Oil, Gas and PetrochemicalsOlefins and Aromatics Petrochemical Technology
Ethylene, propylene and the BTX aromatics are the building blocks of most plastics, fibres and solvents, and the complexes that make them are among the most energy intensive plants in the chemical industry. The course begins with steam cracking: feedstock choice from ethane to naphtha, furnace severity and coil outlet temperature, quench, cracked gas compression, caustic washing and the cold box. The fractionation train follows, from demethaniser to the C2 and C3 splitters, with acetylene hydrogenation and ethylene and propylene refrigeration. On purpose propylene from propane dehydrogenation and metathesis is reviewed. The aromatics half covers pyrolysis gasoline hydrotreating, solvent extraction, xylene isomerisation and paraxylene separation. Participants finish able to explain how these complexes run, compare feedstock economics and spot the constraints that cap capacity.
Course objectives
- Explain steam cracking chemistry and the effect of feedstock on yields
- Relate furnace severity and residence time to product slate and coking
- Describe cracked gas compression, treating and drying
- Explain the separation sequence from demethaniser to product splitters
- Compare on purpose propylene routes including dehydrogenation and metathesis
- Describe pyrolysis gasoline hydrotreating and aromatics extraction
- Outline xylene isomerisation and paraxylene recovery
- Evaluate feedstock economics for an olefins complex
Who should attend
- Process engineers in petrochemical plants
- Operators and supervisors moving into olefins or aromatics units
- Planners and economists in petrochemical companies
- Engineers evaluating new petrochemical investments
- Technical sales staff serving petrochemical producers
Course outline
- 01Petrochemical value chains
- 02Steam cracking furnaces and feedstocks
- 03Quench and cracked gas compression
- 04Cold section and product fractionation
- 05On purpose propylene
- 06Pyrolysis gasoline and aromatics extraction
- 07Xylenes and paraxylene recovery
- 08Feedstock and margin economics
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 to 30 October 2026 | Durban, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | |
| 16 to 20 November 2026 | Online | Online | R8,500 per delegate | |
| 28 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 | Pretoria, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | |
| 25 to 29 January 2027 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | |
| 1 to 5 February 2027 | Kampala, Uganda | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate | |
| 15 to 19 March 2027 | Cape Town, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate |
Olefins and Aromatics Petrochemical Technology
From R8,500