Daxie refinery, Nov 4, 2024 / Ningo Petrochemical Association

China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) announced plans to commission its upgraded refinery and petrochemical complex on Daxie Island, Ningbo, later this year, following a major investment totaling approximately $2.74 billion.

Recent updates from CNOOC's refining division provide detailed insights into the expansion project, including the capacities of key processing units. The upgraded facility will feature:

• A new crude processing unit with a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day (bpd), doubling the site's total crude processing capability to 240,000 bpd (12 million tonnes per year).
   
• A catalytic cracker capable of producing 1.4 million tonnes per year (tpy).
   
• A hydrocracker with an annual production capacity of 2.2 million tpy. 
   
• A continuous reformer designed to process up to 1 million tpy.
   
• Two polypropylene units, each with an annual production capacity of 225,000 tpy, for a combined output of 450,000 tpy.

The project has achieved several key milestones. As of October 30, 2024, the utility engineering project for the integrated refinery complex—comprising 14 units—successfully passed intermediate handover inspections. Despite challenges such as tight construction schedules and overlapping interfaces, the project team implemented innovative solutions to streamline processes and ensure timely progress.

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