Abstract
The sub-optimum conditions of Nigeria conventional refineries remains a drastic setback since all other industries are intertwined with its outputs. It is noted that amidst all other glaring contributing factors as listed in the study, insufficient large capital funds on the part of private investors and vandalization of pipelines seems to be conspicuous. The stolen crude oil got from the pipelines serve as the beginning point for illegal refining. Asides the issue of quality control of products, their sub-standard operation also affects Nigerians environmentally and economically. The more the Government invest time and resources to stop their operation; the more they spring up like mushrooms. This paper reflects the authors view on achieving a win-win scenario. The upgrading of existing illegal refineries at strategic locations within the country to standard modular refineries seems to be a more feasible and friendly approach. The issue of channeling of intermediate products can be solved through the introduction of clusters, where final products of one become raw material for the other. Intermediate products can also be channeled to Government owned conventional refineries for further processing. From analysis, it is deduced that overall design capacities from clusters have optimum effect on the intermediate environment in terms of meeting demand. Extensive operational training on crude oil refining will help buttress the point while Transfer of Knowledge from official vendors to Nigerian Engineers on how to fabricate modular refining units locally will also help to reduce overall cost.
Highlights
INTRODUCTIONCrude oil as discovered in the oil field is a complex mixture of hydrocarbon compounds (Paraffin’s/Naphthenes /Aromatics), non-hydrocarbon compounds (sulphur/nitrogen/ oxygen), solids, water and different quantities of metallic compounds [1, 2]
Crude oil as discovered in the oil field is a complex mixture of hydrocarbon compounds (Paraffin’s/Naphthenes /Aromatics), non-hydrocarbon compounds, solids, water and different quantities of metallic compounds [1, 2].In its unprocessed form, crude oil is generally not suitable for any industrial application, light crude oil has earlier been used directly as a burner fuel to produce steam for the propulsion of sea going vessels
The operational private refineries in Nigeria include the Ogbelle Topping plant fully owned by the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR) and the University of Port Harcourt modular topping refinery where both atmospheric and vacuum analysis can be carried out for the purpose of research and development
Summary
Crude oil as discovered in the oil field is a complex mixture of hydrocarbon compounds (Paraffin’s/Naphthenes /Aromatics), non-hydrocarbon compounds (sulphur/nitrogen/ oxygen), solids, water and different quantities of metallic compounds [1, 2]. In its unprocessed form, crude oil is generally not suitable for any industrial application, light crude oil has earlier been used directly as a burner fuel to produce steam for the propulsion of sea going vessels. Put into place to convert or refine the unprocessed fluid into more useful products using both physical separation and chemical conversion processes [1, 3]. The physical separation processes separates the crude oil mixture without altering the chemical characteristics of its components. The importance of an operational refinery in any country cannot be underestimated as its products find applications in our everyday living. Its primary product is the finished motor gasoline, diesel, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas; petroleum coke, still gas, petrochemical products, residual fuel oil, asphalt and road oil are its by-products among so many others
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