMax 330 LDP Plus catalyst is a major success. Installed at OCI Nitrogen’s ammonia production plant in Geleen, Netherlands, the new steam reforming catalyst has significantly reduced pressure drop, allowing the customer to benefit from a considerable increase in energy and production efficiency leading to savings of more than 300,000€ over the catalyst lifetime.

OCI Nitrogen is one of the European market leaders in mineral fertilizers and the world’s largest producer of melamine. As the company synthesizes its ammonia for both of these products, efficiency is of great importance. The company’s AFA 2 ammonia plant is a Bechtel design with a capacity of 1550 mtpd and runs a side-fired Foster Wheeler reformer. Before the turnaround in 2018, pressure drop over the front end was a crucial production limitation for OCI at AFA 2. The installation of the new ReforMax 330 LDP Plus catalyst, and optimization of catalyst volumes in other reactors, have removed this limitation, significantly increasing the plant’s energy and production efficiency.

Since its start-up in June 2018, ReforMax 330 LDP Plus has demonstrated very stable operation and provided a significant reduction in pressure drop across the catalyst bed in the reformer tubes. This improvement will avail the plant with savings of more than 300,000 € over the expected catalyst lifetime of 8 years, compensating for the catalyst investment.

Andy Vluggen, Chemical Engineer at OCI Nitrogen, commented on the improvements, saying, “We are extremely pleased with the performance of Clariant’s new primary reforming catalyst, which started up in our plant one year ago, and I recommend ReforMax 330 LDP Plus for all plants with similar pressure drop limitations."

Recently launched by Clariant, ReforMax 330 LDP Plus is a novel steam reforming catalyst for ammonia, hydrogen and methanol production. The catalyst owes its pressure drop reduction capacity to an innovative proprietary 8-hole floral LDP Plus shape, which allows higher gas throughput and/or lower pressure drop as well as improved heat transfer. Combined with the catalyst’s high activity and selectivity, these factors enable extremely efficient operation with reduced energy consumption.

Besides the supervision of loading and start-up of the new catalyst, Clariant also provided thermal imaging services for accurately monitoring tube wall temperatures to evaluate the catalyst’s performance and identify potential problems of the steam reformer to optimize the reforming process. The thermal imaging evaluation at OCI Nitrogen’s ammonia plant demonstrated optimal heat distribution throughout the furnace, as well as excellent catalytic activity.

Stefan Heuser, Senior Vice President & General Manager at Clariant Catalysts, expressed his satisfaction with the results, stating “OCI Nitrogen’s ammonia plant is the first commercial reference for ReforMax 330 LDP Plus. We are grateful for the close cooperation with the OCI team and delighted that our novel steam reforming catalyst delivered the solution they sought and the advantages we promised. The catalyst’s innovative 8-hole design and exceptional capacity to reduce pressure drop are outstanding in the industry."

As MRC informed earlier, Sabic has announced that it has purchased additional shares in Clariant, increasing its holding in the company from 24.99% to 31.5%. The move is part of Sabic’s growth strategy to achieve a leadership position among global peers in specialties and increase this segment’s contribution to Sabic. Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.

Earlier last year, SABIC took off-stream its SABIC Olefins 4 cracker owing to technical issues on May 10, 2019. Further details on duration of the shutdown could not be ascertained. Located in beek, the Netherlands, the cracker has an ethylene production capacity of 690,000 mt/year and a propylene production capacity of 360,000 mt/year.

Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,904,410 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2019, up by 6% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. PE shipments increased from both domestic producers and foreign suppliers. The PP consumption in the Russian market was 1,161,830 tonnes in January-November 2019, up by 7% year on year. Deliveries of all grades of propylene polymers increased, with the homopolymer PP segment accounting for the largest increase.

Clariant AG is a Swiss chemical company and a world leader in the production of specialty chemicals for the textile, printing, mining and metallurgical industries. It is engaged in processing crude oil products in pigments, plastics and paints.
MRC

Kuwait Al-Ahmadi refinery completes biofuels project

MOSCOW (MRC) - Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery has completed a biofuels expansion project with two additional production units coming on-stream, reported Reuters with reference to the state-run Kuwait News Agency, citing the Kuwait National Petroleum Corp (KNPC).

The two new coal and naphtha hydro treating units will produce 37,000 and 8,400 barrels per day (bpd) of oil equivalent respectively, Waleed al-Badr, KNPC chief executive officer said.

Operations are still underway to complete the same project in the Mina Abdullah refinery, he added.

The two refineries are undergoing upgrades and expansion as part of the Clean Fuels Project (CFP) with a focus on producing higher-value products such as diesel and kerosene for export.

Upon completion, Al-Ahmadi refinery, which consists of 31 units, will have a production capacity of 364,000 bpd, KUNA quoted Abdullah al-Ajmi, the deputy CEO for projects, as saying.

The cost of the biofuels project has reached 4.6 billion dinars (USD14.7 billion), according to Al-Ajmi.

After the units in Mina Abdullah come on-stream, the biofuel project will have a capacity of 800,000 bpd.

Kuwait currently has a refining capacity of around 730,000 bpd, mainly from Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdallah, its largest refineries.

As MRC informed previously, in February 2020, Qatargas signed an agreement with Shell to deliver 1 million mt/year of LNG to Kuwait for 15 years, starting this year. The LNG will come from Qatar Liquefied Gas Co. 4, a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum (70%) and Shell (30%), Qatargas said Sunday in a statement.

We also remind that in March 2019, Mammoet safely completed a critical lift at Shell’s Pennsylvania Chemicals Project in Potter Township, utilizing its MSG80 to hoist a 2,000 ton quench tower into position. The facility is the first major US project of its kind to be built outside of the Gulf Coast region in 20 years. Once operational, the facility will boast an ethane cracker and three polyethylene units, and is expected to employ up to 600 employees.

Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 383,760 tonnes in the first two month of 2020, up by 14% year on year. High density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) shipments increased due to the increased capacity utilisation at ZapSibNeftekhim. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 192,760 tonnes in January-February 2020, down by 6% year on year. Homopolymer PP accounted for the main decrease in imports.
MRC

Vietnamese Dung Quat refinery may delay maintenance to 2021 due to coronavirus

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Vietnam’s Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Co will likely delay maintenance at its Dung Quat refinery, scheduled to begin on June 12, due to the coronavirus pandemic that has led to travel curbs, reported Reuters with reference to two sources familiar with the matter.

“We have difficulties shipping needed equipment to Vietnam and travel bans will make it difficult for foreign contractors to send their workers to the refinery,” one of the sources said, adding the maintenance may be delayed until 2021.

A trader, however, said it might be delayed until the second half of this year.

Binh Son declined to comment.

The company said in a statement over the weekend that 35% of the maintenance work would be handled by foreign contractors and 65% by domestic ones. It said in January it had signed deals with seven contractors for the maintenance.

“Binh Son is monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam and (will) keep updating with the contractors to make appropriate changes to the maintenance plan,” the statement said.

The 130,000-barrel-per-day refinery said on Friday it would cut output as domestic demand for refined fuels had fallen 30%-40% since February, adding it may have to cease production “if demand continues to decline”.

Vietnam has reported 241 coronavirus cases as of late Monday, with no reported deaths, the Ministry of Health said.

As MRC informed earlier, Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical took its polypropylene (PP) plant off-stream for a maintenance turnaround in June 2017 for a period of around 7 weeks. The exact date shutdown could not be ascertained. Located in Vietnam,the plant has a production capacity of 150,000 mt/year.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market were 192,760 tonnes in January-February 2020, down by 6% year on year. Homopolymer PP accounted for the main decrease in imports.
MRC

LyondellBasell to restart Houston refinery FCC next week

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lyondell Basell Industries plans to restart the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at its 263,776 barrel-per-day (bpd) Houston refinery next week, reported Reuters with reference to sources familiar with plant operations.

Lyondell spokeswoman Chevalier Gray declined to comment.

Lyondell plans to complete repairs to the 90,000 bpd FCC this week and restart the unit next week, the sources said. The FCC was shut by a Feb. 16 fire that led to the discovery of multiple cracks in the unit’s reactor.

Previously the sources had told Reuters the unit would likely be shut through the end of April. But since that time Lyondell has focused remaining contract workers in the refinery on the FCC work, the sources said.

As MRC informed before, Lyondell Basell Industries said maintenance operations were staffed at its Houston refinery to assure safety and reliability. Gulf Coast market sources told Reuters hundreds of contractors were home in mid-March to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading in the 263,776 barrel-per-day refinery. Those contractors work for companies hired by Lyondell to perform maintenance on units in the refinery. Lyondell employee operations and maintenance staff continue to work in the refinery, the sources said.

Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 383,760 tonnes in the first two month of 2020, up by 14% year on year. High density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) shipments increased due to the increased capacity utilisation at ZapSibNeftekhim. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 192,760 tonnes in January-February 2020, down by 6% year on year. Homopolymer PP accounted for the main decrease in imports.

LyondellBasell is one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. Driven by its 13,000 employees around the globe, LyondellBasell produces materials and products that are key to advancing solutions to modern challenges like enhancing food safety through lightweight and flexible packaging, protecting the purity of water supplies through stronger and more versatile pipes, and improving the safety, comfort and fuel efficiency of many of the cars and trucks on the road. LyondellBasell sells products into approximately 100 countries and is the world's largest licensor of polyolefin technologies.
MRC

COVID-19 - News digest as of 07.04.2020

1. Covid-19 compounds European refiners’ challenges

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The demand impact from widespread lockdowns causes an immediate demand headache. But longer-term structural obstacles remain, said Hydrocarbonprocessing. “The prospects for European gasoline look particularly grim at the moment.” So says Chris Judge, vice-president, crude and oil products at price reporting agency Argus Media and an analyst of European refined products markets for well over 20 years. Or, rather said. As, to put into context the scale of both the short and longer-term challenges facing the European refining sector, Judge uttered these words in late February, before the extent of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on European and global products demand was clear.


MRC