Chevron Richmond Refinery Energy and Hydrogen Renewal Project

In September of 2008, Chevron began work on the Energy and Hydrogen Renewal Project at the Chevron Richmond Refinery - an initiative to help respond to future changes in market demand, available feedstocks and gasoline regulations.

The scope of the Renewal Project includes the following upgrades:

  • Hydrogen Plant Replacement - A third-party vendor will build a new Hydrogen plant to replace the refinery's 1960s-era plants. The Hydrogen Tie-In Project will prep the site and install 50,000 feet of piping to connect the new plant to the rest of the refinery. The Hydrogen Compressor Upgrade (HYCUP) Project will modify the refinery's H2 compressors so they can process the purer hydrogen at high pressures.
  • Hydrogen Purity - This project will increase the refinery's flexibility to process a larger variety of crudes and simultaneously improve the reliability of existing equipment.
  • Power Plant Replacement (Cogen 3000) - The Cogen 3000 Project will replace the refinery's 1930s-era steam boiler power plant with a state-of-the-art cogeneration gas turbine.
  • Continuous Catalyst Reformer (CCR) - One of four components of the recently permitted Energy and Hydrogen Renewal Project at the Richmond Refinery will be indefinitely delayed due to a combination of factors, including weakened demand for product and higher construction costs and a tough economic environment following a rather lengthy permitting process.

Richmond Refinery General Manager Mike Coyle said, "These projects are important for the future
of the refinery. Richmond is poised to meet the growing demand for transportation fuels and lubricating oils, while improving our performance."

Environmental Benefits

  • Improving energy efficiency and ensuring air quality in Richmond remains amongst the best
    in the Bay Area
  • Enable the Refinery to become entirely energy self-sufficient and provides excess electricity for public use
  • Allows the Refinery to maintain world class energy efficiency in all of its operations

Community Benefits

  • Generates millions of dollars in tax revenues for Richmond that could be used to fund city programs including public safety, street repairs, libraries, youth services, and more
  • Creates good-paying construction jobs-most are expected to be filled by union labor


About the Richmond Refinery

Built in 1902 shortly after Standard Oil purchased Pacific Coast Oil Company, the Richmond Refinery was soon processing 10,000 barrels per day as one of the world's largest refineries. At that time it refined kerosene, motor fuel and produced lubricants, with kerosene being its most popular product.

Today, the Chevron Richmond Refinery has the capacity to produce 243,000 barrels per day of crude oil. In addition to gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel, the refinery manufactures high-quality base oil at the adjacent Richmond Lube Oil Plant.

Chevron continues to work with the city of Richmond, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and the California Energy Commission to ensure the Richmond Renewal Project meets or exceeds all state, regional and local regulatory requirements. In addition, Chevron is investing $61 million in community development activities for the city of Richmond.

Energy and Hydrogen Renewal Project Updates:

Going Vertical! - Renewal Project Progress Photos
The Richmond Refinery Renewal Project Newsletter
Volume 2 Issue 2 | Spring 2009