FLORENCE, ITALY -- April 17, 2006 :- GE's Oil & Gas business will supply 12 fixed bed reactors for a new refinery project to be developed by the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) in Al Zour, Kuwait.
When completed in 2010, the new greenfield facility -- designed for Kuwait heavy crude/Kuwait export crude oil processing -- will be the largest refinery in the Middle East, with a capacity to process 615,000 barrels per day of Kuwait export crude oil.
The 12 reactors --1,000 tons each, 288 mm thick and featuring the latest generation of Vanadium modified material -- will be built at GE's Oil & Gas facilities in Massa, Italy and will be shipped to Kuwait beginning in 2007.
A world leader in large vessel production, GE's Oil & Gas business has been manufacturing reactors, exchangers and fabricated equipment at its Massa plant for more than 40 years. These reactors can weigh up to 1,500 tons and measure up to 40 meters in length. Advanced materials and sophisticated manufacturing and welding techniques have been developed through the years to ensure thickness up to 400 mm, and resistance to high temperatures (up to 450°c) and high pressures (up to 200 bar).
GE's Oil & Gas business has an extensive, worldwide installed base of more than 300 reactors and separators for hydrocracking, desulphurization, hydrotreating, platforming and similar processes, and is fully qualified by the major process licensors.
"The increase in demand for refined products is driving strong interest worldwide in building new refineries, as well as expanding and modernizing existing facilities. Increasing oil prices are pushing refiners to invest in heavier crude processing units, and this is where our heavy wall reactors become critical equipment," said Claudi Santiago, president and CEO of GE's Oil & Gas business.
KNPC is the national oil refining company of Kuwait. Established in October of 1960, the company is responsible for oil refining, gas liquefaction and distribution of petroleum products. In addition to the new project, KNPC operates three other refineries including the Shuaiba facility, which also features GE equipment.
About GE's Oil & Gas business
GE's Oil & Gas business is a world leader in advanced technology turbomachinery products and services, with engineering and manufacturing centers of excellence throughout Europe and the United States. Based in Florence, Italy, the company offers complete solutions for production, LNG, transportation, storage, refineries, petrochemicals and distribution systems, as well as pipeline integrity solutions including analysis and pipeline asset management.
For more information, contact:
Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
[email protected]
1-518-786-6488
Ken Darling
Masto Public Relations
[email protected]
1-518-786-6488