COURSE OVERVIEW:

This course provides a structured introduction to refinery operations for engineers and operators who are new to petroleum refining. It covers refinery configurations and classifications, the main process flow schemes, and an overview of the major process units and their functions within an integrated refinery.

Participants will gain an understanding of refining flow sheets and process flow diagrams (PFDs) for key refinery units such as the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), Vacuum Distillation Unit (VDU), Naphtha Hydrotreating (NHT), Continuous Catalytic Reforming (CCR), Hydrocracking Unit (HCU), Delayed Coking Unit (DCU), and isomerization units. The course also introduces refining chemistry, catalysts, and the main physical and chemical conversion processes.

Additional emphasis is placed on refinery products and their specifications, refinery complexity and margins, safe operation of refinery units, and the identification and troubleshooting of common operational problems at both unit and equipment level. Participants will also be introduced to the main refinery equipment, instrumentation, and control valves, and how to monitor instrumentation and equipment operation in a safe and efficient manner.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the major refinery process units, their main components, and overall operating philosophy.
2. Explain refinery classifications, schemes, and flow schemes for different refinery configurations.
3. Interpret refinery process flow diagrams (PFDs) for units such as CDU, VDU, NHT, CCR, HCU, DCU, and isomerization units.
4. Identify the main petroleum refining products and key specification parameters that must be controlled.
5. Describe the basic refining chemistry and the role of catalysts in major conversion processes.
6. Explain refinery complexity, configuration choices, and their relationship to margins and profitability.
7. Understand the main physical and chemical conversion processes used in petroleum refining.
8. Operate refinery units with safety as the prime consideration, following standard operating procedures.
9. Identify the main equipment in the refinery (distillation towers, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, fired heaters, reactors, etc.) and their functions.
10. Recognize major operational problems and apply basic troubleshooting techniques for refinery process units.
11. Identify common operational problems and troubleshooting approaches for key refinery equipment.
12. Recognize typical operational problems related to instrumentation and control valves and understand how they affect unit performance.
13. Monitor instrumentation and equipment operation to maintain safe, stable, and efficient refinery unit performance.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

-Process operators working in crude oil and petroleum refining units

-Field operators and panel operators in refinery operations

-Junior process engineers and graduate engineers assigned to refinery units

-Maintenance and operations support staff involved with refinery equipment and systems

-Supervisors and team leaders who require a basic understanding of refinery operations for coordination and decision-making

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures and discussion sessions, as well as case studies, will be managed to maximize the amount and quality of information, knowledge, and experience transfer. The course will be intensive but practical and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance learning. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and after the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants completing a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.