Shell supplies licensed equipment and catalysts for unit revamps

The equipment and catalyst system will be utilised to revamp a diesel hydrotreater unit to allow hydrotreating of vacuum gas oil. The revamped unit will produce vacuum gas oil with <0,2 wt % sulphur content. This project will minimise changes to the existing unit and achieve longer operation between regenerations.

Criterion has also been engaged by JSC Ukrtatnafta to revamp a second diesel hydrotreater. This revamp will allow Kremenchug refinery to consistently produce automotive diesel, meeting Euro-3 standard with <350 ppmw sulphur content, as well as batches of diesel, meeting Euro-4 standard with <50 ppmw sulphur content.

Sergey Koshelyuk, Deputy Chairman of the Board, Production and Capital Construction, JSC Ukrtatnafta, said: “One of our primary goals is to improve quality of road fuels produced at the Kremenchug refinery. Considering the current economic situation we have been looking for technological solutions that would enable us to achieve this goal with minimum outlay. Shell Global Solutions and Criterion have developed an optimal option for us. The revamp works are underway and we hope to complete them on time”

Malcolm Robertson, Vice President for Licensing and Catalysts, Shell Global Solutions Eastern Europe B.V., Moscow Branch, said: “We are very pleased to have been appointed by Ukrtatnafta as technology provider for the two projects. Our collaboration over the last two years has led to excellent working relations and a positive outcome for all”
 
About Joint Stock Company Ukrtatnafta

JSC Ukrtatnafta is a leader of the Ukrainian oil and gas industry. Its design refining capacity is 18.6 million tonnes of crude oil per annum. The company employs approximately 4,500 people. JSC Ukrtatnafta processes crude for fuel and luboil production. JSC Ukrtatnafta is the biggest manufacturer of petroleum products in the country and produces a wide range of gasoline, diesel, base stock and commercial lubes, etc.

Having sound manufacturing facilities and configuration allowing flexibility JSC Ukrtatnafta develops and improves its own production. Currently JSC Ukrtatnafta is implementing activities within Stage 1 of the modernisation programme aimed at improving quality of gasoline and diesel.

The design phase thereof is nearing completion. The modernisation programme involves not only construction of new facilities but also implementation of other relevant projects. In particular, the company plans to solve a number of manufacturing challenges related to efficient use of available technological potential and utilisation of plant capacity.

Specified objectives will be achieved in partnership with Shell Global Solutions Eastern Europe B.V. and CRI/Criterion Company Ltd. Working together with these companies warrants implementation of the above modernisation projects and guarantees their prompt completion. Partnership with Shell have earlier proved to be efficient and helped to find optimal solutions for manufacturing and technology related issues. Thus Shell technology and products ensured superior quality of lubricants produced by JSC Ukrtatnafta.

In recent years it was just technology and components of Infineum company (JV of Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil - successor of Shell Chemicals) that were used by JSC Ukrtatnafta to manufacture a new range of all-season lubricants under TAU trademark, which secured high quality of the product.

About Shell Global Solutions

Shell Global Solutions provides business and operational consultancy, catalysts, technical services and research and development expertise to the energy and processing industries worldwide. Shell Global Solutions has approximately 5000 staff located in an extensive network of offices around the world, with primary commercial and technical centres operating in the USA, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Shell Global Solutions supports the Shell Group's business activities in downstream manufacturing, downstream marketing, gas & LNG, production and project management. Outside of the Shell Group, the company successfully services refining, chemicals, gas, metals, pulp and paper and motor-sport customers worldwide.

About CRI/Criterion Catalyst Company Limited

CRI/Criterion Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, supplies total packages of catalysts, services and solutions for refinery and petrochemical plants. CRI/Criterion Catalyst Company Ltd. is a subsidiary of CRI/Criterion Inc. CRI/Criterion Catalyst Company Ltd and other affiliates of CRI/Criterion Inc. provide hydroprocessing, reforming and specialty catalysts to the refining industry and EO, VAM, styrene, hydrogenation, specialty and environmental catalysts to the petrochemical industry.