Refinery Construction
Refinery construction began in June 2008 and is expected to be completed in late 2012.
Marathon awarded a contract for front-end engineering and design (FEED), and engineering, procurement, and construction services (EPC) for the project to Fluor Corporation.
The refinery upgrades, which will increase the refinery's processing capability by 9,000 bpd, include adding a new processing unit called a delayed coker. The 28,000 bpd coker converts asphalt-like material into liquid petroleum fuel blend components and petroleum coke (a coal-like substance). It also will allow the refinery to thermally convert and upgrade heavy crude oil into higher quality products such as gasoline, diesel and petroleum coke.
Additional emission reducing technologies being installed include a:
- Sulfur Recovery Complex - this 280-long-ton per day complex recovers sulfur removed from fuels
- Ultra Low NOx Burners / Selective Catalytic Reduction System - controls nitrogen oxides
- 33,000 bpd Distillate Hydrotreater - removes sulfur from diesel fuel and kerosene to greatly reduce sulfur emissions
- Hydrogen Plant - produces hydrogen for use in hydrotreating units that remove sulfur from motor fuels at a rate of 58 million standard cubic feet per day
The scope of construction includes:
- 4 million field construction hours
- 7,700 piles
- 50,000 cubic yards of concrete
- 15 million pounds of steel
- 100 miles of pipe
- 180 heat exchangers
- 16 compressors
Marathon is working hard to ensure construction-related activity has little or no impact on the surrounding neighborhood. In addition, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm in May 2008 announced a $1.26 million state grant to Wayne County to improve traffic flow and roads near the refinery in support of the project.
Marathon has a strong record for constructing projects at the Detroit refinery in a safe and responsible manner, including the completion of a more than $300 million clean fuels and expansion project in 2005.
