Many older refineries are undergoing modernization in order to keep up with the world’s changing needs and increasingly require additive treatment in order to be able to finish products to international standards. There is also a growing demand for fuels treatment to counter the logistical difficulties which affect the distribution infrastructure, from pipelines and railways to river barges and road tankers.
SGS Laroute supplies specialist additive services to the world’s oil traders, with a customer base ranging from small independent oil traders through to the oil majors.
Why is fuels treatment necessary?
The problems to be resolved are mainly due either to handling difficulties, or to the contractual requirements which need to be met by our customers.
For example, in gasoil we specifically see an increased need for:
- Lubricity
- Cold property enhancement CFPP/Cloud point/Pour point
This lowering in sulfur level in gasoil brings about the need to control the lubricity of the fuel. Refinery upgrades also alter the cold property profile of the gasoils due to the change in the boiling range of the new gasoil.
Fuel oil profiles are also changing, as more and more mid-distillates are squeezed from the refining process. This results in higher pour point fuels which are harder to treat for pour point and which are harder to demulsify when the water levels rise.
How we treat fuels
The crucial first step is to draw representative samples of the cargo to be treated and assess the starting point. We are then able to find out if and how we can achieve the required specification.
Once we have established the starting point and agreed on treatment levels, we are ready to proceed to treat the fuel. Treatment of the fuel may be done either in-line, in-tank or onboard vessel, as appropriate.
The rules and procedures governing treatments in ports and on vessels are becoming ever stricter, with health and safety compliance being of the highest consideration. When treating fuels SGS Laroute uses equipment that is compliant with the requirements of major oil companies, terminals and shipping companies.
Why SGS Laroute?
We are a world leader in the additives services sector, operating at export and import ports in the Former Soviet Union (FSU), the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Our service is unique; no other company has the same geographical coverage, available stocks, equipment and port access.
We currently treat in excess of 40 million MT of crude oil and petroleum products per annum. We operate in 36 countries with additives stock suited to the local market requirements.
Find out how fuels treatment services from SGS Laroute can support your operations.