Refinery configuration

Complexity: 7.8

Ulsan is very large, but medium conversion, coming from RCC and resid hydrocracking for bottoms conversion

Major process units:

• Atmospheric distillation - 860 kbpd.  5 units: CDU1 - 60 kbpd, CDU2 - 170kbpd, CDU3 - 170kbpd, CDU4 - 240 kbpd, CDU5 - 200 kbpd

• Vacuum distillation  -  

• RCC  -  160 kbpd.  2 units: RCC1 - 64 kbpd, RCC2 - 90kbpd

• Resid hydrocracker -   

• Alkylation  -  

• Reformer - 2 units: Semiregen and continuous

• Naphtha hydrotreater - 

• FCC gasoline hydrotreater -  

• Kerosene hydrotreater -  

• Distillate hydrotreater -  

• Resid hydrotreater -  Vacuum resid desulfurization - Multiple units: RHDS2 - 80kbpd

• Aromatics extraction -  

• Hydrogen production -  

• Oxygenates plant -  

• Base oil plant -  

• Asphalt plant -  

Refinery history

1964 - Refinery commissioned by Korea Oil company with 35 kbpd

1967 - Expansion to 55 kbpd

1968 - Second train commissioned with 60 kbpd

1970 - Gulf acquired 50%

1972 - Third train commissioned with 105 kbpd

1973 - Commissioned naphtha steam cracker

1974 - Second train expanded to 110 kbpd

1980 - Korea Petroleum Holdings acquired Gulf ownership share, and Sunkyung acquired management rights

1982 - Changed company name to Yugong

1991 - Fourth distillation unit commissioned with 265 kbpd

1992 - Commissioned first hydrotreater and heavy oil cracking unit

1995 - Commissioned kerosene/distillate hydrotreater (50 kbpd)

1996 - Fifth distillation unit commissioned with 200 kbpd

1997 - Changed company name to SK

2008 - Second RCC commissioned

2011 - Oil business spun off as SK Energy

2020 - Commissioned vacuum resid desulfurization unit (40 kbpd)