BP Cherry Point refinery celebrates start up of new diesel and hydrogen units

BP today announced the successful commissioning of a state-of-the-art diesel hydrotreater and hydrogen plant at its 234,000 barrel per day Cherry Point Refinery located in Blaine, Washington.

“BP is committed to safe operations and providing consumers in the Northwest with cleaner fuels,” said Jeff Pitzer, BP’s Northwest fuels value chain president. “This project has delivered on both counts.”

The multi-million dollar project included construction of the new diesel hydrotreater unit, with a production capacity of 25,000 barrels per day, a new hydrogen unit able to generate 44 million standard cubic feet of hydrogen per day and associated infrastructure.

"Not only was the project completed safely," Pitzer noted, "it positions Cherry Point for future opportunities as we continue to deliver on BP's strategy of operating feedstock-advantaged and technologically-advanced refineries tied to strong retail networks."

The new units enhance Cherry Point’s ability to meet regulations calling for lower sulfur diesel fuel. A diesel hydrotreater creates a chemical reaction that removes sulfur from diesel fuel by using hydrogen to help break the bond between sulfur and the fuel.

“These two units will significantly improve the plant’s efficiency and competitiveness,” said Stacey McDaniel, refinery manager. “The new units allow the refinery to make a full slate of ultralow sulfur diesel fuels and provide hydrogen to other refinery operations.”

The latest technology for both hydrotreating and hydrogen production was used for the project.

“This recent investment resulted in more than 1,000 skilled trades people working over the last two years to ensure a successful and safe completion of these significant new process units,” McDaniel added. “Our workforce and business partners did an outstanding job delivering this project.”

Further information

Contacts

BP press office, Houston, +1 281 366 4463, uspress@bp.com

BP press office, London, +44 (0)20 7496 4076, bppress@bp.com

Note to editors

• Groundbreaking for the project took place on June 8, 2011 and the construction brought hundreds of well-paying jobs to Whatcom County. Twenty-five contracting companies and more than 1,200 contract workers took part in constructing the units and laying the infrastructure. Equipment supply came from throughout the United States and internationally, including Canada, England, Germany, India, South Korea, and Mexico.
• Construction involved setting 206 pieces of equipment, driving 1,457 piles, pouring 13,500 cubic yards of concrete, erecting 1,250 tons of structural steel, laying 21 miles of pipe, and installing 170,000 linear feet of above ground conduit.
• BP is currently in the process of carrying out a number of major investments in its other US refineries, including a large investment program to transform its 413,000 bpd capacity Whiting, Ind., refinery and the recent start-up of a continuous catalytic reformer to the 160,000 bpd capacity Toledo, Ohio, refinery (a 50:50 joint venture with partner Husky Energy Inc.).

About BP in the US

BP has invested more in the United States over the last five years than any other oil and gas company. With more than $55 billion in capital spending between 2008 and 2012, BP invests more in the U.S. than in any other country. The company is the nation’s second largest producer of oil and gas, a major oil refiner and a leader in alternative energy sources. With 21,000 US employees, BP supports nearly a quarter of a million domestic jobs through its business activities. For more information, visit www.bp.com.