The expansion will increase the Balikpapan refinery’s output from 240,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 360,000 bpd and enable the facility to produce Euro-V standard fuels. To that end, the development plan for the refinery also foresees the installation a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sulfur removal unit; a propylene recovery unit; and an 80,000 bpsd middle distillate hydrotreater.
Siemens’ scope of supply includes 17 reciprocating compressors, along with a single-stage, hot gas expander. Specific compressor models to be provided include eight HHE-VL compressors, two HHE-FB compressors, four HHE-VG compressors, and three HSE compressors. Additionally, Siemens Gas and Power will supply four SGT-800 industrial gas turbines and five SST-600 steam turbines for the Balikpapan power plant.
All the reciprocating compressors will be manufactured in Siemens’ Naroda Gujarat plant in India, while the hot gas expander will be built in Olean, New York, the steam turbines in Görlitz, Germany, and the gas turbines in Finspong, Sweden. Installation and commissioning of the equipment are slated for 2022.
Recovering waste heat from the cracker
Waste heat from the refinery’s cracker, possibly in the form of flue gas, will be recovered by the hot gas expander to produce approximately 20 MW of free power. This energy will then be used to drive the plant’s central air blower, along with a single steam turbine, which helps reduce overall steam consumption and reduces operational costs for Pertamina.
Meanwhile, the HHE reciprocating compressors will be used in various refinery processing units to stabilize plant operation. The compressors comprise a heavy-duty, cast iron frame, which reduces vibrations transmitted to associated piping and provides maximum stability by using internally ribbed walls and integral cross-member bearing saddle supports located between each crank throw.
“The strong performance of our existing fleet of compressors across the region and strong in-country service capabilities played a key role in this strategic win. These factors, coupled with performance, efficiency, and reliability of the SGT-800 gas turbines, will enable the cost-effective expansion of the Balikpapan refinery,” said Matthew Chinn, executive vice president New Equipment Solutions for Siemens Energy Oil & Gas Division.