REGIONAL FOCUS A million-pound drum is lifted into place during the coker replacement project at the CHS refi nery in McPherson, Kan. Massive Crane Provides Heavy Lifting The National Cooperative Refi ning Association (NCRA) coker replacement project in McPherson, Kan., entered its most visible stage last month when an enormous “super crane” lifted two drums weighing a million pounds each into place. Two weeks later, the crane placed the coker derrick above the drums, making it the highest structure on the refi nery at more than 300 feet tall. The VersaCrane TC-36000 is the ninth-largest crane in the world with a load capacity of 2,500 tons. This job called for a 540-foot boom. Nearly 250 semi-truck and trailer loads brought the many crane parts to the refi nery for assembly, which took several months to complete. An important component of refi nery operations since the 1930s, the coker squeezes the last bit of gasoline and diesel fuel from crude oil. The remaining thick, hard, coal-like substance, called petroleum coke, is produced at the facility as a fuel source for industrial applications. The $555 million new unit is scheduled to be completed in August 2015, says Rick Leicht, vice president of refi ning. “The new unit will be a signifi cant upgrade in technology over our current By Dan Kliewer coker, which has been in service since 1953. It will also increase our options for types of crude oil that can be purchased and processed through the plant.” Now that the coke drums and derrick are in place, the crane has moved to its next location, while piping equipment is installed and connections are made. CHS owns 88.85 percent of NCRA and will become sole owner in September 2015. ■ See a video of coker construction at chsinc.com/c. SEE MORE EDITORIAL STAFF Linda Tank / publisher / senior VP Greg Lamp / editor in chief Joel Schettler / managing editor Lisa Graham-Peterson Lani Jordan David Lundquist / photographer OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Chairman David Bielenberg, Silverton, Ore. First Vice Chairman Dennis Carlson, Mandan, N.D. Secretary-Treasurer Dan Schurr, LeClaire, Iowa Second Vice Chairman Steve Fritel, Barton, N.D. Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Curt Eischens, Minneota, Minn. Don Anthony, Lexington, Neb., Robert Bass, Reedsburg, Wis., C.J. Blew, Castleton, Kan., Jon Erickson, Minot, N.D., Jerry Hasnedl, St. Hilaire, Minn., Alan Holm, Sleepy Eye, Minn., David Johnsrud, Starbuck, Minn., David Kayser, Alexandria, S.D., Randy Knecht, Houghton, S.D., Greg Kruger, Eleva, Wis., Edward Malesich, Dillon, Mont., Steve Riegel, Ford, Kan. Copyright 2014 CHS Inc. All rights reserved. Vol. 8, No. 1 C is sent to you courtesy of CHS to connect you with its broad world of resources and solutions. CHS is the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company. C is published bimonthly by CHS, 5500 Cenex Drive, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077. Subscription cost is $6.00 per year. Please send address changes to C , CHS, mail station 408, 5500 Cenex Drive, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077; call 630-462-2307; or fax 630-462-2202. For editorial requests, call 800-232-3639, ext. 4323, or send email to greg.lamp@chsinc.com. TM 4 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 CHSINC.COM
Issue Articles
Regional Focus
Dan Kliewer
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