Project Profile
Value: US$2- US$6 billion (estimate)
Location: Hualpén, port of Talcahuano, Bio Bio region, Chile
Refining Capacity: 116,000 barrels per day
End Products: Gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel
Bio Bio is the largest oil refinery in Chile located 500 km south of Santiago, which together with the Aconcagua unit, supplies 80% of the country’s fuel needs. In 2003, Empresa Nacional del Petroleo (ENAP) formed ENAP Refinerias by merging the Petrox and Biobio facilities. One year later, ENAP Refinerias merged with Emalco, which is the main distributor of petroleum products in Chile.
In 2014, ENAP earmarked around US$50-US$150 million for site maintenance. In the first half of 2016, the operator spent nearly US$5 million for environmental upgrades to the site.
Main refining processing plants:
• Topping and Vacuum I
• Topping and Vacuum II
• Visbreaking
• Catalytic Cracking
• Continuous Catalytic Reforming
• Ethylene,
• Diesel Hydrotreatment 1 & 2
• Hydrocracking
• Hydrodesulphurization of Catalytic Cracked Gasoline (HDG)
• Benzene Saturation
• Izomerization
• Propylene Separator and Purifier
• CHT Hydrogen plant
• Delayed Coker and Hydro-treatment of Diesel (HDT)
• Bío Bío Hydrogen plant
• Mild Hydrocracking with gas oil (MHC)
• Liquefied Natural Gas Re-gasification plant
The site also has Merox treatment plants for kerosene, gasoline and liquefied gas, Sodium Sulfhydrate Plant, Sulfur Recovery 1 and 2, Treatment of Gases, Acid Water Treatment, Oily Water Treatment, cooling water, steam and electricity supplies, crude oil storage tanks, and intermediate and end products.
Transportation and Pipelines
Chile has 17 ports which usually have 1 or 2 docking terminals. The Port San Vincente, located at the Biobio refinery, has 3 docking terminals which allow receiving crude oil and oil product deliveries. In addition, the Estenssoro-Pedrals pipeline supplies the Biobio refinery with crude oil from Argentina transporting it through the Andes. This pipeline is connected to Sonacol’s bidirectional product pipeline from San Fernando to Santiago. The Biobio refinery also supplies the Concepcion to San Fernando pipeline.
Operators:
Empresa Nacional del Petroleo (ENAP): Operator with 100% interest
Contractors:
Fluor: EPC services for installations designed to treat residual gas generated in the fluid catalytic cracking unit to help improve the site’s environmental performance. (January, 2017)
Airviro: Air quality and noise management.
Technip: A contract for new hydrotreating unit where low-sulfur diesel is produced. (July, 2006)