Assiut Oil Refining Company (ASORC), a subsidiary of Egyptian General Petroleum (EGPC), has selected Bechtel for the process design of a delayed coking unit at the Assiut refinery in Egypt.
As part of the license agreement, Bechtel will implement ThruPlus delayed coking technology for the $1.5bn refinery modernization program.
The new delayed coking unit is intended to upgrade heavy oil into high-value, light hydrocarbon liquids while increasing the efficiency of the refinery.
ASORC chairman Nagi Abd El-Ghaffar Kassab said: "The addition of a modern delayed coking unit was determined to be the most economical option to allow the refinery to increase complexity and eliminate heavy fuel oil product."
The Assiut Refinery upgrade program is aimed at increasing the production of petroleum products to meet Upper Egypt’s growing demands while maintaining environmental standards.
Bechtel subsidiary Bechtel Hydrocarbon Technology Solutions president Dan Olsen said: "Implementation of Bechtel’s ThruPlus technology combined with our delayed coking expertise and extensive experience of our people will increase the efficiency of the Assiut refinery.
"The use of ThruPlus technology at the Assiut refinery will also enhance efficiency of EGPC operations as they already use the technology at a refinery in Alexandria operated by another subsidiary, Middle East Oil Refining Co."
In 2015, Technip signed a joint agreement with EGPC and ASORC for the modernization of the Assiut refinery.
The modernization program is intended to maximize diesel production using modern refinery technologies in order to meet the rising petroleum products demand.
In addition to ensuring project financing, Technip will be responsible for the engineering procurement and construction (EPC) phase of the project.
Image: The Bechtel’s ThruPlus technology is expected to increase efficiency of the refinery. Photo: courtesy of Bechtel Corporation.