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ARCO Refinery Modular Fabrication

ARCO Refinery Modular Fabrication

Historic Project: Groundbreaking Work From Earlier in Fluor’s History

Client: ARCO Alaska

Location: Astoria, OR, U.S.


Business Segment: Energy Solutions

Industry: Fuels

Map showing the location of ARCO Refinery Modular Fabrication

Executive Summary


We construction of seven process modules for a crude oil and natural gas refinery at ARCO’s oil field development on Alaska’s North Slope. Ranging in size from 400 to 2,700 tons, the modules were constructed in Oregon adjacent to the Willamette River and transported by 2,000-ton crawlers to barges to reach their final destination in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.

Client's Challenge


The project was on a strict schedule, as fabrication and sealift had to be completed prior to the onset of Arctic winter.

Fluor's Solution


The scope of the module fabrication included:

  • Approximately 2,400 tons of structural steel

  • Approximately 240 tagged item pieces of equipment

  • Approximately 125,000 linear feet of pipe

Insulated metal panels enclosed the majority of module exteriors. Each module contained its own control room and motor control centers.

The project's workforce peaked at 1,100 craftsmen.

Conclusion


The project was completed in 1986, after which the modular refinery pumped 100,000 barrels per day of oil into the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.