CITGO completes distillate upgrade project with start-up at Corpus Christi refinery

[ChangoLoa]

January 31, 2011
Source: CITGO

CITGO Petroleum Corporation announced the completion of construction and start-up of a 42,500 BPD unit utilizing the latest technology to produce Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) at its Corpus Christi, Texas refinery. With the completion of this unit, which has been in operation since December, CITGO is now capable of producing 100% ULSD at all of its refineries.

The CITGO shareholder, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, was involved in the project. PDVSA’s research arm, INTEVEP, participated early in the ULSD process unit design, in such areas as reactor sizing, and reactor internals and catalyst selection.

“Projects such as our innovative ULSD facilities show our commitment to the environment and to the communities CITGO serves. The completion of this corporate-wide effort allows us to further contribute to a cleaner environment for all,” said CITGO President and CEO Alejandro Granado. “This initiative is in alignment with the environmental principles endorsed by PDVSA, our shareholder.”

The new unit at the Corpus Christi refinery is reducing the sulfur content of the diesel transportation fuel produced at the facility by 99.7%, resulting in a very high quality product with virtually no sulfur emissions. The fuel also complies with new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for “clean diesel” fuels, supporting the long history CITGO has of supplying quality fuel that meets or exceeds all federal requirements.

With a combined crude capacity of 749,000 barrels per day in its three refineries, CITGO is the third largest and most complex independent refiner in the U.S. Additionally, CITGO leads the industry in coking capacity as a ratio of crude capacity, making CITGO the U.S. leader in heavy crude oils processing.

http://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/display/3919516137/articles/pennenergy/petroleum/refining/2011/01/citgo-completes_distillate.html?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4d4807e3fee43fa8,0

[social_critic]

1. ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips may end up with Citgo

They still have their cases being arbitrated, I believe. And I think they'll win.