Chennai: The Hydrocarbon arm of Larsen & Toubro, flagged-off the first set of piperack modules for India’s maiden Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) for HPCL’s Vizag Refinery.
This facility will enable Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) to convert the heaviest oils into high-quality Euro 6 diesel while simultaneously eliminating fuel oil production, as well as increasing feedstock and product flexibility. This facility, licensed by Chevron Lummus Global (CLG), is being built by L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering (LTHE) under an EPCC Contract.
Also, a large-scale modularization concept is being implemented on this project, which is the first of its kind for a refinery project in India. There are total of 30 modules which will be fabricated and assembled in L&T’s state-of-the-art fabrication facility at Kattupalli, near Chennai. These will be transported to Vizag using sea route. The first lot of these piperack modules were flagged-off in the presence of senior dignitaries from HPCL, EIL and L&T.
Commenting on the occasion, Subramanian Sarma, Whole-time Director & Sr. EVP (Energy), Larsen & Toubro and CEO & MD, LTHE said L&T has built significant modularization capabilities over the years and have been deploying these for offshore projects and I am delighted that we have now brought this concept to onshore projects as well. This should address some of the challenges faced by the industry with respect to skill availability and enhanced schedule, HSE & quality performance.
The execution strategy brings to fore L&T’s complete gamut of services including its EPC strengths, equipment manufacturing, in-house engineering and modular fabrication which enable delivering such large refinery and petrochemical process plants.
Upon completion, the RUF will be another feat in L&T’s project delivering capabilities and will be a game-changer in defining how large refinery projects will be delivered in future.
Organised under Offshore, Onshore, Construction Services, Modular Fabrication and Engineering Services verticals, LTHE delivers ‘design to build’ engineering and construction solutions across the hydrocarbon spectrum.