Delayed Coker Unit Process Technology Market Report 2025 (Global Edition)

Market Dynamics

Key Drivers

• Delayed coking as a sustainable refinery solution is favoring its market growth

Restrictions on environmental emissions, heavier, higher-sulfur crudes, and rising process costs make it difficult for the refining sector to stay commercially relevant in the medium run. Automotive fuels, which historically relied on the profits from lighter fuels, are the source of heavy petroleum residuals like hoover residue (VR). Straight run VR quantities are predicted to rise in tandem with the processing of heavier crude oils, which will make the application of carbon rejection and hydrocracking technologies necessary to supplement lighter hydrocarbon distillates. Using heavy petroleum dregs, delayed coking is a carbon rejection process that yields lighter hydrocarbon distillates (such as naphtha and coker gasoil) and solid green coke as a byproduct. Due to delayed coking's ability to produce environmentally friendly refinery solutions for heavy petroleum residues, future market reforms—particularly those about fuel-grade coke—can be addressed, which leads to positive market growth. Furthermore, residual streams that are often employed as diluents in the manufacturing of fuel oil are converted into light and middle streams (LPG, naphtha, and petrol oils) by the controlled application of the thermal cracking idea in delayed coking. The residue from the vacuum distillation process, which contains larger fractions of processed crude oil, is the input stream for delayed coking units. Nevertheless, depending on the refiner's chosen refining plan, streams such as decanted oil from the FCC unit and asphaltic residue generated during solvent deasphalting may be included in the feed stream to the delayed coking unit. Sending the residue from atmospheric distillation straight to the delayed coking unit is an additional option; in this scenario, the unit design is changed, necessitating increased resilience in the fractionating and gas compression section. The streams generated by a delayed coking unit include a significant proportion of chemically unstable olefinic compounds because of their thermal cracking properties. High hydrotreating capacity is required by refiners using delayed coking units to transform these streams into products with additional value and contamination levels compliant with environmental requirements. Therefore, the delayed cooking unit process technology may provide a sustainable refinery solution thereby, favoring the market growth.

Restraint

• The market is being hindered by high initial capital costs and the availability of alternative technologies.

The yield of liquid products is reduced with delayed coker unit process technology. Because they need extensive post-treatment, highly aromatic products are more expensive than other process technologies like solvent deasphalting. Petroleum residue is then transformed into useful liquid and gas product streams by the delayed coking unit process technology services. Additionally, several other methods are quite popular for turning waste into useful products, such as fluid coking. A better distillate yield and higher Vacuum Distillation Residue (VDR) processing rate when compared to the delay coking technology method are some examples of these factors. Moreover, the cost of maintaining of delayed coker unit is also high and requires skilled workers. Therefore, with the presence of various other methods and the high initial cost for setting up and maintaining delayed coker units, the market growth may be hindered.

Opportunity

• Technological advancement and stringent environmental regulations pose as an opportunity for market growth

Regulations imposed on petroleum product derivatives over the last ten years have centred on creating more environmentally favourable residual streams, which is driving the market's expansion. For example, the IMO 2020 rule sets important guidelines for reducing sulphur concentration. Techniques like delayed coker unit process technology contribute to the enhancement of the quality of the crude residue stream and are essential for adhering to environmental requirements. They also keep refineries profitable and competitive by boosting the refining margin. Along with improving operational efficiency, major players in the industry are also improving their product capabilities to prevent unplanned service repairs or replacements and unscheduled shutdowns of the coker units. Emerson EIM 2000 M2CP actuators, for example, are employed in a refinery in southwest Louisiana, United States, because of their reliable and well-tested design. For almost six years, the refinery's two coking plants have been using EIM actuators continuously. Furthermore, if one actuator fails, the plant might proceed with scheduled shutdowns without any disruptions. Production has increased and maintenance costs have dropped since EIM actuators were installed. Therefore, with technological advancements and players working hard to capture, the market will grow significantly in the coming years.

How did COVID-19 Impact the Global Delayed Coker Unit Process Technology Market?

In many different refineries and facilities, delayed coker unit process technology has been widely implemented. To create various reusable goods, it warms the residual oil supply to the temperature at which it cracks thermally in a multi-parallel pass furnace. Refining throughputs have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of declining oil prices brought on by oversupply and a decline in demand. Additionally, the demand for gas decreased even more as a result of the national lockdown and travel restrictions. The immediate result also included a decrease in the cost of certain petroleum-based goods. Most refiners worldwide had lowered the volume of their oil products as a result of the decline in both the price and demand for petroleum products. For instance, the massive Chinese refining company Sinopec decreased its petroleum product exports in the second quarter of 2020 compared to 2019. Additionally, the Guangzhou Petrochemical Complex division of the corporation decreased its jet fuel exports by 70% in April compared to the same month last year, to an average of 100,000 tonnes per month. Additionally, PetroChina had reduced exports from West Pacific Petrochemical Company by 22% and the Liaoyang Petrochemical Complex by 50%. All of these elements had a detrimental effect on the market for delayed coker units.

Our study will explain complete manufacturing process along with major raw materials required to manufacture end-product. This report helps to make effective decisions determining product position and will assist you to understand opportunities and threats around the globe.

The Global Delayed Coker Unit Process Technology Market is witnessing significant growth in the near future.

In 2023, the Single-fired Delayed Coker Units Technology segment accounted for noticeable share of global Delayed Coker Unit Process Technology Market and is projected to experience significant growth in the near future.

The Fuel segment is expected to expand at the significant CAGR retaining position throughout the forecast period.

Some of the key companies Bechtel Corporation (U.S.) , Wood Plc (U.K.) and others are focusing on its strategy building model to strengthen its product portfolio and expand its business in the global market.

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