Introduction

Automation needs to be efficient and sustainable to achieve an advantageous blending process while ensuring maximum profitability. This encourages a refiner to explore new technologies to meet operational targets. Vendors are constantly improving, and they are very competitive in their refinery automation products. A blending project execution plan consists of products and systems, timescales, costs, quality, and corresponding benefits. This plan needs to be updated regularly.

This topic will discuss the automation project checklist, an automation project case study, reasons for project failure, steps for project success, identifying the gaps, building capabilities, the roadmap to a systematic approach, etc.

Enterprise Changes for Blending Projects

The ability of a refiner to specialize and adapt to new technologies and applications is important for the success of blending projects. Refiners should evaluate integration bottlenecks in the blending process, including logistics, piping, and tank farms. This should be done in terms of planning, scheduling, and refinery control. A refinery’s potential for optimum blending and maximum profitability should be assessed in the context of budget allocation.

Recognizing the role of the human factor is a major component for the success of blending projects. There should be a straightforward approach to assemble an effective blending project implementation team. Team members should be informed of their changing responsibilities.

Continuous development of a culture of commitment and accountability may help implement an automation blending project plan successfully, attain project goals, and prevent financial loss. In addition, the identification of reliable and innovative vendors should ensure that their goals are like that of the refinery.

There are many phases concerning the life cycle of automating a blending system. For example, specification, preliminary design, basic planning, system design, execution, installation, commissioning, and operation. Analysis of the implementation plan and the actual project flow will help to identify and address gaps. In addition, there must be a critical focus on training operators in integrating new processes and implementing new automation systems. This helps to avoid variance between man and machine. Published case studies may be used for reference purposes.

If the project completion period is long and lacks timely budget allocation, then the project may fail. There may be Ignorance towards technology.

Summary

Enterprise-wide modifications for a refinery involve proper planning and studying for a greater chance of success. The main problems in implementing blending projects in a refinery should be addressed. Implementing an optimized automation system for blending needs a lot of planning, scheduling, and identification capabilities.

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