Axens Completed a Study to Supply Natural Gas to Refineria Isla Curaçao B.V.

Axens was recently awarded, by Refineria Isla, a contract to perform pre-FEED Engineering work to supply natural gas from Venezuela to Refineria Isla Curaçao B.V. “Refineria Isla”, in Curaçao.

The project is part of Refineria Isla modernization project. The overall objective is to provide positive impacts on both the environment and refinery economics. These benefits will be achieved through the conversion of fired equipment from heavy fuel oil to natural gas. SOx, NOx and particle emissions will be reduced to under the most stringent international standards, contributing to general improvement of the Island air quality. The associated CO2 emission will be reduced by about 20%. Natural gas will be delivered to Curaçao from Venezuela via a new submarine pipeline connected to the Puerto Cumarebo station.

Axens Performance Programs business unit teamed up with Doris Engineering for the offshore gas transportation system to Curaçao. The documentation prepared serves as a basis to solicit bids for FEED and includes execution plans for the permitting and regulatory approval. The required gas treatment facilities comprise molecular sieve dehydration unit, designed by Prosernat, an Axens company, hydrocarbon dew pointing and gas compression. High performance Axens molecular sieves for water removal ( Axsorb 510 and AxSorb 533) have been proposed to achieve the water specification. Treated gas will be transported through a 16-inch diameter subsea pipeline, approximately 90 kilometers in length. Maximum water depth is 1400 meters. Pipeline construction and upgrade of fired equipment inside the refinery are expected to be completed by 2021.