Petroleum Treating Processes in Oil Refineries
Petroleum Treating Processes in Oil Refineries
Petroleum treating processes are essential operations widely applied across oil refineries, gas processing plants, and petrochemical facilities to remove undesirable impurities from crude oil, natural gas, and intermediate refinery streams.
Petroleum treating processes are essential operations widely applied across oil refineries, gas processing plants, and petrochemical facilities to remove undesirable impurities from crude oil, natural gas, and intermediate refinery streams. The primary objective of petroleum treating is to eliminate contaminants such as sulfur compounds, nitrogen compounds, water, salts, metals, acids, and solid particles in order to protect downstream equipment, improve product quality, and ensure compliance with environmental and product specifications.
The primary objective
of petroleum treating
The primary objective of petroleum treating is to eliminate contaminants such as sulfur compounds, nitrogen compounds, water, salts, metals, acids, and solid particles in order to protect downstream equipment, improve product quality, and ensure compliance with environmental and product specifications.
Petroleum treating
processes
Petroleum treating processes are essential operations widely applied across oil refineries, gas processing plants, and petrochemical facilities to remove undesirable impurities from crude oil, natural gas, and intermediate refinery streams.
Compliance and
product quality
protect downstream equipment, improve product quality, and ensure compliance with environmental and product specifications.
Major Petroleum Treating Processes
Major Petroleum Treating Processes
Treating Process Portfolio
Desalting
Crude oil desalting is one of the first treating steps in refineries, designed to remove inorganic salts, water, and suspended solids from crude oil before atmospheric distillation.
Merox Treating
Merox (Mercaptan Oxidation) processes are used to remove mercaptans from LPG, naphtha, and kerosene streams by converting them into disulfides.
Amine Treating
Amine treating is applied in both gas and liquid hydrocarbon streams to remove acidic gases.
Crude Oil Treating
Crude oil desalting is one of the first treating steps in refineries, designed to remove inorganic salts, water, and suspended solids from crude oil before atmospheric distillation. Key contaminants removed:
Key contaminants removed:
Desalting improves heat exchanger performance, reduces corrosion, and prevents fouling in downstream units.
Treating
Merox (Mercaptan Oxidation) processes are used to remove mercaptans from LPG, naphtha, and kerosene streams by converting them into disulfides. Key benefits:
Key benefits:
Treating
Amine treating is applied in both gas and liquid hydrocarbon streams to remove acidic gases. The process involves absorption, regeneration, and solvent circulation. Common licensors:
Chemicals
Treating chemicals are applied across desalting, gas sweetening, hydrotreating, and liquid hydrocarbon treating units.
Demulsifiers, Corrosion Inhibitors, Antifoaming Agents, Oxygen and H₂S Scavengers, Caustic Soda (NaOH)
full technical documentation including MSDS, COA, and handling procedures.
Petroleum treating processes rely on a wide range of specialty and bulk chemicals to remove contaminants, enhance separation efficiency, and protect refinery and gas plant equipment. These chemicals are supplied in standardized industrial packaging formats to ensure safe handling, storage, and continuous plant operation.
Treating chemicals are applied across desalting, gas sweetening, hydrotreating, and liquid hydrocarbon treating units. Common chemical categories include:
Typical Industrial Packaging including Bulk supply via road tanker or ISO tank, IBC (1,000 L) and Steel drums (200–220 L). OGSCM Group supplies refinery- and gas-plant-approved treating chemicals in all standard industrial packing formats, ensuring safe logistics, consistent quality, and full technical documentation including MSDS, COA, and handling procedures. Petroleum treating chemicals are typically sourced from internationally recognized manufacturers whose products meet refinery licensor and EPC specifications. Leading global brands include:
OGSCM Group collaborates with approved manufacturers and international suppliers to deliver high-quality petroleum treating chemicals with reliable availability, competitive commercial terms, and full compliance with project and operational requirements.
Treating Equipment Systems
Treating Vessels and Columns
Heat Exchangers
Instrumentation
Key equipment used in petroleum treating includes separators, absorbers, contactors, regenerators, and desalters.
Heat exchangers are used for temperature control, solvent regeneration, and energy recovery across treating units.
Instrumentation ensures precise control of treating processes and safe operation in hazardous environments.
Key equipment used in petroleum treating includes separators, absorbers, contactors, regenerators, and desalters. Well-known manufacturers and suppliers:
OGSCM provides sourcing and supply services for treating vessels, internals, mist eliminators, distributors, and associated mechanical components.
Exchangers
Heat exchangers are used for temperature control, solvent regeneration, and energy recovery across treating units. Commercial suppliers include:
Hazardous Environment Control
Instrumentation ensures precise control of treating processes and safe operation in hazardous environments. Major brands:
| Tag | Full Name | Function |
|---|---|---|
| PT | Pressure Transmitter | Sends pressure signal to control system |
| PI | Pressure Indicator | Local pressure reading |
| TT | Temperature Transmitter | Measures process temperature |
| FT | Flow Transmitter | Measures liquid or gas flow |
| AT | Analyzer Transmitter | Monitors impurity levels |
Flow Control and Safety
Valves are essential for flow control, isolation, and safety across all petroleum treating processes. Major manufacturers: