Multi-Client Strategic Report

Refinery Profitability & Sustainability: A Comprehensive Roadmap for Scope 1, 2, and 3 Compliance

As the world transitions toward a greener future, decarbonization has become a crucial goal for refineries. However, the question remains: how can refineries tackle the energy transition and remain profitable?

Technology-driven Strategies for Petroleum Refineries to Achieve Profitability and Sustainability Goals: Greenhouse Gas Protocol ⸺ Scope 1

This technology-centric Report is designed to help refiners in reducing carbon footprints, particularly short-term and long-term internal operations in meeting greenhouse Gas Protocol—Scope 1. (published in May 2023)

Novel Strategies of Processing Price- Advantaged Crudes in a Volatile Oil Market
The study assists refiners in making decisions on selection of discounted crudes and making of in-demand products amid unsteady price trends. Major topics include crude management, processing light tight oil from shale plays, bottom-of-the-barrel (BOB) upgrading, operations to produce the right fuels in a timely manner, evaluation of different configurations, and technology advancements to meet upcoming challenges.
(published in March 2017)

Strategic Roles of FCC Units in Refinery Operations: Predictive Analytics via Patent, Gap, and SWOT Analyses
The FCC unit has been a workhorse for refiners as it continues to perform "miracles" in making an array of products, thanks to constant technology R&D by refiners and technology developers alike in reaction to—sometimes anticipation of—market changes. To continue the success, ongoing research is required, though funding must be cost-effective. This study presents a novel management tool through predictive analytics via Patent, Gap, and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analyses. The object is to marry quantitative and qualitative data in order to identify the strategic roles of FCC units in future refinery operations.
(published in July 2015)

Refinery Power Outage Mitigations: Latest Technologies and Strategies to Minimize Financial Impacts
Unplanned refinery shutdowns hit company earnings in two ways: lost production and potential liabilities for excess flaring and unsafe operations. This first-of-its-kind, comprehensive technology and strategy study discusses near-and long-term approaches covering prevention and protection; recovery, restart, and salvage; refinery emergency preparedness and experiences; electrical-equipment-reliability improvements; maintenance advances and asset management; safety management; and onsite power generation.
(published in February 2014)

Refinery Energy Management Report—Latest Technologies and Strategies to Enhance Operational Economics
To aid refiners in saving costs and reducing carbon footprint, this study presents the most comprehensive view of the areas where refiners can improve energy efficiency in both utility providers (such as heat, steam, and hydrogen) and energy consumers, i.e. processing units. Detailed discussions and analyses focus on major drivers for energy efficiency; energy management programs currently being implemented by the refining industry; sources of refinery energy inefficiency in utility providers; improvements of energy efficiency of major processing units, central role of energy management that connects profit margins, asset management, and compliance to environmental regulations; and case studies with recommendations based on budget constraints and refinery configurations.
(published in July 2012)

Opportunity Crudes Report II: Technologies & Strategies for Meeting Evolving Market & Environmental Challenges
At a time of volatile oil prices and crude supply uncertainty, many refiners around the world are again turning their attention to relatively-less expensive, unconventional or opportunity crudes (opcrudes). Opcrudes generally include heavy sour grades, oilsand/bitumen, extra-heavy oil, high-TAN crudes, and oil shale. Refineries without a capability of handling opcrudes will lose out to the competition in the long term. However, securing supply of opcrudes is not the end-game and cannot guarantee healthy margins as discussed in the published report. Fuel-market dynamics have shifted and environmental regulations have been tightening since we published the first, authoritative opportunity crudes study in 2006.
(published in June 2011)

Refinery Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Management Strategies
This study is devoted to technology solutions to reduce refinery carbon footprint and meet business sustainability goals. Different case studies are performed to analyze various scenarios based on technology availability, operational savings and capital expenditures, and carbon prices.
(published in April 2010)