Shell Global Solutions' High Vacuum Unit Successfully Commissioned at Petrochina Dushanzi Petrochemical Company

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• USA - English

DUSHANZI, Xinjiang, March 31 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Shell Global Solutions International's licensed Vacuum Distillation Technology is contributing positively towards PetroChina Dushanzi Petrochemical Company's capacity expansion project.

Commissioned by PetroChina Dushanzi PetroChemical Company, the High Vacuum Unit (HVU) is currently operating at full capacity, meeting all performance guarantees, since its start-up in 3rd quarter in 2009.

The Shell Deep Flash Vacuum Unit in Dushanzi is designed to recover the highest possible vacuum distillate (VGO) yields from atmospheric residue, while maintaining contaminants levels in the vacuum distillates feed to the downstream conversion units at lowest possible level. The unit is designed to operate for at least five years without shutdown even at the most severe operating conditions.

"In today's highly competitive market, refinery operators want to improve distillation performance to pacesetting levels, to minimize expenditure and capital investment, to de-bottleneck operations and to optimize their use of technology, said Ken Lai, Shell Global Solutions' Asia Pacific Licensing Manager.

He added, "The Shell team has been working closely with PetroChina Dushanzi Petrochemical's staff to adjust operating parameters to achieve optimized operating conditions. We are pleased to announce that our HVU operates at 100% design capacity, meeting specification for all products including Heavy Gasoil Conradson Carbon Residue (HVG CCR)."

"Our work with Shell Global Solutions has been a success, and we hope to continue strengthening our cooperation and technical exchange. We are extremely satisfied with the technical support provided during the various phases of the project," said Mr. Cui Zheng Jun, Operations Director of PetroChina Dushanzi Petrochemical Company.

The Shell HVU technology has also been implemented at PetroChina Dalian, which was started up in 2006.

As part of its expansion project, the PetroChina Dushanzi Petrochemical facility is expected to increase its crude oil production capacity to 16 million tons per year from 6 million tons per year, currently. It will also increase its ethylene capacity to one million tons per year from 220,000 tons per year, making it one of the largest integrated oil refineries in China.

Shell has designed, revamped and licensed more than 20 high-vacuum distillation units since 1990.

About Shell Global Solutions

Shell Global Solutions provides business and operational consultancy, catalysts, technical services and research and development expertise to the energy and processing industries worldwide. Shell Global Solutions has over 4,700 staff located in an extensive network of offices around the world, with primary commercial and technical centers operating in the USA, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Notes to editor:

Shell Global Solutions is a network of independent technology companies in the Shell Group. The expressions "Shell Global Solutions" and "Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where reference is made to these companies in general, or where no useful purpose is served by identifying a particular company. The information contained in this material is intended to be general in nature and must not be relied on as specific advice in connection with any decisions you may make. Shell Global Solutions and Shell are not liable for any action you may take as a result of you relying on such material or for any loss or damage suffered by you as a result of you taking this action. Furthermore, these materials do not in any way constitute an offer to provide specific services. Some services may not be available in certain countries of political subdivisions thereof. Copyright (c) 20010 Shell Global Solutions International BV. All rights reserved.

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