Indian Oil, CB&I commission landmark FCC unit at Paradip refinery

The world’s largest INDMAX fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, jointly licensed by CB&I and Indian Oil Corp. (IOCL), has been successfully commissioned at Indian Oil’s Paradip refinery, Odisha, India, officials confirmed on Friday. 

The start-up is a major landmark for the petroleum industry and represents one of the largest single-train, high olefin yield FCC units globally, according to project officials.

INDMAX is a breakthrough technology for converting heavy petroleum oils and low-value residues into high yields of propylene, ethylene and butylenes—building blocks for petrochemicals and alkylate. 

This process combines the proprietary and innovative INDMAX catalyst and process concepts developed by the research and development center of IOCL with CB&I’s state-of-the-art FCC technology and design features. 

CB&I licenses more than 90 refining and petrochemical technologies and is the sole licensor of the INDMAX FCC technology worldwide. 

One of the biggest challenges refiners face is upgrading bottom-of-the barrel residues into high yields of light olefins. INDMAX FCC is a technology that produces a very high yield of propylene (18-24 wt% on fresh feed) and gasoline with a research octane number (RON) of 95-102 from various heavy petroleum fractions. 

With successful commissioning of this world’s largest INDMAX unit, CB&I and Indian Oil say their partnership is well positioned to provide profitable technological solutions to refiners around the world. 

The flagship INDMAX FCC unit at the Paradip refinery will also serve as a technology showcase for prospective customers.