Advanced Solutions for Efficient Crude Blending
The major operational cost of the refinery is contributed by the price of the crude oil, an estimated by 80-90% of cash flow. Reducing the cost of the crude feedstock, without changing the range and volumes of high valued distillates, increases the refining margin. Refinery profits are a direct outcome of the strategy applied by the refinery to purchase low cost crudes and to produce distillates with a high market value.
In the past, refineries were constructed to distill conventional light crude oils. Current economics, variations in the price of crude oils and shifting demand for distillates have forced refineries to reduce the cost of their distillation feedstock. Commonly, this is achieved by blending high-value light crude oils with heavy (unconventional) crude oils of inferior quality, or by buying ready-made blends.
Low quality crudes include heavy crudes from known locations, as well as opportunity crudes that are brought on the market by traders worldwide. These crudes, of lower quality, can be purchased at low cost. Blending of these with costly crudes is inevitable to produce crude blends that bear optimal properties to be processed, and at minimum cost.
