Intro
Swinton Technology installed replacement flow computer metering systems for the Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery (SAMREF) Company in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.
SAMREF processes more than 400,000 barrels per day from its crude oil refining facilities. The refinery exports finished products to downstream locations across Europe, North America and the Far East.
During the upgrade of obsolescent control systems, Swinton Technology installed industry compliant solutions at several loading berths which all required modification.
Overview
Swinton Technology was briefed with implementing high quality, robust and reliable metering computer systems capable of configuration with SAMREF’s existing infrastructure to ensure operational interruptions were negated.
An initial requirement to upgrade the obsolete Suez Berth East metering control system at the Yanbu refinery was followed by assistance with Saudi Aramco’s Clean Fuels Project (CFP) undertaken to ensure products from the refinery met with stringent sulphur content specifications.
Modifications to the metering systems for several SAMREF loading berths at the refinery were developed and agreed with SAMREF and Worley Parsons, the main CFP engineering contractor.
Products used
Swinton Technology supplied SAMREF with a OMNI 6000 flow computer and an Aramco compliant and fully redundant TruST metering supervisory computer with a Citect User Interface.
Each berth was supplied with dedicated Allen Bradley CompactLogix PLCs plus redundant processors and simplex I/O.
Modifications to obsolescent metering control systems across Suez Berth East, Suez Berth West, Short Haul Berth and the YANPET (Yanbu Petroleum) chemical plant were carried out to ensure the refinery met with stringent sulphur content specifications.
Outcomes
The main challenges of the project were related to the installation and commissioning of the new systems at site.
The intuitive measurement systems we supplied with the correct configuration compatibility, had to be brought on line without operational interruption and to ensure that ships could be loaded at all the berths at all times.
In addition, the new systems capable of providing outstanding measurement accuracy, had to be operated in parallel with existing systems for a defined period of time. This was until SAMREF operations were fully satisfied that the new metering systems were providing the same results as the existing systems and comprehensively met operational requirements.
Back