Enoc looks at UAE condensate splitter restart, cites improved margins

Quantum Commodity Intelligence – The Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) is considering restarting one of the two trains of its 120,000 bpd condensate splitter in Jebel Ali, Dubai, said the company's CEO speaking to Gulf News Tuesday.

The splitter train with 60,000 bpd capacity was closed temporarily last year due to the lack of feedstock at competitive prices, said the company.

CEO Hussain Sultan told Gulf News; "Enoc is positive about the market and gradually expanding its capacity. We may restart our closed splitter soon as the market looks positive."

Enoc's condensate splitter with 120,000 bpd capacity has two trains with 60,000 bpd capacity each. One of the two trains, which was closed temporarily, is expected to go on stream again as Enoc believes condensate feedstock is becoming available in enough quantities and at an affordable price to make the splitter economically viable, said the report.

Enoc's splitter trains normally use Gulf condensates like that from Iran's South Pars oil field, but US sanctions against Iran have reduced condensate availability in the region.

Supplies were further constrained by the dispute between the UAE and Qatar, but Qatar resumed supplies of condensate in March of this year after a diplomatic breakthrough.

Enoc's splitter processes condensate feedstock from the Gulf region into 34,000 barrels per day (bpd) of kerosene, 11,500 bpd of diesel, 5,000 bpd of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and 33,000 bpd of naphtha.

The condensate splitter refinery is owned and operated by Enoc's wholly-owned subsidiary, Enoc Processing Company.