Modular Refinery (Topping Plant) Operations: Simulation of Nigerian Crude Oil

Abstract

This chapter is focused on the need to curb scarcity and importation of petroleum finished products in oil-producing nation Nigeria through the operation of conventional modular refineries in conjunction with major refine- ries operating efficiently. This research study involved crude oil assay analysis on twenty different types of Nigerian crude oil from different oil fields using Aspen Hysys Version 10 to determine their compositions, properties, product cuts and ascertain their suitabil- ity as feedstock for modular refinery (topping plant). Thus, crude oil assay consists of a compilation of data on properties and composition of crude oils. The assay provides critical information on the suitability of crude oil for a particular refinery and estimating the desired product yields and quality. Besides, light and medium sweet oil types were simulated in a conventional modular refinery (topping plant) at different numbers of column trays (25, 29, 35, 40 and 48) to determine their product yield. Based on product yield and equipment costs at dif- ferent numbers of tray columns, a modular refinery with twenty-nine column trays was applied in this study. Based on the result of these ana- lyses, a conventional modular refinery with twenty-nine trays in the crude distillation unit was chosen for the simulation. Thus, twenty Nigerian crude oil types were simulated in a conventional modular refinery of 30,000 barrel per day capaci- ty and twenty-nine column trays respectively to evaluate their product yield  and tray compositions.