Richmond Modernization Hydrogen Unit Project

Richmond, California

Kiewit subsidiary, Cherne, was contracted to perform preconstruction and construction services for the 230-million-standard-cubic-feet-per-day hydrogen plant and tie-ins to the existing refinery.

Cherne self-performed all major disciplines in the installation of the hydrogen unit, which consisted of two steam methane reformers designed to provide 230 million standard cubic feet per day of hydrogen.

Cherne was responsible for replacing some of the refinery’s oldest processing equipment with modern technology to help meet some of the toughest air quality standards in the U.S. The project also increased the efficiency of the fluid catalytic cracking feed hydrotreater to treat higher sulfur content feedstock and increase sulfur recovery unit capacity.