IC 8270 Water Utilization And Conservation By Petroleum Refineries In California (76fe2110-f498-4c8a-94ad-84e93291cac4)

This study was made to determine trends in fresh water usage by California petroleum refineries, to Forecast fresh water requirements to 1975, and to evaluate water conservation practices. Statistical data used in the study were obtained largely from published sources and from records of selected companies. An adequate sampling of the State's refining capacity was obtained, and the data were extrapolated to the total California refining capacity. A breakdown of the data was then made on the basis of the following refining regions: (1) the Los Angeles Basin and Southern Coastal region, (2) the Southern San Joaquin Valley, and (3) the San Francisco Bay area. An unpublished forecast of crude oil input to refineries by a major oil company operating on the West Coast was used as a basis for predicting fresh-water usage. The 1963 fresh water intake by California petroleum refineries was 84 million gallons per day. This is expected to increase to 128 million gallons per day by 1975. The fresh-water to crude-oil ratio is increasing in all regions except the Southern San Joaquin Valley. At present, the supply of fresh water available to almost all of the State's petroleum refineries, mostly from surface sources and company-owned wells, is adequate, although shortages may develop within the foreseeable future. Present conservation methods are centered around the following four objectives: (1) minimum intake of fresh water of the lowest possible quality commensurate with sound technologic practice; (2) optimum recirculation (3) proper treatment before discharge; and (4) substitution of air cooling for water cooling.