Petroleum Refining

Pet Refining_page

Trinity helps petroleum refineries to achieve regulatory and environmental compliance while producing the fuels and chemicals on which people depend. We have completed more than 400 projects for petroleum refining clients. This project experience combined with our active membership in associations like the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) keeps us well versed in the environmental issues the refining industry faces.

Client Testimonial

"Trinity has helped us with a variety of air and compliance management projects. Its staff has unparalleled expertise in these areas and invariably brings to the table good advice, excellent project management, and concern for clients budgets and time constraints. I enjoy working with Trinity."
Trinity Client

Regulatory Round Up
  • A significant regulatory concern for refineries is the phase-in of low sulfur gasoline and diesel, which will begin in 2004. The associated environmental permitting requirements will obligate facilities to conduct dispersion modeling to demonstrate no significant impacts to the surrounding population and scenic areas, control technology reviews to determine appropriate emission levels, and human health risk assessments.
  • Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards present further compliance challenges for the petroleum refining industry. The Refinery MACT standard, which addresses catalytic cracking units, catalytic reforming units, and sulfur recovery units, was promulgated on April 11, 2002, and most facilities will need to comply with its requirements by April 11, 2005. Other MACT standards that have not yet been promulgated, including the Organic Liquids Distribution MACT, the Combustion MACT, and the Site Remediation MACT, may impact refineries through the requirement to complete and submit MACT “Hammer” Part 2 applications.
Project Profiles:
  • NOx Budget/NOx SIP Call - Trinity assisted the refinery in interpreting and complying with the requirements of the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) NOx Budget Program and the NOx SIP Call. Trinity worked with the refinery to update the facility’s Data Acquisition and Handling System to meet 40 CFR 75 QA/QC, data substitution, and reporting requirements. Trinity prepared monitoring plans for the facility and assisted in the preparation, evaluation, and submission of quarterly reports. Trinity also provided strategic assistance in emissions trading by evaluating the amount of NOx allocations issued to the facility vs. the facility’s likely emissions levels.
  • PSD Permitting - Trinity assisted the refinery in preparing a PSD permit application for the expansion of the catalytic cracking unit and the construction of new process equipment designed to meet Tier II low sulfur gasoline standards. This process involved preparation of a detailed netting analysis, a complete PSD permit application, a control technology review to meet state and federal requirements, detailed criteria pollutant and Class I modeling analyses, and a health risk assessment.
  • Emissions Inventory/TRI - Trinity also assisted this refinery in auditing and documenting its emissions inventory process. All emissions calculation methodologies were reviewed and documented. Revisions were made as appropriate to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the process. Trinity further assisted the refinery in conducting a similar review of the SARA 313/TRI reporting process. Particular attention was paid to the estimation of Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins (PBT) emissions from refinery processes, since the requirement to report these compounds had been newly promulgated.