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To successfully process heavy opportunity crudes, refiners must often upgrade the crude so that it can be utilized. In many cases, the upgrading of heavy oil will occur upstream of the refinery to produce a synthetic crude which can be processed in conventional refining units. Other refiners have viewed the need to upgrade heavy crudes (i.e., oilsands derived crudes) as an opportunity to capitalize on the pricing differential between heavy/extra-heavy crudes and light crudes to improve plant profitability; as a result, the installation of heavy oil upgrading equipment within the refinery fence has been undertaken by several companies. Regardless of the location of heavy oil upgrading equipment, market factors will heavily influence the profitability of these projects. Heavy oil upgrading projects will focus on improving the reliability and security of crude supplies while accounting for stringent product specifications and potential GHG emissions regulations....Log-in for complete content
