Nairalanders,

I got the information below from http://www.api.org/aboutoilgas/sectors/refining/refinery-turnaround.cfm

My question is why is no govt. official forthcoming with a timeline for the TAM of the refineries? Yes, getting the refineries working might not be the panacea to this whole issue but it will go a long way to show that the govt. is interested in saving our foreign exchange and also create new well paying jobs.

From the article below, Refinery Maintenance can take between 1-4weeks! Why are they making it sound like ours will take 2years?!!!

So, give us timelines please!


Refinery Turnaround

A turnaround is a planned, periodic shut down (total or partial) of a refinery process unit or plant to perform maintenance, overhaul and repair operations and to inspect, test and replace process materials and equipment. Here are some key facts:
Turnarounds allow for necessary maintenance and upkeep of operating units and are needed to maintain safe and efficient operations.

Turnarounds are scheduled at least 1-2 years in advance and do not necessarily focus on the same operating units.

In assessing whether to delay a turnaround, a refiner has to include the opportunity cost of a possible unplanned shutdown resulting from the decision to delay the turnaround.

Depending on the process unit and the amount of maintenance needed, the length of the turnaround can vary from 1 week to 4 weeks or more.

A major turnaround usually will involve the crude unit or the catalytic cracking unit and will result in a more significant decrease in the utilization rate than a minor turnaround that may involve units such as the alkylation unit, isomerization unit or sulfur plant.

Not every unit is impacted during every turnaround. For example, the industry average is about 4 years between turnarounds catalytic cracking units.

A turnaround is not necessary to enable a refinery to shift from gasoline mode to distillate mode. However, if a turnaround is planned, it is possible to take steps, such as catalyst upgrades, that could improve the distillate yields.

In general, the less often units are started up and taken down, the better (safer) it is since refinery incidents are more likely to occur during these occasions.