Talk:Oil refinery

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Contents

[edit] Lack of new refineries

The history section currently states: "In fact, obtaining a licence to build even a modern refinery with minimal impact on the environment (other than CO2 emmissions) is so difficult and costly that no new refineries have been built in the United States since 1976. As a result, the US is becoming more and more dependent on the imports of finished gasoline, as opposed to incremental crude oil."

However, there's been some pretty mainstream work suggesting that collusion between oil companies rather than restrictive environmental regulations has been the major cause of the lack of recent refinery investment. In any event, it seems unreasonable to blame environmental laws for the US dependence on imported gasoline without something more to back it up. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by DashingDan@gmail.com (talk • contribs) 13 July 2006 (UTC).

I would tend to disagree with both above suggestions. I assume we are talking about US refining? There certainly are complications with proper permitting for refineries, not only environmentally, but also due to "not in my backyard" mentalities in many proposed locations. There is NO conclusive evidence to indicate collusion on the part of refineries or oil companies. Stories certainly circulate, but nothing has ever been proven. I believe it to be a matter of profits. Most refineries in the US are only now beginning to run at or near 100% efficiency (most in the 90% range of design). Older and less efficient refiniries have been closed. The industry had excess capacity for years. Current demand can be met and there is talk of building new refiniries to meet the coming increase on the demand side. CBreeze 16:53, 8 September 2006 (UTC) --CBreeze talk

[edit] Page move

This should probably be at Petroleum refinery since oil has more meanings than just petroleum. Also vegetable oils are refined too, so oil refining has more meanings than this article suggests. If the article is at oil refinery it would have to cover both, which is awkward. Any thoughts? - Taxman Talk 13:04, August 16, 2005 (UTC)

I fully agree with you. Many of the oil and gas related articles are poorly titled. --Csnewton 15:46, 16 August 2005 (UTC)
I disagree. "Petroleum" properly speaking just means the light fractions of the distillation. It is a refinery for Crude Oil. --BozMo talk 09:41, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Image - Problem with Temperatures

The crude oil distillation image is good but the temperature data on it is incorrect (or misleading). The temperatures shown are the approximate boiling points of the HEAVIEST component of that fraction, not the temperature of the chamber or the liquid collected. Temperatures shown SHOULD be the BP of the LIGHTEST component of the fraction. As the lighter components "boil", small amounts of heavier components are carried with the lighter components even though the temperature is not close to the heavier component's boiling point (like water evaporating at 25ºC). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 220.240.151.121 (talk • contribs) 21 October 2005 (UTC).

[edit] Fire?

When I see an oil refinery, I often see a large orange flame coming from the top of a tall tower. What is this for? What is it called? Why isn't that flame used for something useful like heating or driving a turbine? ―BenFrantzDale 03:41, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

That is what is known as a gas flare. It is used as a discharge for noncondensible flammable gases that are difficult to process/use otherwise. These can include non-conforming gas products and emergency discharges. Non conforming products are usually obtained during upset operation of units or during startup/shutdown transients. Some condensible hydrocarbons are usually separated right upstream from the flare stack in a simple separator unit. However, due to the variable and sometimes unpredictable nature of the flare gas stream, it is difficult to design and operate a more advanced heat or material recovery system. As a personal note, there is a certain beauty that these flares bring to the nocturnal lanscape, especially in industrial areas where surroundings are usually unsightly. Wouldn't trade that for a steam boiler in a million years :-) --Unconcerned 05:37, 17 February 2006 (UTC)
Agreed. They do look beautiful in that industrial way. Thanks for the link. —BenFrantzDale 05:52, 17 February 2006 (UTC)
The gas flare is a safety feature. If anything goes wrong inside the plant (a so-called trip) flammable and dangerous gases are led to the flare to be burned. Because it is not known when a trip occurs the flare must always be burning. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 131.211.156.107 (talk • contribs) 13 February 2007 (UTC).

[edit] SAP PP PI at Oil Refinery

Hi to all, I'm looking for someone who works in Oil Industry and ready to share how they work - particularly how they plan and schedule the production, whether with SAP, module PP_PI or with PIMs, or Excel and the most important question are they satisfied. I'll very appreciate any help, Thanks in advance. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 194.90.237.2 (talk • contribs) 30 April 2006 (UTC).

[edit] GA nomination

This Good Article nomination is on hold for 7 days for the following reasons: Expand lead, see WP:LEAD, and there are too many short, stubby paragraphs and bullets. Rlevse 15:18, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

Failed due to no response to concerns. Rlevse 23:12, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The largest Refinery

The largest refinery in the world is located in Paraguana, Venezuela. Is called CRP (Complejo refinador paraguaná) and is conformed by two deep conversion refinerys. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 200.11.242.49 (talk • contribs) 16 August 2006 (UTC).

What is the capacity? CBreeze 17:15, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] i have a question

i rally want to know what is the most accurate theory that explains the origin of petroleum is it the biogenic one or the abiogenic one thnx —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Lv4ever888h (talk • contribs) 07:13, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

The biogenic theory has the largest amount of supporting evidence but has weaknesses which alternative theories try to explain. (SEWilco 17:58, 5 November 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Garyville? Does the reader know where it is?

I'm just wondering if the typical reader knows where Garyville, LA is. I was going to just change the article to read (Marathon Oil's refinery in) Garyville, LA" instead of "Garyville", but thought I would ask for some feedback first. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Rrrich7 (talk • contribs) 17 November 2006 (UTC).

Yes, that refinery is in Louisiana and I will change the article to include that. (By the way, please sign messages posted on Discussion pages.) - mbeychok 18:49, 17 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] PDVISA

I worked at a small refinery called Pralca in Santa Maria, Venezuela last August for the catalyst changeout as a US Contractor. Does PDVISA own/operate all refineries large and small in Venezuela? I mean I know that PDVISA is the the Governmental Petroleum Division for the Venezuelan Government and regulate all oil/refinery products and such. My question I guess is why don't they have the equipment and training needed to do specialty work like Catalyst changeouts in their refineries... We watched 5 sets of 2 man teams, work with a wrench and a hammer for 2 days try to open the bottom heads of the two Ethyline Oxide Reactors we were to unload/load. All they needed was an impact wrench and sockets and the job would have been done in about 6 hours.. Why do they import American Contractors? Or do they just prefer it that way, as Americans are specailly trained and do the job quicker? Just curious . user:kittykat1001 11:56, 17 March 2007 {Contractor}

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