topping refinery

A topping refinery is the simplest configuration for a petroleum refinery. It is designed to prepare feedstocks for petrochemical manufacturing or to produce industrial fuels in remote oil-production areas.1

These refineries consist of tankage, a distillation unit, and facilities for recovering gases and light hydrocarbons, along with essential utility systems. Topping refineries produce significant amounts of unfinished oils and are highly reliant on local markets. They are often sufficient where heavy fuel oil is easily marketed, such as in parts of Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. However, in regions like the United States, Canada, and Europe, where gasoline demand is high and fuel oil markets are constrained, more complex refinery configurations are necessary.12