Built in 1979, Galp Energia's Sines Refinery in south-central Portugal produces gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and liquid petroleum gas (LPG). Much of the gasoline produced at the coastal facility is destined for the North American market. Process units at the 225,000-b/d facility include two vacuum distillation units; a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) plant; a visbreaker unit; diesel hydro-desulfurization units.

According to Galp, the refinery boasts a Nelson Complexity Index of 5.3 and a Solomon Complexity Index of 7.6. The facility, which has a 458-person staff, also offers more than 3 million cubic meters of storage capacity.

Expansion project

Like other Iberian Peninsula refiners trying to meet growing demand for the fuel, Galp plans to increase its diesel production at the Sines refinery by 2011. The deep conversion project is projected to have a US$3 per barrel positive impact on refining margins.

The project will add the following new units: 43,000-bpsd hydrocracker, 90,000-Nm3/h steam reforming, LPG splitter, deisobutanizer, and a sour water stripper. In addition, it will revamp the following units: crude distillation unit, vacuum distillation unit, visbreaking unit, FCC unit, and utilities and offsites.

Contractors include UOP LLC (FCC unit), Technicas Reunidas, Chevron Lummus Global (hydrocracker unit), and KTI/Technip (steam reformer).

The estimated completion date of the project is 2011.