I would recommend they start here, US appears to have built its last refinery:
No new refineries have been built in the US in the past 25 years. And petroleum industry experts say anyone would have to be crazy to launch such an effort -- even though present refineries are running at nearly 100 % of capacity and local gasoline shortages are beginning to crop up.
Why does the industry appear to have built its last refinery?
Three reasons: Refineries are not particularly profitable, environmentalists fight planning and construction every step of the way and government red-tape makes the task all but impossible. The last refinery built in the US was in Garyville, Louisiana, and it started up in 1976.
Energy proposed building a refinery near Portsmouth, Virginia, in the late 1970s, environmental groups and local residents fought the plan -- and it took almost nine years of battles in court and before federal and state regulators before the company cancelled the project in 1984.
Industry officials estimate the cost of building a new refinery at between $ 2 bn and $ 4 bn -- at a time the industry must devote close to $ 20 bn over the next decade to reducing the sulphur content in gasoline and other fuels -- and approval could mean having to collect up to 800 different permits. As if those hurdles weren't enough, the industry's long-term rate of return on capital is just 5 % -- less than could be realized by simply buying US Treasury bonds.
"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism."
George Washington
No new refineries have been built in the US in the past 25 years. And petroleum industry experts say anyone would have to be crazy to launch such an effort -- even though present refineries are running at nearly 100 % of capacity and local gasoline shortages are beginning to crop up.
Why does the industry appear to have built its last refinery?
Three reasons: Refineries are not particularly profitable, environmentalists fight planning and construction every step of the way and government red-tape makes the task all but impossible. The last refinery built in the US was in Garyville, Louisiana, and it started up in 1976.
Energy proposed building a refinery near Portsmouth, Virginia, in the late 1970s, environmental groups and local residents fought the plan -- and it took almost nine years of battles in court and before federal and state regulators before the company cancelled the project in 1984.
Industry officials estimate the cost of building a new refinery at between $ 2 bn and $ 4 bn -- at a time the industry must devote close to $ 20 bn over the next decade to reducing the sulphur content in gasoline and other fuels -- and approval could mean having to collect up to 800 different permits. As if those hurdles weren't enough, the industry's long-term rate of return on capital is just 5 % -- less than could be realized by simply buying US Treasury bonds.
"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism."
George Washington
Oil Refinery Process
The oil refinery plays an important role in refining the crude oil and then separating it into multiple fractions of utility. It is treated to produce petroleum and other products. In the oil refinery, the crude is broken down into fragments. Many processes get involved to transform the crude oil into diesel and gasoline. Apart from this, many other substances are produced and these are used to make dyes, plastics, polymers and thousands of other products. It is important to know the operations The separating of the fractions of petroleum –
There are three stages involved in the refinery. The first is the separation, the second is the conversion and the third is the treatment. The separation process is performed in the tall towers and these are called the fractioning columns. At the top, these are cool but are hot at the bottom. This arrangement separates the oil into fractions as per the boiling point and the weight. The light chemicals rise high on the top of the column before they condense into the liquid. The medium weight fractions are into the middle and the high BP molecules are at the bottom of the column.
Gasoline, bitumen and kerosene –
The heavy fractions are at the bottom with a boiling point greater than 400 degree Celsius. This is the bitumen primarily used for the road surfacing. Higher up at the column are the diesel fuels with BP of 250 degree Celsius. The petrol for the cars is gathered from top with boiling point of 40 degrees.
There are three stages involved in the refinery. The first is the separation, the second is the conversion and the third is the treatment. The separation process is performed in the tall towers and these are called the fractioning columns. At the top, these are cool but are hot at the bottom. This arrangement separates the oil into fractions as per the boiling point and the weight. The light chemicals rise high on the top of the column before they condense into the liquid. The medium weight fractions are into the middle and the high BP molecules are at the bottom of the column.
Gasoline, bitumen and kerosene –
The heavy fractions are at the bottom with a boiling point greater than 400 degree Celsius. This is the bitumen primarily used for the road surfacing. Higher up at the column are the diesel fuels with BP of 250 degree Celsius. The petrol for the cars is gathered from top with boiling point of 40 degrees.
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