Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Refinery
Bahía Blanca

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Client

Trafigura

Capacity

+20% (2,400 Sm³/d) in Vacuum Unit, 3,000 Sm³/d of ULSD production at ≤10 ppm sulfu

Year

2022-Present

Scope

Conceptual Engineering, Extended Basic Engineering, Detailed Engineering, Expediting, Civil and EPC Tendering, Technical Office Support.

The expansion of Trafigura’s Bahía Blanca refinery marked a milestone in Trafigura’s export capacity, increasing its operational capacity by over 50% and establishing the plant as a new crude oil export hub from Vaca Muerta, primarily to markets such as the U.S. and Asia.

Hytech developed the Conceptual, Extended Basic, and Detailed Engineering, including construction documentation and technical specifications, as well as providing support in Procurement, Planning, and Construction for the process units and auxiliary services.

We designed two new units: a Diesel Hydrotreater (HDT) and a Flare Gas Recovery System (FGRS), as well as the revamp of the Vacuum Unit with preflash and a new furnace.

The designs prioritized energy efficiency and operational flexibility:

Vacuum Unit: +20% capacity and improved thermal integration.
HDT: 3,000 Sm³/day of Euro V diesel, with start-up scheduled for late 2025.
FGRS: minimizes emissions and flare gas consumption.

The accuracy achieved in the Extended Basic Engineering enabled the definition of a modular execution approach, which was key to ensuring the operational continuity of the Topping I & II units during installation and the early procurement of long-lead items (LLI), shortening the overall project timeline.