Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals for Non-Technical Personnel

Introduction

This Petroleum Refining & Petrochemicals for Non-Technical Personnel training course is designed for non-technical professionals who work within the Petroleum Refining & Petrochemicals industry, who would like an insight into chemical processes, plant operations, equipment, and economics.

This training course examines the intricacies of refining and petrochemicals, each of which will be broken down into core building blocks whose concepts will be explained. These will allow non-technical company personnel to interface seamlessly and effectively with their technical counterparts in their organization. Understanding these key concepts enhances problem-solving and troubleshooting skills in specific job functions, as well as improve interdepartmental communication.

This Petroleum Refining & Petrochemicals for Non-Technical Personnel training course examines the history and use of petroleum from exploration through to refining and then to petrochemicals. The technology used and the production operations of the oil industry are outlined and explained in a clear easy to understand language.

Designed for non-technical professionals who function within the Petroleum Refining & Petrochemicals industry, this training course promises an insight into chemical processes, plant operations, equipment, and economics.

This training course will include:

• Fundamental technical skills to comprehend what oil & gas is, how it was formed and discovered and the various methods for getting it to the marketplace
• The significance of how reserves are estimated and the importance of how long this resource will last
• Awareness of the surface facilities for the treatment of well fluids and their subsequent refining into fuels and petrochemicals
• Understanding of the separate processing requirements for producing a marketable on-specification product and recognize the importance of crude oil type and refinery complexity have on profitability
• Understanding how blending operations are a refiner's last chance to improve his bottom line
• Appreciation of the importance of crude oil and natural gas transportation logistics on the oil and gas value chain
• Improving the gas value chain through the commoditization of natural gas into petrochemicals, natural gas in some cases is either flared or re-injected into crude oil wells

Objectives

Participants will learn how to:

• Comprehend the basic differences between exploration, and refining and petrochemicals
• Understand the basics of the various refining and petrochemical processes
• Examine the fundamental differences in various refinery types, their complexity, and impact on their profitability
• Identify the basics of the different building blocks of petrochemicals
• Appreciate that aromatic based petrochemicals are important to the polymer industry even though the refining industry is trying to minimize these in gasoline due to its toxic properties
• Appreciate that olefinic and aromatic petrochemical precursors are specialty chemicals produced by the refining processes from refineries of high complexity numbers

Training Methodology

The course is delivered in a combination of lecture-style and computer-based training. In addition, a significant amount of time is set aside for small working group activity when addressing case study problems. Extensive use is made of case study material to underline the key aspects of the course and to give the delegates exposure to current best practice.

Who Should Attend?

This course specifically designed to be of substantial benefit to non-technical personnel within the Oil and Gas Industries. This training course is also suitable for a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:

• Non-technical professionals assigned to positions in refineries and petrochemical plants, corporate offices, suppliers and other interrelated companies
• Support Personnel including Environmental professionals, Accountants, Business managers, Administrative and legal staff, Sales and marketing personnel, Insurance representatives, Personnel managers, Financial professionals and other professionals who desire a better understanding of subject matter
•  Newly-hired refinery or petrochemical plant personnel and current semi-technical personnel who require further training
• Other support staff who have an interest in increasing their understanding of Petroleum Refining & Petrochemicals production and operations
• Business Development Managers, Corporate Planning professionals, and business analysts switching disciplines who are required to have a better understanding of this stimulating field
• Energy industry journalists and reporters
• Professional personnel such as legal, banking, insurance, finance dealing with oil supply, Petrochemicals, refining and transportation

Course Outline

DAY 1: Origin and Nature of Petroleum

• Chemistry of Fossil Fuels
• Basic Petroleum Geology
• Origins, Formation, and Trapping of Oil & Gas
• Exploration and Production Methods
• Transportation Logistics

DAY 2: Overview of Refining

• Classification of Hydrocarbons
• Surface Processing of Oil and Gas
• Refinery Types and Complexity
• Hydro skimming, Cracking and Coking Refineries
• Refining Margins and Profitability

DAY 3: Refinery Process Operations

• Physical Separation – Crude and Vacuum Distillation
• Chemical Conversion Processes, Gasoline Production
• Hydrotreating, Catalytic Reforming, Alkylation, and Isomerization
• Residue Reduction I: Cat Cracking, Hydrocracking, Visbreaking, Hydrocracking
• Residue Reduction II: Coking, Asphalt and Residual Fuel

DAY 4: Petrochemicals I - Production and Uses

• Production and Segregation of Olefinic and Aromatic Compounds
• Olefin based Compounds
  • Ethylene
  • Propylene
  • Butadiene
  • Isobutylene
• Aromatic based Compounds
  • Benzene
  • Toluene
  • Xylene

DAY 5: Petrochemicals II - Production and Uses

• Commoditization of Natural Gas
• Natural Gas based Compounds
  • Ammonia
  • Methanol
• Gas to Liquid Technologies
• Case Study - Petrochemical Production – Major Companies