BLAINE, WA – BP announced yesterday 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, which features a production capacity of
25,000 barrels per day, a new hydrogen unit capable of generating 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.
“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 project incorporates advanced technology for both hydrotreating
and hydrogen production.
“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.”