Essar Projects India Ltd. (EPIL), a leading EPC contractor, announced the successful testing and commissioning of the Coke Drum Structure Package (CDSP) for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited’s Kochi Refinery (BPCL-KR). The contract value of this package is Rs. 645 crores.

The CDSP is part of BPCL-KR’s Integrated Refinery Expansion Project that will increase its operating capacity to 15.5 MTPA from 9.5 MTPA. Upon completion, BPCL-KR will transform into a facility adhering to global standards and will produce eco-friendly petrol and diesel complying with Euro IV and V norms. It will also contribute towards making South India self sufficient in products, such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Motor Spirit (MS) and High Speed Diesel (HSD).

Mr AV Amarnath, COO-EPIL, said: “The completion of this project clearly establishes our capability to undertake and complete complex and challenging projects. Our expertise in executing refinery projects was of great help in completing this project as well. Essar Projects has the right mix of human skills and technology to deliver every project on time”.

The project entailed transportation of over dimensional consignments like coke drums and coke fractionator, in modular form through narrow roads and assembling them within the limited space at site. Thereafter, each coke drum weighing around 600 metric tonnes (mt) with a length of 42.5 metre (m) and a 9.2 metre (m) diameter was lifted and erected using heavy cranes at an elevation of almost 32 metres (m). Furthermore the erection work for all four coke drums was completed within a record time of 20 days during the monsoon season in Kerala.

With a 3.84 MTPA capacity of Delayed Coker Unit, the CDSP mainly consisted of EPC works for 4 Coke Drums, Coke Fractionator Column including internals, Coke Cutting System including pumps; Coke Drum Top and Bottom Heading/Un-heading System; Switch valves, Hydro cyclone, Elevators & Clear water tanks; Civil works of Coke Pit, Maze, Bridge Crane, Elevator; and Associated auxiliary equipment/facilities including piping, electrical and instrumentation.

About Essar Projects India Ltd.

Essar Projects India Limited (EPIL) is a major EPC company of the Essar Group, offering unique collaborative end-to-end project delivery model that is backward integrated into the supply chain and forward integrated into the operator’s mindset through its sister company links.

It has over four decades of experience executing mega projects in Hydrocarbons (Refinery, Petrochemical & Fertiliser Plants); Tankages and Terminals; Pipelines (Oil & Gas, Water, Slurry and Subsea); Offshore (Platforms, SPM & PLEM); Infrastructure (Ports, Jetties, Airports, Railway, Buildings & Townships); Minerals & Metals (Steel Plants, Sinter Feed, Beneficiation & Pelletisation Plants, Material Handling Systems); and Power Plants (Coal, Gas, Multi-fuel and Hydel).

Active participation in initial operations and maintenance through the stabilisation phase of projects executed for its Group companies has sharpened EPIL’s skills, adding the O&M experience in EPC execution of turnkey projects. Unlike other contractors, EPIL is therefore able to extend EPC from concept to commissioning and beyond.

It has an ‘in-house’ multidisciplinary skilled and experienced Engineering & Project Management Division geared to provide end-to-end solutions on a nut & bolt concept. It also has a Procurement division with strong vendor networks. The company owns a state-of-the-art fabrication facility and a large bank of construction equipment.