Renovation for more reliability [oil refinery power system upgrade]

Paraguana Refining Center (CRP) in Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) is the largest oil-refining complex in the world, with a distillation capacity of 900000 bbl/d. It is located in the Paraguana Peninsula, Falcon State, Venezuela. CRP services two large refineries: Amuay and Cardon. The problem with the Amuay refinery´s electricity supply is outlined. The construction of an IPP plant in the Peninsula offered a solution to the problem. The purpose and scope of the project is outlined. The upgrading project restored the reliability, operational flexibility, and equipment maintainability of the Amuay refinery power system, allowing a reasonable load growth for mid-term projects. Increasing the reliability of industrial services through upgrading also increased the reliability of the process plants associated. Automation of the control rooms has permitted efficient, secure, and reliable operation of the generation units, optimizing the power import from the IPP. Adequate planning of the work and detailed risk analyses are necessary to perform a project with an industrial facility in operation and no impact to the process plants involved.