As oil refineries look to process ever-heavier crude slates, the delayed coker unit (DCU) has become an increasingly attractive option. Delayed coking is a thermal cracking process in which residual oil from a vacuum distillation column converts into naphtha, light and heavy gas oils, and petroleum coke. The process involves the thermal cracking of long-chain hydrocarbon molecules in the residual oil feed into shorter-chain molecules, leaving behind the excess carbon in the form of petroleum coke.
DCUs offer several advantages over other refinery processes, including the ability to process higher boiling point feedstocks, increased capacity to produce transportation fuels, and the potential for creating a higher quality product. In addition, DCUs are typically less expensive to operate and maintain than other refinery processes.
As the demand for DCU services has increased, so has the need for qualified DCU operators. In addition, delayed coker units are complex pieces of equipment and require a high degree of technical expertise to operate effectively.
As part of the ETA Team, we have grown our talent pool and experience through our relationships and brought subject matter experts onto our team in several areas. One of these areas that several clients have recognized is the Delayed Coker Process expertise that one of our team members has. Because of this expertise, ETA, Inc. has been brought on board by one of our clients to have our Coker expert assist with a review of the current design and operation of their unit as they prepare for a significant turnaround. We are confident that we will help this client improve their Coker operations. All of this contributes to Process Safety and being a leader in the coking business.
Engineering & Technical Associates, Inc. (ETA) is an engineering consulting and recruiting company that provides consulting and personnel recruiting (both contract and permanent) services to the refining, chemical, and petrochemical industries.