Oman Refineries and Petrochemicals Company (Orpic) has awarded a technology package at its Sohar Refinery to the US’ Foster Wheeler and Honeywell subsidiary UOP.

The scope of works includes the basic engineering and supply of a solvent deasphalting unit (SDA) for Sohar facility.

The SDA unit will process 2.5 million tonnes a year of vacuum residue of Oman crude oil. This in turn will produce deasphalted oil and asphalt for road bitumen production.

The unit will also help increase the refinery’s production of liquid petroleum gas (LPG), naphtha, jet fuel, gasoline, diesel and propylene. 

The unit will come on stream in 2015.