Managing Operational Calm in the Face of Crude Supply Unrest
Rob Gutierrez - North America Regional Product Manager, Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions
The current crude oil refining feedstock supply is changing due to geopolitical changes and volatility of the overall global crude trade. Crude oil refiners routinely deal with variability of crude/feed quality, crude compatibility, and its impact on processing which creates operational unrest.
In this presentation, we discuss a comprehensive predictive solution, CrudePLUS*, that helps manage the operational unrest and provide the industry with a method for quickly and accurately predicting crude oil compatibility and processing challenges. These predictions provide crude buyers, unit operations engineers, and other concerned users with advance notice of potential crude processing problems, which can then be handled through inventory management, chemical treatment program adjustments and field process optimization. This patented technology uses rapid specialty tests on key markers through an easy-to-use benchtop unit that provides actionable field insights within minutes. Case studies of field uses of the CrudePLUS technology will be shared, improving crude flexibility, operational reliability and profitability for many refiners, leading to operational calm.