Refinery configurations: Designs for heavy oil

摘要

A challenge for existing refineries is how to process heavy crudes and handle the technical constraints associated with such feedstocks. A new heavy crude was discovered at the Mangala field in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India, in January 2004. The crude resources went into production in late August 2008. The Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) conducted a detailed analysis of this crude for product yields and characteristics. Lower distillate yield (23 wt%) and difficulties associated with its transportation through pipeline due to a higher pore point (39~+ °C) clearly indicate that neat processing of the new crude by existing refineries may not be feasible.