Performance, efficiency and flexibility for futureproof refining operations

The main challenge for refineries of the future will be to bring their processes to the next level. This means they will have to keep up with the latest advances in processing technology to continuously deliver large volumes of high-quality products to downstream industries in the most cost- and energy-efficient way.

The first step to success is selecting reliable and durable equipment, such as columns. By choosing state-of-the-art products, refineries will be able to reduce the impact of harsh operating conditions on the equipment service life. As a result, they can minimise downtime and maintenance activities.

The right equipment also goes a long way in ensuring optimal operations, in terms of throughput, product quality and energy efficiency.

To further optimise their operations, the refineries of the future will leverage the power of Big Data analytics and automation.

These could be used to identify the best crude oil for a facility as well as adjust process parameters according to the feed’s characteristics. In addition, they will support predictive maintenance activities.

Finally, flexibility and scalability will be two keywords for future refineries, as they will need to quickly adjust to market and regulatory changes as well as include innovative processes to reduce waste.

During this presentation, Sulzer’s leading experts in hydrocarbon processing and associated technologies will discuss these aspects and provide real-world examples on how key solutions will shape the refineries of the future.

Thanks to its extensive experience and capabilities in the oil and gas sector, the company is able to support forward-looking refineries in addressing all these aspects with state-of-the-art products and services.

Speaker

Mark Pilling
Head Engineered Solutions Refinery Group, Sulzer Chemtech USA

Mark Pilling is the Head Engineered Solutions Refinery Group for Sulzer Chemtech USA where he oversees mass transfer equipment development and specialises in engineered applications for various process technologies.

He is an active member of Fractionation Research, Inc. and serves as the Chair of the Long Range Planning Committee. Mark is also an AIChE Fellow and is currently the Chair of the Separations Division Advisory Council. Further to this, he is a Past Chair and also served as a director of the Separations Division.

Joseph Gentry
Senior Vice President of Licensing, Technology and Engineering, Sulzer GTC Technology US Inc.

Joseph C. Gentry is Senior Vice President of Licensing and Technology for Sulzer GTC Technology, headquartered in Houston, Texas. He previously worked for ARCO Chemical Company, Lyondell Petrochemical Company, and Foster Wheeler. Joe earned a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University and an MBA from the University of Houston. He has authored several papers on licensing process technologies in refining and petrochemical applications. One of the founders of GTC Technology, which is now owned by Sulzer Chemtech, Joe has worked in all areas of technology, licensing and business development.

Celso Pajaro
Head of Refinery System Business AME, Sulzer Chemtech USA

Celso Pajaro is the Head of Refinery System Business AME (Americas) and has worked with Sulzer for 15 years in the areas of column fractionation and separator design and revamp. In the last 4 years, he has focused on providing integral process solutions in separation and fractionation to oil refineries and crude upgraders located in the Americas region.

A native of Venezuela, Celso started at PDVSA as a process engineer in 1986. He worked at several PDVSA refineries for more than 16 years, gaining experience in the areas of process engineering and planning. He participated or led revamps for multiple Crude, Vacuum, FCC, Alkylation, NHT, Naphtha Reformer, and Coker units. After that, Celso worked on the Hamaca Project – Ameriven (now known as Petrocedeno), a heavy oil Upgrader in Venezuela.