COURSE OVERVIEW:

This advanced course provides participants with a strategic and technical understanding of the role and future of the Delayed Coking Unit (DCU) in modern and future refinery configurations. It highlights why DCU technology remains critical for residue upgrading, margin improvement, and product flexibility, especially under tightening environmental regulations, changing crude slates, and evolving product demand patterns.

Participants will review the historical development of delayed coking technology, the evolution of design and operating practices, and the major equipment in a DCU (coke drums, fractionator, heaters, blowdown systems, cutting and handling systems, and associated utilities). The course will examine equipment related hazards, safety and integrity issues, and typical operational challenges in DCU facilities.

The program further explores emerging technologies, digitalization, debottlenecking strategies, and environmental and carbon related drivers that influence the future of DCU in the refinery market. By the end of the course, participants will better understand how to position DCU assets for long term viability, safety, compliance, and profitability.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

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

1. Explain the historical development and evolution of delayed coking technology and its role in the refinery value chain.
2. Describe the strategic importance of DCU in residue upgrading, margin enhancement, and product flexibility.
3. Identify the major DCU equipment (coke drums, heaters, main fractionator, blowdown systems, cutting systems, coke handling) and their key functions.
4. Recognize major equipment related hazards and risk areas specific to DCU operation.
5. Describe typical operational and reliability challenges in delayed coker facilities and their root causes.
6. Understand the impact of crude slate, operating severity, and cycle management on DCU performance and product quality.
7. Explain the influence of environmental, safety, and emissions regulations on DCU design and operation.
8. Discuss current and emerging technology trends affecting DCU design, automation, and energy efficiency.
9. Evaluate future scenarios for DCU in different refinery configurations under energy transition and decarbonization pressures.
10. Identify potential upgrade, revamp, and integration options to extend the life and profitability of existing DCU assets.
11. Communicate more effectively with operations, process engineering, and management regarding the strategic future of DCU within the refinery market.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

-Operations professionals working in residue upgrading and conversion units

-Senior and panel operators involved in DCU and associated units

-Process and refinery planning engineers dealing with DCU performance and economics

-Reliability and maintenance engineers responsible for DCU major equipment

-Technical supervisors and refinery specialists involved in strategic projects and revamps related to delayed coking.

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.