Gujarat Refinery
Encyclopedia
The Gujarat Refinery is an oil refinery
located at Koyali (Near Vadodara
) in Gujarat, Western India. It is the largest refinery owned by Indian Oil Corporation
.
laid the foundation stone of the refinery on 10 May 1963.
The refinery was commissioned with Soviet assistance at a cost of Rs.
26 crore
s and went on stream in October 1965. The first crude distillation unit with a capacity of 1 mmtpa was commissioned for trial production on 11 October 1965 and full production at the rated capacity was achieved on 6 December 1965. The throughput was further increased by 20% beyond the designed capacity in January 1966.
President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
dedicated the refinery to the nation with the commissioning of second crude distillation unit and catalytic reforming
unit on 18 October 1966.
The third 1 mmtpa crude distillation unit was commissioned in September 1967 to process Ankleshwar and North Gujarat crudes. In December 1968, Udex plant was commissioned for production of benzene
and toluene
using feedstock available from CRU. By 1974-75 with in-house modifications, the capacity of the refinery was further increased by 40% to a level of 4.2 mmtpa. To process imported crude the refinery was expanded during 1978-79 by adding another 3 mmtpa crude distillation unit along with downstream processing units like vacuum distillation
, visbreaker
and bitumen blowing unit. By 1980-81 this unit started processing Bombay High
crude in addition to imported crudes. It was for the first time in Indian petroleum industry that Indian engineers independently handled such a big project.
To recover high value products from the residue, the secondary processing facilities consisting of fluidized catalytic cracking unit
of 1 mmtpa capacity along with a feed preparation unit of 1 mmtpa capacities, were commissioned in December 1982. Refinery also set up pilot distillation facilities for the production of n-Heptane and light aluminum rolling oils. Meanwhile, to enable absorption of increased indigenous crudes the crude processing capacity of the refinery was further increased to 9.5 mmtpa.
In 1993-1994, Gujarat commissioned the country's first hydrocracker unit
of 1.2 mmtpa for conversion of heavier ends of crude oil to high value superior products.
Country's first diesel hydrodesulfurisation unit to reduce sulfur
content in diesel was commissioned in June 1999. Also MTBE unit was commissioned in September 1999 to eliminate lead in MS. Conceptualised and commissioned South-East Asia's largest centralised effluent treatment plant by dismantling all the four old ETP's in June 1999. By September 1999 with commissioning of atmospheric distillation unit, Gujarat Refinery further augmented its capacity to 13.7 mmtpa making it the largest PSU refinery of the country.
A project for production of linear alkyl benzene
from kerosene
streams has been implemented in August 2004. It is also the largest grassroots single train Kerosene-to-LAB unit in the world, with an installed capacity of 1.2 mmtpa. In order to meet future fuel quality requirements, MS Quality improvement facilities was commissioned in 2006.
and a product pipeline connecting to BKPL product pipeline and also by rail wagons/trucks, the refinery primarily serves the demand for petroleum products in western and northern India.
When commissioned, the refinery had an initial installed capacity of 2 mmtpa and was designed to process crude from Ankleshwar, Kalol and Nawagam oilfields of ONGC in Gujarat. The refinery had further modified to handle imported and Bombay High crude. The refinery also produces a wide range of specialty products like benzene, toluene, MTO, food grade hexane, solvents, LABFS, etc.
The Gujarat Refinery is the first refinery in India to have completed the diesel hydrodesulfurization project in June 1999, when the refinery started production of HSD with low sulfur content of 0.25% wt (max).
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
located at Koyali (Near Vadodara
Vadodara
Vadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...
) in Gujarat, Western India. It is the largest refinery owned by Indian Oil Corporation
Indian Oil Corporation
Indian Oil Corporation Limited, or IndianOil, is an Indian state-owned oil and gas corporation with its headquarters are in Mumbai, India. It is India’s largest commercial enterprise, ranked 98th on the Fortune Global 500 list for 2011...
.
History
Following the conclusion of an Indo-Soviet agreement in February 1961, a site for the establishment of a 2 million metric ton per annum (mmtpa) oil refinery was selected on 17 April 1961. The Soviet and Indian engineers signed a contract in October 1961 for the preparation of the project. Prime Minister Jawaharlal NehruJawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
laid the foundation stone of the refinery on 10 May 1963.
The refinery was commissioned with Soviet assistance at a cost of Rs.
Indian rupee
The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India....
26 crore
Crore
A crore is a unit in the Indian number system equal to ten million , or 100 lakhs. It is widely used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan....
s and went on stream in October 1965. The first crude distillation unit with a capacity of 1 mmtpa was commissioned for trial production on 11 October 1965 and full production at the rated capacity was achieved on 6 December 1965. The throughput was further increased by 20% beyond the designed capacity in January 1966.
President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Sir Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan , OM, FBA was an Indian philosopher and statesman. He was the first Vice President of India and subsequently the second President of India ....
dedicated the refinery to the nation with the commissioning of second crude distillation unit and catalytic reforming
Catalytic reforming
Catalytic reforming is a chemical process used to convert petroleum refinery naphthas, typically having low octane ratings, into high-octane liquid products called reformates which are components of high-octane gasoline...
unit on 18 October 1966.
The third 1 mmtpa crude distillation unit was commissioned in September 1967 to process Ankleshwar and North Gujarat crudes. In December 1968, Udex plant was commissioned for production of benzene
Benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
and toluene
Toluene
Toluene, formerly known as toluol, is a clear, water-insoluble liquid with the typical smell of paint thinners. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative, i.e., one in which a single hydrogen atom from the benzene molecule has been replaced by a univalent group, in this case CH3.It is an aromatic...
using feedstock available from CRU. By 1974-75 with in-house modifications, the capacity of the refinery was further increased by 40% to a level of 4.2 mmtpa. To process imported crude the refinery was expanded during 1978-79 by adding another 3 mmtpa crude distillation unit along with downstream processing units like vacuum distillation
Vacuum distillation
Vacuum distillation is a method of distillation whereby the pressure above the liquid mixture to be distilled is reduced to less than its vapor pressure causing evaporation of the most volatile liquid...
, visbreaker
Visbreaker
A visbreaker is a processing unit in oil refinery whose purpose is to reduce the quantity of residual oil produced in the distillation of crude oil and to increase the yield of more valuable middle distillates by the refinery...
and bitumen blowing unit. By 1980-81 this unit started processing Bombay High
Bombay High
Bombay High is an offshore oilfield off the coast of Mumbai , India. The oil operations are run by India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation ....
crude in addition to imported crudes. It was for the first time in Indian petroleum industry that Indian engineers independently handled such a big project.
To recover high value products from the residue, the secondary processing facilities consisting of fluidized catalytic cracking unit
Cracking (chemistry)
In petroleum geology and chemistry, cracking is the process whereby complex organic molecules such as kerogens or heavy hydrocarbons are broken down into simpler molecules such as light hydrocarbons, by the breaking of carbon-carbon bonds in the precursors. The rate of cracking and the end products...
of 1 mmtpa capacity along with a feed preparation unit of 1 mmtpa capacities, were commissioned in December 1982. Refinery also set up pilot distillation facilities for the production of n-Heptane and light aluminum rolling oils. Meanwhile, to enable absorption of increased indigenous crudes the crude processing capacity of the refinery was further increased to 9.5 mmtpa.
In 1993-1994, Gujarat commissioned the country's first hydrocracker unit
Cracking (chemistry)
In petroleum geology and chemistry, cracking is the process whereby complex organic molecules such as kerogens or heavy hydrocarbons are broken down into simpler molecules such as light hydrocarbons, by the breaking of carbon-carbon bonds in the precursors. The rate of cracking and the end products...
of 1.2 mmtpa for conversion of heavier ends of crude oil to high value superior products.
Country's first diesel hydrodesulfurisation unit to reduce sulfur
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
content in diesel was commissioned in June 1999. Also MTBE unit was commissioned in September 1999 to eliminate lead in MS. Conceptualised and commissioned South-East Asia's largest centralised effluent treatment plant by dismantling all the four old ETP's in June 1999. By September 1999 with commissioning of atmospheric distillation unit, Gujarat Refinery further augmented its capacity to 13.7 mmtpa making it the largest PSU refinery of the country.
A project for production of linear alkyl benzene
Linear alkyl benzene
Linear alkylbenzene is a family of organic compounds with the formula C6H5CnH2n+1. Typically, n lies between 10 and 16, although generally supplied as a tighter cut, such as C12-C15, C12-C13 and C10-C13, for detergent use. The CnH2n+1 chain is unbranched. They are sometimes called LAB's. They are...
from kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
streams has been implemented in August 2004. It is also the largest grassroots single train Kerosene-to-LAB unit in the world, with an installed capacity of 1.2 mmtpa. In order to meet future fuel quality requirements, MS Quality improvement facilities was commissioned in 2006.
Description
Its facilities include five atmospheric crude distillation units. The major secondary units include CRU, FCCU and the first hydrocracking unit of the country. Through a product pipeline to AhmedabadAhmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
and a product pipeline connecting to BKPL product pipeline and also by rail wagons/trucks, the refinery primarily serves the demand for petroleum products in western and northern India.
When commissioned, the refinery had an initial installed capacity of 2 mmtpa and was designed to process crude from Ankleshwar, Kalol and Nawagam oilfields of ONGC in Gujarat. The refinery had further modified to handle imported and Bombay High crude. The refinery also produces a wide range of specialty products like benzene, toluene, MTO, food grade hexane, solvents, LABFS, etc.
The Gujarat Refinery is the first refinery in India to have completed the diesel hydrodesulfurization project in June 1999, when the refinery started production of HSD with low sulfur content of 0.25% wt (max).