LARTC 2026
Daily monitoring of energy efficiency and emissions identified abnormal consump- tion patterns and previously underesti- mated meters affecting balance accuracy. Across both sites, users reported reduc- tions in manual data entry and report- ing time, faster deviation detection, and improved data consistency via integra- tion with external systems: telemetry, weighbridges, data lakes, and emissions monitoring. Visual MESA ® Production Accounting (VMPA) is recognised as a key tool for inventory integrity, operational effi- ciency, and data-driven decision-making. Lessons That Travel A programme of this scale is as much about people as software, and YPF’s experience offers a template other Latin American refiners can borrow. First, engage every key stakeholder in the define stage. Where focal points participated from the outset, requirements remained aligned and the pro- ject progressed more efficiently. Bringing the right people into the discussion early
helped minimise rework and streamline decision-making. Where the right people were in the room from the start, require- ments were held, and rework fell. Second, plan explicitly for stabilisation. Building a formal post-acceptance phase, separated from training and parallel runs, protects the team from the resource con- tention and fatigue that erode quality in the final stretch before go-live. Third, tailor training to the audience. Operators and balance teams need differ- ent things from the system. Segmenting courses by role keeps engagement high and reduces the post-go-live support load. Finally, the go-live support model proved decisive. A dedicated implementation and post-go-live team, communicating through official channels, drove high customer sat- isfaction at the first refinery and built the confidence that carried the programme through to La Plata.
risk-aware approach to digital production accounting can deliver operational transfor- mation while supporting energy efficiency and emissions management objectives, even in large, complex, fully operational refineries. The combination of a trusted mass balance and a disciplined rollout turned a system replacement project into a foundation for the data-driven, lower-car- bon refining the region is moving towards. For Latin American refiners weighing a similar modernisation, the message is encouraging: the technology is proven, the integration is manageable, and the hard- est problems, people, process, and change, yield to a phased plan that treats every site as a lesson for the next. By transforming production accounting into a platform for energy and emissions management, YPF demonstrated how trusted operational data is essential for Bringing Decarbonization to Life ® in modern refineries.
the same audit trail as the hydrocarbon numbers, which is a meaningful advantage as ISO 14064-aligned reporting moves from aspiration to requirement. Customised reports and dashboards were built around how the refineries actu- ally work: daily operational follow-up, balance reconciliation, performance moni- toring, and regulatory reporting. The same engine that closes the books now helps engineers identify where energy and prod- uct are being lost, turning a compliance obli- gation into an operational lever ( Figure 3 ). At CIPH, daily mass balances enabled early loss detection. Gasoline grade 3 losses were traced to miscalibrated pres- sure safety valves (PSV) valves discharg- ing into intermediate tanks; corrective actions progressively reduced losses. Reconciliation also identified faulty meters for timely recalibration. At CILC, modelling flexibility enabled representation of more than 95% of prod- uct movements and reduced flow detec- tion and update times by more than 50%.
A Repeatable Model YPF’s deployment shows how a phased,
Contact: Federico.Neira@kbc.global Santiago.Orellano@kbc.global
Hydroprocessing catalyst and process synergies: Enhancing performance, reliability, and margin
Arun Arora, Thomas Ebner, and Malini Warrier Chevron Lummus Global (CLG)
Across Latin America, as in most of the world, refiners are navigating a complex landscape, processing challenging and heavier crudes, meeting tighter fuel spec- ifications, and adapting assets to chang- ing product demand. Increasingly, success depends not just on new technologies, but on how effectively operators can inte- grate process technologies, catalysts, and existing infrastructure. Chevron Lummus Global (CLG) brings decades of experience across multiple commercially operating units where integrated solutions have been successfully implemented, providing signif- icant Opex and Capex savings. This inte- grated approach ensures high reliability and predictable performance under real operat- ing conditions – critical for maximising mar- gins in today’s environment. At the core of CLG’s approach is its leadership in hydroprocessing and bot- tom‑of‑the‑barrel conversion, areas critical for handling the high‑residue, opportunity crudes common in the region. By closely aligning process design with catalyst formu- lation, CLG enables refiners to provide feed and product flexibilities, improve conversion, increase yields, and enhance product quality while maintaining operational stability. For many LATAM refiners who are look- ing to get more value from existing assets, CLG brings strong capabilities in revamps and repurposing, helping operators adapt units to process new feedstocks, increase severity, or shift product slates towards higher‑value outputs. Whether upgrading hydroprocessing units, integrating resi- due conversion technologies, or preparing assets for co‑processing renewable feeds, CLG’s process and catalyst expertise helps reduce capital intensity while accelerating time to value. CLG is uniquely placed in maximising bot-
Hydroprocessing
Renewable fuels o erings
Naphtha, middle distillates
ISOTREATING (hydrotreating)
Crude oil
Clean fuels petrochemical feedstocks
Crude unit
Waste plastics
ISOTERRA
Vacuum gas oil
ISOCRACKING (hydrocracking)
Seed oils, waste oils
BIOFUELS ISOCONVERSION
Residue upgrading distillates VGOs
Premium lubricants white oils
Atmospheric residue
Municipal solid wastes
ISODEWAXING ISOFINISHING
SAF / RD (HVO)
Vacuum unit
CLG Hydro- conversion (In development)
RDS / VRDS hydrotreating
RFCC feed VLSFO
Waste tyres
Lignocellulosic (wood wastes)
Vacuum residue
LC-FINING LC-MAX / EST (hydrocracking)
Solvent deasphalting
Pitch VLSFO
Residue upgrading
Figure 2 CLG’s renewable fuels portfolio
Delayed coking
Needle coking
Fuel coke
Needle coke /S ynthetic graphite)
Catalysts CLG’s decision to take direct ownership of its catalyst business is driven by a desire to sharpen synergies between process devel- opment and catalyst systems to offer the best yields of lube base oils, middle distil- lates (jet and diesel), SAF, and/or renewa- ble diesel. By aligning process technology, catalyst design, and lifecycle support under a single framework, CLG provides LATAM operators with greater accountability, faster optimisation, and improved perfor- mance visibility across the entire operation. Looking Ahead Looking ahead, collaboration will be key to addressing the region’s diverse refining chal- lenges. CLG collaborates with Lummus and regional partners to deliver integrated low- risk, high-ROI solutions. For LATAM refiners, the path forward lies in highly efficient integrated solutions that combine process innovation, catalyst excel- lence, and smart asset utilisation. With its strengths in hydroprocessing, res- idue conversion, coking, renewables, and revamp capabilities, CLG is well positioned to help customers enhance performance, increase flexibility, and future-proof their operations in an evolving energy landscape. Contact: contact.clg@lummustech.com
Figure 1 CLG’s hydroprocessing and resid upgrading technology solutions
producing premium base stocks that meet evolving automotive and industrial require- ments, enhancing both margins and market positioning. As LATAM advances along the energy transition pathway, renewables and SAF are gaining momentum. CLG’s portfolio, including ISOTERRA ® , Ethanol‑to‑Jet, and Fischer–Tropsch liquids upgrading solu- tions, offers flexible pathways to convert regionally available feedstocks such as eth- anol and biomass into drop‑in fuels. Global partnership Global partnerships further enhance CLG’s ability to deliver unique and relevant inte- grated solutions. Technologies such as TC2C™ (with Saudi Aramco), EST (with ENI), and lignocellulosic upgrading to renew- able fuels (Neste) demonstrate how com- bining advanced process configurations with catalyst innovation can unlock deeper conversion and new value streams, includ- ing pathways toward Crude‑to‑Chemicals (C2C). These approaches are increasingly relevant for LATAM refiners seeking to reduce exposure to fuel market volatility and increase petrochemical integration.
tom-of-the-barrel economics by offering >90% conversion of any resid feed at the commercially proven ENI Slurry Technology (EST) and LC-MAX. For refiners interested in conventional carbon rejection technol- ogy, CLG’s Delayed Coking and Needle Coking technologies could provide a reli- able pathway to convert the heaviest frac- tions into lighter, more valuable products. When paired with optimised downstream hydroprocessing and tailored catalyst sys- tems, these technologies enable refiners to increase overall conversion while improving product recovery and flexibility. This seamless commercially proven inte- gration of resid upgrading technologies with distillate hydrocracking or hydrotreat- ing is particularly relevant in LATAM, where residue upgrading remains a major opportu- nity for margin improvement. In parallel, lubricants represent an attrac- tive growth segment in the region. CLG supports producers in moving beyond com- modity base oils by enabling the production of performance‑driven products. Through advanced hydroprocessing configurations and customised catalyst systems, refiners can precisely control molecular properties,
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