Foster Wheeler supplies steam reformer to expand refinery in Kazakhstan

Foster Wheeler was awarded a contract by Marubeni Corp. for the engineering and material supply of a new Terrace Wall steam reformer heater, including an air preheating system, for the KazMunayGaz oil refinery located at Atyrau in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The value of Foster Wheeler’s contract was not disclosed and was included in the company’s first-quarter 2014 bookings.

The steam reformer will be part of a hydrogen production unit with a capacity of 24,000 normal cubic meters/hour to be built at the refinery. The hydrogen plant is based on Foster Wheeler’s hydrogen technology. 

Foster Wheeler’s scope of work is scheduled to be completed in April 2015.

Foster Wheeler's Terrace Wall reformer is characterized by a firing arrangement and sloped-wall radiant section design that, together, enable long catalyst tube life (often in excess of 100,000 hours) and deliver the flexibility to extend a reformer's operating envelope. 

This often allows production of hydrogen in excess of the design capacity of the hydrogen production unit, which may in turn deliver additional economic benefits. Foster Wheeler's reformers can also operate with ultra-low-NOx burners to meet tightening environmental emission standards worldwide. 

Foster Wheeler says it has supplied over 200 Terrace Wall steam reformers to the refining and petrochemical industries in more than 40 countries worldwide.

The contract was awarded by Marubeni on behalf of the consortium of Sinopec Engineering, Marubeni and KazStroyService executing the engineering, procurement and construction of the refinery modernization project.