Help unlock high returns quickly by improving unit reliability and availability

When faced with margin pressure and utilisation challenges, refiners can leverage a wide range of low-capital vacuum distillation unit (VDU) revamp opportunities to help improve unit performance and profitability.

VDU performance can have a major bearing on a refinery’s margins. It is the last opportunity to remove valuable distillates from crude and to minimise refinery fuel oil make. It also improves the feed quality for the downstream conversion units and is a major determinant of their cycle lengths.

Consequently, a VDU revamp offers refiners a major margin-improvement opportunity. Revamping these units using Shell’s deep-flash, high-vacuum technology can often be a low-cost way to unlock downstream assets.

Read the VDU revamp scenario to find out how this refinery revamp technology can:

• Increase vacuum gas oil yield
• Enhance unit throughput and improve unit reliability
• Ensure that contaminant levels remain within the conversion units’ acceptability limits
• Real-world case study of how PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) extended run length

Explore real-world revamp results

Discover how PTTGC leveraged a low-cost revamp to prevent frequent vacuum column fouling from constraining run length. With a revamp using Shell’s deep-flash high-vacuum technology, the unit increased run length to bring it in line with its principal downstream unit, the hydrocracker, capturing significant value.

Download the guide to low-capex vacuum distillation revamps

Learn how to increase VGO yield, enhance unit throughput and improve unit reliability and availability.