Heat-tracing system for major new refinery

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 20, 2002

Tyco Thermal Controls has designed and supplied a complete heat-tracing system for the Karachaganak Integrated Organisation's new oil processing and gas re-injection plant.

In a US $4.5 million contract for the joint engineering contractors Bechtel and Snamprogetti, Tyco Thermal Controls has designed and supplied a complete heat-tracing system for the Karachaganak Integrated Organisation's new oil processing and gas re-injection plant, currently under construction at Karachaganak in Kazakhstan.

Tyco Thermal Controls has supplied over 150km of Raychem heating cable, more than 100 hazardous area distribution panels, DigiTrace thermostats and a complete package of accessories.

It is also providing an engineering and technical support team to supervise the installation and commissioning.

For the harsh environment prevailing in this part of Caspian Sea region, the heat-tracing system has had to be designed to withstand ambient temperatures down to -40C.

It encompasses two process plants - the KPC crude oil processing facility and the Unit 2 gas re-injection facility - and needed to satisfy the requirement for Kazakhstan Certificate of Conformity and be compliant with the latest ATEX Directive.

Freeze protection and temperature maintenance is a very significant factor at this plant with self-regulating heating cables being applied to many types of service line including water lines, fuel gas lines, oil pipework, process lines, high-pressure steam lines, instrumentation and fire water lines.

In addition Tyco Thermal Controls has supplied pretrace tubing bundles, slab heating systems and snow melting systems for walkways.

The severity of the climate in this region imposes logistical restrictions - equipment can only be installed between the months of March and October.

Tyco Thermal Controls, the world's largest manufacturer of heat-tracing systems and components, was able to offer an ex-stock service, which eliminated any potential difficulty with such a critical weather window.