Materials selection during refinery capital projects is critical to ensuring operational reliability and capital efficiency.

Howard Chiang, an engineer at Aramco Services Co. and an industry-recognized expert in materials and corrosion, delivered that message at the recent Fifth Refining China Conference in Beijing.

The conference is dedicated to refining technology, with the aim of bringing together Chinese and international refining-industry companies.

This year's event drew more than 170 executives, chief engineers and others primarily representing China's energy sector, including the China National Petroleum Corp., the China National Offshore Oil Corp. and China Petrochemical Corp. (Sinopec Group).

Saudi Aramco holds substantial joint-venture and investment interests in refining and marketing activities in China.

Chiang gave a presentation titled "A Review of Materials Selection Process for Refinery Capital Projects," which he co-authored with Abdelhak Kermad, an engineering consultant with the Consulting Services Department at Saudi Aramco who specializes in metals.

The presentation focused on materials selection in a typical refinery project, from conceptual engineering, front-end engineering and detailed design through construction and commissioning.

The presentation also covered topics such as building equipment integrity in capital projects, with a focus on minimizing corrosion risk.

Materials used for fabricating process equipment and piping components commonly succumb to corrosion when exposed to various conditions.

Chiang emphasized the need for documenting assumptions and decisions about all materials selection to better track and mitigate future corrosion damage and achieve reliable refinery operations.

"I wanted the audience to know that Saudi Aramco is not just a leader in the oil and gas business, but also a technology leader that continues to set new standards of excellence throughout the industry," Chiang said.