REF 207
Refinery Production Planning, Scheduling, and Optimisation
COURSE SCHEDULE
| Code | Date | Location | price (€)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| REF 206 | 16-20 Feb 2026 | Online | 3300 |
| REF 206 | 17-21 Aug 2026 | Zagreb | 4400 |
* Prices are subject to VAT and local terms. Ph.D. students, groups (≥ 3 persons) and early bird registrants (8 weeks in advance) are entitled to a DISCOUNT!
COURSE OVERVIEW
This is a 5-day course designed to provide participants with a complete understanding of refinery production planning, scheduling, and optimization using spreadsheet-based tools, progressing logically from planning fundamentals through LP modelling, crude and unit optimization, scheduling, blending, and supply chain integration.
Day one – Refinery Planning Fundamentals covers the planning hierarchy (strategic, tactical, operational), crude assays and product specifications, refinery economics (netback, gross margin, cash cost, breakeven), refinery configuration and complexity, and a workshop on margin calculations.
Day two – Linear Programming (LP) Using Excel Solver addresses LP fundamentals (objective function, constraints, decision variables), building LP models in Excel, using Excel Solver (installation, configuration, solving), interpreting Solver outputs (sensitivity report, shadow prices, reduced costs), and a workshop on building a simple refinery LP in Excel.
Day three – Crude Selection and Unit Optimization covers crude evaluation and selection (netback, compatibility, crude assay blending), CDU optimization (cut points, product yields, energy), conversion unit optimization (FCC, hydrocracker, reformer, coker, alkylation), treating unit optimization (hydrotreaters, amine, SRU), and a workshop on crude slate optimization using Excel.
Day four – Production Scheduling and Blending Optimization addresses scheduling methodology (monthly to daily, time horizons, time buckets), tankage and inventory management, product blending optimization (gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, aviation fuel), giveaway minimization, and a workshop on blend optimization and giveaway reduction using Excel Solver.
Day five – Supply Chain Integration and Advanced Topics concentrates on supply chain integration (crude supply, product offtake, marine, pipeline, rail, storage), multi-period planning and inventory optimization, planning under uncertainty (scenario analysis, what-if, manual sensitivity), and advanced topics including grassroots economics, CO₂ optimization, and renewable co-processing, followed by course review and close.
COURSE OUTLINE
5 days
INSTRUCTOR
Day 1: Refinery Planning Fundamentals
o The Planning Hierarchy (strategic, tactical, operational, real-time)
o Refinery Configuration and Complexity Index
o Crude Assays – interpretation and key parameters
o Product Specifications
o Refinery Economics – netback, gross margin, cash cost, breakeven, crack spreads
o Refinery planning Key Performance Indicators
o Workshop – Refinery Margin Calculations (given crude and product prices, using Excel)
Day 2: Linear Programming (LP) Using Excel Solver
o Introduction to Linear Programming
o LP Formulation for Refineries – yield vectors, capacity constraints, demand constraints, inventory constraints, quality constraints
o Interpreting Solver Outputs –
• final solution, sensitivity report, answer report, limits report
o Common LP Pitfalls
o Workshop – Building and Solving a Refinery LP Model in Excel
Day 3: Crude Selection and Unit Optimization
o Crude Evaluation and Selection
• crude assay data, opportunity crudes
o CDU Optimization
• cut points & product yield optimization, energy efficiency
o Conversion Unit Optimization
• Fluid Catalytic Cracker FCC
• Hydrocracker HCK
• Reformer –CCR vs semi-regenerative
• Coker
• Alkylation / Isomerization
o Treating Units Optimization
• Hydrodesulfurization HDS
• Amine Unit
• Claus Sulphur Recovery and Tail Gas Treating
o Workshop – Crude Slate Optimization, select optimal crude mix given crude prices, unit constraints, product prices, and sulphur limits)
Day 4: Production Scheduling and Blending Optimization
o Scheduling Methodology
o Time Horizons and Time Buckets
o Tankage and Inventory Management
o Blend Optimization
• gasoline (RON, MON, RVP, sulfur, benzene, olefins, aromatics, distillation),
• diesel (cetane index, cold flow (CFPP), sulfur, density, PAH, lubricity, distillation),
• fuel oil (viscosity, pour point, sulfur, stability),
• aviation fuel (freeze point, smoke point, thermal stability, lubricity, flash point),
• LPG (vapor pressure, composition)
o Inventory and Logistics Coordination
o Workshop – Blend Optimization and Giveaway Reduction using Excel Solver (calculate least-cost gasoline)
Day 5:Supply Chain Integration and Advanced Topics
o Supply Chain Integration
• crude supply (pipeline, marine, rail, truck),
• product offtake (domestic, export, local truck/rail),
• storage terminals, inter-refinery transfers, swap agreements, exchange agreements
o Multi-Period Planning and Inventory Optimization
o Planning Under Uncertainty
o Integration with Production Unit Scheduling
o Advanced Topics – grassroots refinery economics (site selection, configuration, CAPEX estimation – Lang factor, factored estimates,
o Course Review and Close
Petro Teach Instructor
The Instructor holds BSc and PhD degrees from the UK and has over 30 years of experience in refinery technology, operations, and management with major oil companies. He currently works as a Senior Consultant at PetroTeach, specializing in oil and gas, process technology, safety, and environmental management. He is a Chartered Chemist and a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), as well as a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (USA). He previously served as an Approved Safety Inspector at Cyprus Petroleum Refinery Ltd. He holds honorary academic appointments at several European universities and is involved in research in vacuum distillation, gas recovery, and pyrolysis. He is a team member of the Energy Integration Lab at Huddersfield University and heads the Waste to Plastics effort at a major recycling facility in Cyprus. Since 1996, he has delivered more than 250 professional training courses.
DESIGNED FOR
o Refinery planners and supply chain professionals
o Process engineers and optimisation engineers
o Schedulers and operations coordinators
o Commercial and trading professionals
o Finance and business analysis professionals
Some prior exposure to refinery operations or supply chain management is ideal but not required. The course builds from basic principles while providing practical tools for experienced participants.
COURSE LEVEL
o Intermediate to Advance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
o Understand refinery planning fundamentals – Describe the refinery planning hierarchy (strategic, tactical, operational), interpret crude assays and product specifications, and apply key economic concepts including netback, gross margin, and cash cost
o Formulate and solve linear programming (LP) models using Excel Solver – Build refinery LP models in spreadsheets, interpret LP outputs including shadow prices and reduced costs, and conduct sensitivity analysis. Proprietary software such as PIMS will be discussed and compared
o Optimise crude selection and unit operations – Select crude slates based on netback value, manage unit constraints (CDU, FCC, reformer, hydrotreater, alkylation, coker), and evaluate crude switching and co-processing opportunities
o Develop production schedules – Translate monthly plans into weekly daily and hourly schedules, manage tankage and blending, balance inventory targets with logistics, and handle grade transitions and changeovers
o Optimise product blending – Apply blend optimisation techniques for gasoline (RON, MON, RVP, sulfur, benzene), diesel (cetane, cold flow, sulfur), fuel oil (viscosity), and other products; minimise giveaway while meeting specifications
o Integrate planning with supply chain and logistics – Understand crude supply and product offtake constraints, coordinate marine, pipeline, and rail logistics, and implement multi-period planning with inventory and distribution optimisation using spreadsheet tools.
REGISTER
Registration is now OPEN!
* Prices are subject to VAT and local terms. Ph.D. students, groups (≥ 3 persons) and early bird registrants (8 weeks in advance) are entitled to a DISCOUNT!
For more details and registration please send email to: register@petro-teach.com
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