The installation of the giant new regenerator head will give the refinery unit another 25 years of life
Essar Oil (UK) recently completed the successful lift of a giant new regenerator head for a key petrol producing unit at its Stanlow refinery.
Part of a £23 million refurbishment project, the 428 tonne steel head was lifted 225 feet before being guided into position on the refinery’s flagship residue catalytic cracking unit – the largest of its kind in Europe. The operation was completed in just over five hours, using a 335 ft tall crane with a 1,500 tonne counterweight for the lift.
The regenerator head, complete with refractory lining and cyclones, is the largest that has been fabricated and transported in the world. It is a key element of the residue catalytic cracking unit, vital to Stanlow’s annual production of three billion litres of petrol. Its installation will give the refinery unit another 25 years of life.
Chief executive officer, Volker Schultz, said: “This is another major investment in the refinery and part of our strategic plan to ensure we can be sustainably profitable and growing moving forward. The lift was a complicated piece of engineering and I want to pay tribute to everyone involved that it was completed safely and ahead of schedule.”
There was a warm welcome for Jet authorised distributors at Phillips 66’s 2013 conference
Earlier this month Phillips 66 welcomed customers – including authorised distributors – to its 2013 conference at Gleneagles, Scotland.
Pete George, managing director of UK & Ireland marketing reiterated the company’s commitment to the market: “We recognise that we operate in an increasingly competitive market, but we have big ambitions and we wanted to use Gleneagles as an opportunity to reassure our wholesale customers that we are here to stay.”
Refining and large-scale investment in cleaner fuels were also on the conference agenda.Read more about the event in the November issue of Fuel Oil News.
Over the finish line – John Roberts completes his fourth charity run
John Roberts of Selby-based White Rose Fuel Services has completed his fourth (and last) run in memory of his daughter, Vicky, who lost her fight against cancer earlier this year.
Top Oil at the awards
A Top Oil service station at Holycross in County Waterford recently won the Forecourt & Convenience Store of the Year award (category 2) at Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer Awards 2013.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Brian Mooney of the Holycross service station. “We’re 30 years in business and never expected this, we’re totally honoured and very grateful to the people that work around us.”Top Oil expands its distributor network – see page 23 in the November issue of Fuel Oil News.
The Sockit system in action
Adler and Allan’s Sockit system has been shortlisted for the Energy Institute’s Innovation category awards.
Used by the Environment Agency, National Grid, BP and Scottish Power, Sockit is a portable sock like device that harnesses multi-stage filtration, removing hydrocarbons and sediment to almost non-detectable levels as water is being pumped away – on average 99% removal. The system is reusable and recyclable and can be used in a wide range of de-watering applications such as oil tank bunds, trenches and boreholes without slowing the pumping process.
Group sales and marketing manager, Alan Scrafton said: “We are extremely pleased to be shortlisted and of course, hope we win! Sockit is an excellent product that has made a significant impact to the effectiveness of contaminated water clean-up, while reducing cost and logistical issues.”
EI award winners will be announced on the 14th November, at a ceremony in London.
The Sockit system is among the products available on Adler & Allan’s spill care website – order.adlerandallan.co.uk
Cameron Forecourt’s TLS electronic gauges and environmental monitoring systems can keep a round-the-clock eye on fuel stocks
“With around 3,000 incidents involving oil and fuel spills reported each year by the Environment Agency, the message is clear,” says Cameron Forecourt’s sales and marketing director, Martyn Gent.
“Regular, planned maintenance is a far better policy than ad hoc repairs that amount to a forced purchase. Major incidents cost the owners of faulty or leaking installations an average of £30,000 each in fines and clean up costs. Fuel supplies need to be both safe and secure and operators need a clearly defined plan for regular maintenance, security and contingency in case of emergency,” adds Martyn.
Cameron’s TLS range is capable of accurately detecting fuel stock depletion. Any unexplained reduction in stock deviations triggers an alarm. By linking to advanced fuel management systems, emergency messages can be sent instantly via SMS to enable immediate action.
The company recommends regular inspections and maintenance – at least annually – to ensure that equipment is maintained in serviceable condition with tanks, pipework and dispense pumps all checked for leaks or potential problems. Cameron also offers comprehensive environmental surveys to assess and minimise risk, check legal compliance and offer the optimum most cost-effective solutions for any necessary remedial work.
More than 30 engineers operate nationwide to provide contract and emergency service to customers with all types of fuelling installation. Cameron aims to have an engineer on site within 8 working hours for repairs and sooner for sites that are out of action or have possible environmental issues. www.cameron-forecourt.co.uk
Bulk storage tanks can now be equipped with an innovative fuel quality treatment process thanks to a distribution agreement secured by Oil Tank Supplies (OTS).
Based on E3 PLUS nanotechnology, the process is used to re-energise stored fuel by passing it through a recirculation system attached to the storage tank. Traditional fuel treatment packs supplied by OTS are designed to maintain fuel quality, post-delivery. This is achieved by re-circulating the fuel through two stages of filtration to remove particulates and water held in suspension.
“The significance of this new technology is that we can provide a process which not only inhibits any degradation in quality, it actually reverses degradation, bringing the fuel passed through the system back to freshly refined spec, and restoring its calorific value,” explains sales director, Steve Gain.
“The key benefit of incorporating the E3 PLUS Fuel Performance Unit is that it will eliminate the build-up of sludge deposits. By removing sludge from tanks we negate the customers need for expensive manned entry tank cleaning and the associated health and safety and other downtime issues.”
An in-line device, it houses an insulated chamber specifically designed to reflect and intensify E3 PLUS emissions, altering and stabilising the fuel instantaneously as it passes through. This solution not only helps to prevent post-delivery contamination it also refreshes the product during storage.
Barnaby (kneeling on left) with Wincanton’s Driver of the Year category winners
Fuel tanker driver Barnaby Moverley has been crowned Wincanton’s Driver of the Year.
Now in its eighth year, the competition saw 28 of Wincanton’s best LGV and FLT drivers go head to head in a test of their manoeuvring skills and driving competency with events such as blind man’s bluff and ten tilt bowling.
After a day of tough competition, Barnaby, a driver on one of Wincanton’s fuel contracts with 16 years service, was awarded the prestigious LGV Driver of the Year accolade.
Chief executive, Eric Born commented: ”The competition is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the skills and professionalism of our drivers, who play an integral role in delivering excellent service to our customers whilst maintaining the upmost levels of safety.”
With just under a month to go until Road Safety Week, employers are being encouraged to get involved.
Certas Energy UK has acquired Advance Fuels, the oil distribution business of South Eastern Fuels that operates in the south east of England.
South Eastern Fuels, which is owned by Mabanaft Limited, will continue to maintain and service its existing wholesaling and fuel card marketing activities.
Advance Fuels sells heating and transport fuels to a broad range of domestic, commercial, agricultural and transport customers and operates from two depots. The oil distribution business will be integrated within Certas Energy UK Limited.
In response to the sale of Advance Fuels, Raphael Hüttmann, director, South Eastern Fuels Limited, said: “The sale of Advance Fuels was a difficult however necessary decision. The board of directors of South Eastern Fuels decided that greater potential and value would be achieved for Advance Fuels by integrating its activities with an established operator in this competitive sector. We are delighted to have concluded a successful sale to one of the UK’s leading oil distribution businesses – Certas Energy.”
Paul Vian, managing director, Certas Energy, commented: “This is a strategic acquisition for Certas Energy, which will further support our current distribution network and customer base across south east England. We are looking forward to meeting with our new colleagues at Advance as we integrate the business into Certas over the coming weeks and months.”
With a network of over 150 depots, nearly 1,000 tankers and 2,500 employees, Certas Energy is the largest independent distributor of fuels and lubricants in the UK. Through its robust infrastructure Certas Energy can consistently and reliably deliver billions of litres of high quality fuel to customers across the UK.
www.mabanaft.co.uk
www.certasenergy.co.uk
