Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras began on Wednesday (11/19) the first step to start-up the Abreu e Lima Refinery (Rnest), a company project located in Ipojuca, Pernambuco, by injecting natural gas into the Atmospheric Distillation Unit (UDA).

The UDA gas intake, monitored by the refinery’s Integrated Control Center, aims to prepare the unit for oil intake and circulation, which is to take place in the coming days. Following this stage, the company will proceed with the firing of the furnace to begin the distillation (separation) process of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), naphtha, diesel and atmospheric residue (RAT) flows.

Petrobras has been coordinating UDA pre-operation since September 22. During this period, the unit’s operational systems were tested using safe fluids (water, compressed air, nitrogen, vapor and others) to ensure system integrity before introducing hydrocarbons.

The start-up procedure will be followed by the start-up of other units that comprise the first Rnest train: Hydrogen Generation Unit, Naphtha Hydrotreatment Unit, Diesel Hydrotreatment Unit, Delayed Coking Unit and two Treatment Units.