Crude Oil Treatment Plant and Process Certification

Why Choose this Training Course?

Crude Oil is a significant and main energy resource in the global energy mix. The extraction, refining and other processing technologies continue to develop and improve. The professionals who are responsible for this are expected to work with the best industry practices to maintain crude quality, security as well as sustainability. Companies continue to contribute significantly to improving and enhancing the quality of crude oil that they can extract, and refiners need to run the crude units in absolute compliance with environmental laws. This course has been designed to offer the participants the most updated practices in crude oil treatment and, in turn, assist them and their facilities to work in the most efficient and profitable way. This will make the difference between making a better-equipped decision and offering the right solution in your crude refinery and working towards a more operational and profitable unit.

How will this course lift your expertise?

The course will cover technical and operational knowledge of crude oil treatment in a comprehensive way. It will take into account the environmental specifications, operation of the crude unit, the crude quality and how to get the quality according.

What new trends will you learn from this programme?

New technologies covered in this course will include the digitisation of control systems, advances in emulsion treating and desalting technology, and the incorporation of environmental management into the treatment process. This content will ensure operators are familiar with the latest methods in the industry.

Who Should Attend?

This programme is carefully tailored for:

• Process Engineers
• Chemical Engineers
• Operations Managers
• Plant Supervisors
• Refinery Technicians
• Health, Safety and Environmental Specialists

What are the Course Objectives?

Upon completion of this course, participants will:

• Develop their skills related to the latest crude oil treatment processes and techniques.
• Learn the challenges and opportunities in handling and optimising treatment plant operations.
• Gain practical insights and knowledge in troubleshooting and solving problems.
• Keep their operations in compliance with environmental regulations and requirements.
• Improve the economic viability of their crude oil treatment operations.

How will the course be Presented?

This course will utilise a variety of proven adult learning techniques to ensure maximum understanding, comprehension and retention of the information presented.

This includes interactive workshops that will present real-life situations.

• Relevant and engaging audiovisuals.
• Practical demonstrations in a pilot-scale crude oil treatment facility.
• Opportunities to participate in small-group exercises and discussions for additional idea sharing.
• Knowledge and experience sharing sessions on the condition of their own treatment system.

What are the Topics Covered in this Course?

Module 1: Crude Oil Properties and Analysis

• Understanding the basic properties of crude oil as a source of energy.
• An overview of crude oil properties.
• The history of crude oil properties.
• Industry experience with crude oil properties.
• The Global Energy Market and oil supply.
• Supply and demand of crude oil.
• Crude oil production and oil reserves.
• Market pricing and volume and crude specifications Impact of Crude Oil Impurities on Operations and the Environment.

Module 2: Emulsion Theory and Separation Technologies

• The principles of emulsion formation.
• The types of oilfield and refinery emulsions.
• Phase in emulsions.
• Why naturally occurring emulsions resist breaking.
• Thermal desorption process for desulfurisation.
• Gravity Separation

Module 3: Desalting Operations

• Fundamentals of whether crude oil should be desalted.
• Types of desalters.
• Desalter’s due diligence and selection of oil in water analysers, monitoring and Controlling the Desalter.
• Desalter Operation and Troubleshooting.

Module 4: Heater Treatments and Energy Conservation

• When and Why to Utilize a Heater.
• Heat transfer and the principles of heat exchangers.
• Integration for energy conservation.
• Fouling and scaling control for optimum performance.
• Maintenance and reliability. Burners and combustion control advances.
• Heaters in pollution control. Energy savings in heating operations.
• Smart heater control and monitoring through IoT.
• Energy policy impact case studies.

Module 5: Storage and Handling of Crude

• Storage tank design and maintenance.
• Crude handling and maintaining integrity.
• Inventory control and tank-gauging techniques.
• Safety and risk analysis of crude storage.
• Emission controls in storage facilities.

Module 6: Environmental Management in Crude Treatment

• Waste minimisation.
• Wastewater from crude oil processing.
• Emissions control systems.
• Environmental compliance.
• Sustainability in crude treatment.

Module 7: Corrosion and Material Selection and Implementation

• Crude oil corrosivity and its impact on plant materials.
• Materials selection for crude oil processing.
• Corrosion control through inhibitors and other means.
• Preventing corrosion through linings and coatings.
• Corrosion management and continual improvement.
• Implementation of corrosion inhibitors.
• The role of coatings and linings.
• Materials technology advancements in corrosion mitigation.
• Impact of sour crudes on material selection and treatments.
• Best practices for material integrity and corrosion assessment.

Module 8: Automation and Digitalisation in Crude Treatment

• Leveraging control systems for improved operations.
• The role of SCADA systems in plant monitoring and control.
• Applying data analytics for predictive maintenance.
• Digital twins in optimising treatment plant performance.
• Enhancements in instrumentation for precise control.
• Cybersecurity measures for digital operations.
• Incorporation of machine learning for process optimisation.
• Remote operations and management through advanced digital platforms.

Module 9: Health, Safety, and Emergency Response Planning

• Designing and implementing effective safety management systems.
• Emergency preparedness and spill response techniques.
• Occupational health considerations in plant operations.

Module 10: Advanced Operational Troubleshooting

• Systematic approach to identifying and resolving process bottlenecks.
• Effective use of simulation software for troubleshooting.
• Scenario-based problem-solving exercises.

Module 11: Crude Oil Distillation and Fractionation Advances

• Distillation column operational optimisation techniques.
• Advanced control strategies for fractionation units.
• Dealing with high-acid crudes in distillation processes.
• New developments in tray and packing design.
• Energy efficiency in distillation operations.
• Troubleshooting common issues in distillation units.
• Integration of petrochemicals in the refining process.
• The role of modular mini-refineries in decentralised processing.

Module 12: Sulphur Recovery and Gas Treating

• Sulphur recovery processes and environmental implications.
• Gas sweetening technologies and operational efficiency.
• Emerging trends in Claus Process enhancements.
• Adaptation to stricter sulphur regulations globally.
• Utilisation of sulphur recovery tail gas for value addition.
• Energy integration in sulphur recovery units (SRUs).
• Operational challenges and troubleshooting in gas treatment.

Module 13: Refining Catalysts and Reactors

• Selection and management of catalysts in refining processes.
• Catalyst deactivation and regeneration techniques.
• Advanced reactor designs and their operational benefits.
• Impact of contaminants on catalyst performance.
• Integration of biocatalysts in refining operations.
• Reactor modelling and simulation for process intensification.
• Best practices in handling and storing catalysts.
• Emerging catalyst technologies for cleaner fuel production.

Module 14: Process Safety and Risk Management

• Advanced process hazard analysis methods.
• Implementation of the latest safety standards and best practices.
• Dynamic risk assessment tools and techniques.
• Designing inherently safer processes and plants.
• Safety culture and behavioural safety in operations.
• Learning from past incidents: case studies and lessons learned.
• Process safety management (PSM) for small to mid-size operators.
• Leveraging technology for enhanced safety monitoring.

Module 15: Quality Control and Laboratory Techniques

• Modern analytical techniques for crude oil assessment.
• Quality assurance protocols for crude oil processing.
• Implementing laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
• Accreditation, certification, and laboratory competency standards.
• Innovations in inline process monitoring.
• Quality controls in blending operations.
• Benchmarking against international product standards.
• Minimising the risks of off-specification products.

Module 16: Asset Management and Strategy Development

• Lifecycle management of refining assets.
• Formulating strategic asset management policies.
• Reliability-centred maintenance (RCM) approaches.
• Economic decision-making in asset renewal and replacement.
• The role of enterprise asset management (EAM) systems.
• Predictive maintenance technologies and their impact on assets.
• Strategic outsourcing versus in-house operations.
• Developing resilience in the face of changing market dynamics.