Talara Refinery Modernization will being technological innovation to Peru

The Talara Refinery Modernization Project (PMRT) will bring new knowledge and state-of-the-art technology to Peru, generating innovation in the industrial refining process. This was explained by Eng. Fernando Rodriguez de Castillejo Arana, Head of Engineering of the Talara Refinery Modernization Project at the conference he gave during the Chemical Engineering Week, organized by the Chemical Engineering Chapter of the Departmental Council of Lima of the College of Engineers of the Peru.

Full presentation

The presentation of Eng. Rodriguez de Castillejo was composed of three parts. An introduction, of a theoretical nature, focused on the characterization of hydrocarbons, a second part, dedicated to the description of the project and a third, presenting a simplified block diagram in which the main processes of the new refinery were detailed.

Regarding the description of the project in an exhibitor, it emphasized its main refining objectives: to process 95 thousand barrels of crude oil per day, to produce fuels (diesel, gasoline and LPG) with a low sulfur content (10 parts per million, according to the standard Euro VI), processing of heavier crudes (domestic and imported), deep conversion to valuable products such as diesel, naphthas and LPG (thanks to flexicoking), and conversion of low octane gasoline to high octane gasoline (catalytic reforming); among other issues of the context of the industry and characteristics of the new plant. In relation to the block diagrams, this tool made it possible to visualize and know in greater detail the degree of complexity of the new refinery.

A first aspect to highlight is the contribution of technology to the profitability of the project, thanks to the processes of deep conversion and catalytic reforming. In this regard, the exhibitor revealed that the new refinery would be one of 10 in the world to have flexicoking, technology that by allowing the processing of the heaviest residual streams generated in the refinery, would substantially increase the refining margins, guaranteeing profitability of the project. But not only does it increase the Company's value by providing it with technologies that will make it more efficient and profitable, but it also incorporates new knowledge in the field of engineering, for the benefit of professionals in this scientific discipline.

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