Project Profile
Value: US$4 billion
Location: Arvand Special Economic Zone of southwestern Khuzestan province, Iran
Refining capacity: 180,000 bpd
Start-up Year: February 2011
The aim of the Khuzestan Super Heavy Oil Refinery of Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) is to maximise gas oil production, applying HRH new process for the first time to refine extra heavy crude oil and utilize the extra heavy crude oil from Azadegan and Yadavaran fields. The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) is the operator and owner of the refinery. The Khuzestan Super Heavy Oil Refinery opened in February 2011 and is located on 525 hectares in the Arvand Special Economic Zone of southwestern Khuzestan province. Construction of the refinery began in September 2007. The capacity of the refinery is 180,000 bpd ,while the total investment cost reached the US$4 billion.
Additionally, the Khuzestan Extra Heavy Crude Oil Refinery is planned to produce 10 million litres of super gasoline complying with Euro IV Standard, 12.6 million litres of diesel oil, 3 million litres of jet fuel, 5 million litres of liquefied gas, and 440 tonnes of sulfur per day. The private sector was responsible for funding 75 percent of the refinery’s construction with the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) investing 20 percent and Abadan Refinery providing the remaining five percent.
Contracts:
Energy Industries Engineering and Design (EIED) was involved in the basic design of the light petroleum gas (LPG) recovery, cooling water and caustic dissolving units, crude/vacuum distillation units, fuel gas/oil units of heavy crude oil, basic engineering design and development as the project manager of the Khuzestan. Grimley Smith Associates (GSA) was the contractor for the Khuzestan Extra Heavy Crude Oil Refinery installation, while Haldor Topsoe was the licensor for Gasoline Hydro-Desulfurisation (GHDS) units, Hydro CR and Hydrogen Plant at the Khuzestan Refinery. National Iranian Oil and Engineering Company (NIOEC) was responsible for overseeing much of the construction and ongoing activities at the Khuzestan refinery. Sazab Pardazan Consulting Engineers Company provided a water supply study for the Khuzestan refinery. Technip-KTI was the licensor for Sulfur Recovery & Tail Gas Treating units for the Khuzestan Extra Heavy Crude Oil Refinery project.
Finally, Universal Oil Products (UOP) LLC was the licensor for Naphtha Hydrotreating (NHT), Continuous Catalytic Regeneration (CCR) Reformers and Isomerization (ISOM) processes at the Khuzestan Extra Heavy Crude Oil Refinery.
Operators:
Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC): Operator with 100% interest
Contractors:
Energy Industries Engineering and Design (EIED): Basic design of the light petroleum gas (LPG) recovery, cooling water and caustic dissolving units, crude/vacuum distillation units, fuel gas/oil units of heavy crude oil, basic engineering design and development as the project manager of the Khuzestan
Grimley Smith Associates (GSA): Installation of the Khuzestan Extra Heavy Crude Oil Refinery
Haldor Topsoe: Licensor for Gasoline Hydro-Desulfurization (GHDS) units, Hydro CR and Hydrogen Plant
National Iranian Oil and Engineering Company (NIOEC): Overseeing much of the construction and ongoing activities at the refinery
Sazab Pardazan Consulting Engineers Company: Provided a water supply study
Technip-KTI: Licensor for Sulfur Recovery & Tail Gas Treating units
Universal Oil Products (UOP) LLC: Licensor for Naphtha Hydrotreating (NHT), Continuous Catalytic Regeneration (CCR) Reformers and Isomerization (ISOM) processes