Valero 2013 Annual Report Download - page 16

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2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT 2013 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT
After traveling 6,000 miles from Germany to
Louisiana, a state-of-the-art D-6211 hydrocracker
reactor made its way safely into place at Valero’s
Meraux refinery in 2013, thanks to detailed project
planning and intricate teamwork at every level of
the operation.
Such efficiency in projects execution is seen
as a key part of Valero’s drive for excellence in
operations, which in turn brings greater returns
and value. The Meraux project, for example, is
expected to significantly advance the company’s
strategy to raise production
of high-quality diesel and
maximize efficiency with
longer run cycles.
“The Meraux reactor
project highlighted the
incredible teamwork and
expertise we have within
our great company,” said
Tony Jones, Senior Vice
President-Project Execution.
“At every level of planning
and execution, you saw
employees putting their
best into this project. We
couldn’t be more pleased
with the result.”
The effort was one of
several major projects completed in 2013, along
with planned turnarounds.
Other examples included the new hydrocracker
at St. Charles commissioned in July, following
the startup of the new Port Arthur hydrocracker
in December 2012. Completion of the two
massive 60,000 barrel-per-day units culminated
a successful $3.2 billion program which started in
2006.
Also, Valero subsidiary Diamond Alternative
Energy LLC completed the 10,000 barrel-per-day
Diamond Green Diesel joint venture project, which
was commissioned in June 2013. The facility
produces high-quality, high-cetane, low-sulfur
renewable diesel fuel from recovered animal
fat, used cooking oil and distiller’s corn oil as a
feedstock. The project cost about $380 million.
At Meraux, the giant reactor transported to the site
measures 160 feet long and 16 feet in diameter.
At 1,370 metric tons (more than 3 million pounds),
the unit weighs as much as 40 fully loaded tractor
trailers.
Because of the unit’s immense size, it was moved
by water up the Mississippi
River to the Industrial
Canal southeast of New
Orleans, and under several
major waterway bridges,
ultimately finding land in
Chalmette, La.
Once unloaded, the
reactor completed its final
journey by road to the
refinery. The reactor’s road
trip required extensive
collaboration by industry
professionals, public safety
representatives and local
utilities as crews navigated
through intersections and
public rights of way.
The process – from transport to placement – took
five months to complete in 2013.
The lift project at the refinery required the safe
work of 15 to 20 people every day, five days
a week for two months. The team included
heavy-haul/heavy-lift contractors, civil contractor
forces, safety personnel, Valero’s construction
management team and refinery personnel.
The installation was a reflection of Valero’s
commitment to safe, reliable and efficient
operations.
At every level
of planning
and execution,
you saw
employees
putting their
best into this
project.
Tony Jones
Senior Vice President-
Project Execution
Driving Project Execution:
Teamwork Gains Efficiencies, Value