World’s largest INDMAX FCC unit commissioned at Paradip refinery

CB&I has announced that the world’s largest INDMAX fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, jointly licensed by CB&I and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), was successfully commissioned at IndianOil’s Paradip refinery in Odisha, India, in early December 2015. The startup is a major landmark for the petroleum industry and represents one of the largest single train, high olefin yield FCC units globally.

INDMAX is a breakthrough technology for converting heavy petroleum oils and low value residues into high yields of propylene, ethylene and butylenes – building blocks for petrochemicals and alkylate. This process combines the proprietary and innovative INDMAX catalyst and process concepts developed by the research and development center of IOCL with CB&I’s state of the art FCC technology and design features. CB&I licenses more than 90 refining and petrochemical technologies and is the sole licensor of the INDMAX FCC technology worldwide.

One of the biggest challenges refiners face is upgrading bottom of the barrel residues into high yields of light olefins. INDMAX FCC is a technology that produces a very high yield of propylene (18 - 24 wt% on fresh feed) and gasoline with a research octane number (RON) of 95 - 102 from various heavy petroleum fractions. With successful commissioning of this world’s largest INDMAX unit, CB&I and IOCL’s partnership is well positioned to provide profitable technological solutions to refiners around the world.

The flagship INDMAX FCC unit at the Paradip refinery will be a technology showcase for prospective customers.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/refining/22042016/worlds-largest-indmax-fcc-unit-commissioned-at-paradip-refinery-3100/