REFINERY GOES OFF STREAM

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30666, 4 February 1965, Page 3

REFINERY GOES OFF STREAM

(New Zealand Press Association) WHANGAREI, February 3. The Whangarei oil refinery will be off stream from tomorrow until a scheduled startup date of March 1, and during this time modifications will be made to crude distillation process equipment and platforming equipment.

The New Zealand Refining Company says t)|is represents much of the work to be done during the neriod off stream, known in the trade as a “turnaround”, and could be classified as a job of redesigning. Aims of the “turnaround”, a standard and regular procedure with all refineries, are: In the case of Marsden Point, an increase in the proportion of petrol in relation to other petroleum products recovered from crude oil. Maintenance checks on plant and equipment which cannot be done while the plant is operating.

An investigation of the efficiency of the refinery and a search for improvements in methods and economy of operation. Extra heat exchange equipment added to the crude distillation section and many pipeline connexions enlarged. In the platforming section, a conversion process for upgrading petrol. Extra heat exchange equipment will also be installed. Planning for the “turnaround” has been under way for some months, and the refinery has been working at

peak capacity to build up stocks of petroleum products in the country. A ship, the Cap Frio, carrying new heat exchange equipment from the United States, is being diverted from her scheduled run to Sydney to arrive at Marsden Point on February 21-22. The Cap Frio will be berthed immediately on arrival and can unload the equipment within an hour of berthing. Twelve New Zealand contractors will help with the modifications and specialist advice and practical aid will be coming from Australia, Holland and the United States.

About 250 men extra to the refinery employees’ total will be on site during the “turnaround” and work will be carried on around the clock. The modifications come after studies of the performance of the refinery by Refining Company and Bechtel

Corporation men. Bechtels built the refinery. The company comments in a statement that in all refineries product improvement and the economics of refining are under continuous review and engineers and technologists are constantly checking performance and procedures with an eye to improvements. Some maintenance checks can be made while the plant is operating; most call for dismantling of plant. After dismantling and inspection a decision can be made as to how long the plant may run before the next “turnaround” is necessary—a year or 18 months.

The refinery has had several operation stoppages for a variety of technical and production reasons since it was opened in Mav last vear by the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake).

The major construction contractors, Bechtels, have been in constant consultation with the Refining Company,