Saudi refineries processed a record 2.17mn b/d of crude oil in August, boosted by the ramp-up of throughput at the Satorp refinery at Jubail. The Saudi Aramco/Total joint venture plant is expected to reach full capacity of 400,000 b/d by year-end, after the first of two 200,000 b/d crude distillation units (CDUs) started up in September 2013 and the second became operational in mid-year.
Saudi refinery throughput records are likely to be a regular feature of monthly JODI data for the next year or so, as crude processing has also begun at the Yasref refinery at Yanbu’. This single-CDU plant will have 400,000 b/d capacity when it becomes fully operational. Crude runs began in late September, but the Aramco/Sinopec joint venture plant is not expected to be fully online until well into 2015. (CONTINUED - 592 WORDS)
