Valero Refining Chooses a BOC Oxygen Generator and Sulfur System

A BOC Gases (Murray Hill, NJ) ICO oxygen plant has begun operating at Valero Refining Co. in Corpus Christi, Texas. In addition, BOC is providing its SURE burner and related technology for Valero's sulfur recovery unit.

The ICO oxygen plant utilizes BOC's proprietary cryogenic technology to generate oxygen at specified purities for Valero's bioslurry reactor, Heavy Oil Cracker and sulfur recovery units (SRUs). SURE technology and equipment allows Valero to significantly expand the capacity and improve the efficiency of its existing SRUs.

Roy Christensen, global director of BOC Gases' Chemicals and Petroleum Market Sector, said, "This project was significant in many respects for BOC. It is our largest SURE project to date anywhere in the world. Also, it demonstrates our ability to supply both gases and technology to one of the most technically innovative and successful refining companies in the world. The ICO oxygen plant is ideally suited for refineries and has the added advantage of producing by-product, high-purity nitrogen."

Valero currently owns and operates four refineries in Texas and Louisiana with a combined throughput capacity of more than 550,000 bbl/d, making it the fourth largest independent refining and marketing company in the United States, and the largest on the Gulf Coast. Upon the completion of the pending acquisition of Mobil Oil Corporation's refinery in Paulsboro, NJ, Valero will have throughput capacity of more than 700,000 bbl/d, making it the nation's second largest independent refining company. The acquisition is expected to be completed by August 1.

"Valero will apply its competencies in refining operations and innovative technology to add value to its new Gulf Coast refining network," said John Hohnholt, a Valero VP. "We were impressed with BOC Gases' overall capabilities to meet our unique demands for both low cost gas supply and value-added gas applications technologies to support our operations."

Designed specifically for the refining industry, the new SURE burner is capable of significantly increasing throughput of Claus units by 50-100%. The burner utilizes oxygen-enriched combustion air in place of ambient air to combust acid gases that result from oil and natural gas refining processes. The result is a more effective burn with greater control of the temperature profile inside the thermal reactor, as well as increased capacity for sulfur recovery. Several of the new burners are operating at refineries throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

For more information, BOC Gases. Tel: 908-771-1512, fax 908-771-1460.