Update Repsol-YPF La Platta FW New Coker

[Charles Randall]

Here is FW news update on Repsol-YPF La Plata Refinery New Coker (replacement)
Regards
Charlie Randall
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Foster Wheeler Wins Design Contract for the New Delayed Coker Unit in La Plata Refinery in Argentina
ZUG, SWITZERLAND, February 20, 2009 – Foster Wheeler AG (Nasdaq: FWLT) announced today that its Madrid-headquartered subsidiary Foster Wheeler Iberia, S.A.U., part of its Global Engineering and Construction Group, has been awarded a contract by YPF, S.A. to provide the basic design package for the new fractionation unit and gas plant for the new delayed coking unit at La Plata Refinery in Argentina.The basic design package for the delayed coker, based on Foster Wheeler’s leading SYDECSM delayed coking technology, has been completed by the company’s Houston-headquartered operation. The contract value was not disclosed. The project will be included in Foster Wheeler’s fourth-quarter 2008 bookings. The design for the fractionation unit and gas plant will be integrated with the new two-drum delayed coker, which will replace the existing coker at the refinery. The new coker will be designed to process 185 cubic meters per hour (27,925 barrels per stream day) of feedstock. The basic design package for the fractionation section and gas plant is expected to be completed by the end of the third-quarter of 2009. “This award reflects the long-standing and successful working relationship that has existed between YPF and Foster Wheeler Iberia for many years, and YPF’s confidence in our delayed coking and revamp expertise,” said Jess Cadenas, chief executive officer of Foster Wheeler Iberia, S.A.U. Foster Wheeler’s SYDECSM process is a thermal conversion process used by refiners worldwide to upgrade heavy residue feed and process it into high-value transport fuels. The SYDECSM process is designed to achieve maximum clean liquid yields and minimum fuel coke yields. Foster Wheeler is a market leader in delayed coking and has supplied its delayed coking process technology worldwide for more than 80 new cokers and has worked on more than 70 delayed coker revamps.
 
 

[Charles Randall]

YPF lets contract for delayed coking unit
Uchenna Izundu
OGJ International Editor
LONDON, Feb. 22, 2009 — YPF SA has let a contract to Foster Wheeler Iberia to design a new fractionation unit and gas plant for the delayed coking unit at the 189,000 b/d La Plata refinery in the province of Buenos Aires.
The two-drum delayed coker, which can process 27,925 b/sd, will replace an old one. The fractionation section and gas plant is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter.
The delayed coker will use Foster Wheeler’s SYDECSM delayed coking technology, which is a thermal conversion process that converts heavy residue feed into high-value transport fuels.
La Plata refinery has a conversion rate of 69%.
 

[Charles Randall]

Here is OGJ article on the Repsol-YPF La Platta coker FW replacement project (license 2007/installed 2009?). The original coke drums at La Platta were installed in 1985 (licensed by Foster Wheeler in 1983) and were also a two drum system.  The charge rate in OGJ article seems low – current OGJ WW Survey shows capacity of 34,700 MBD coker rate making 1380 tpd on old drums, (actual production rates are closer to 25MBD & 1500 tpd).
 
I think there might be some concern in Petcoke Calcining Industry that the new drums might be able to do heavy crude – not likely but possible since they could incorporate some volume of the Brazil new offshore heavy crude finds ~50 Billion Bbls (Tupri & Caricoa), especially since Repsol & Petrobras already have some Oil industry integration & recent past asset swaps.
 
Regards

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