Whiting
Welcome to BP Whiting
History
The BP Whiting Refinery plays a large part in the history of refining, going back to the late 1880s. Originally built as a kerosene refinery by Standard Oil of Indiana, BP Whiting has grown to become the largest inland refinery in the U.S. and continues to play a major role in BP’s overall refining strategy.It was at BP Whiting in 1913 that engineers pioneered the use of thermal cracking in the refining process. They discovered that by incorporating pressure and high temperatures, they could more than double the gasoline output from each barrel of crude oil. This technology was the driving force behind meeting America’s fuel needs during World War I.
Another major breakthrough happened in 1923, when BP Whiting engineers discovered that adding tetraethyl lead to gasoline enhanced the performance of gasoline engines.
Research continued at Whiting in 1941 where they developed a process that made high-grade aviation fuel out of low-octane naptha.
Whiting has also been a leader on the environmental front. It was the first refinery in the industry to add a third stage to its water treatment facility in 1969. And, in 2001, Whiting was the first refinery to introduce low-sulfur diesel fuel (30 ppm) to the Chicago-area, well before the EPA mandate.
Research continued at Whiting in 1941 where they developed a process that made high-grade aviation fuel out of low-octane naptha.
Whiting has also been a leader on the environmental front. It was the first refinery in the industry to add a third stage to its water treatment facility in 1969. And, in 2001, Whiting was the first refinery to introduce low-sulfur diesel fuel (30 ppm) to the Chicago-area, well before the EPA mandate.
Today
BP Whiting now processes more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing 8% of all the asphalt used in the U.S., which is enough to pave a road 20 feet wide by 4 inches thick around the planet each year.Recently, we’ve invested $3 billion to be able to process an additional 260,000 barrels of Canadian oil sands daily by 2011. When the project is complete, our refining capacity of gasoline and diesel fuel will increase by about 15%, or roughly 1.7 million gallons per day.
Our people place a great deal of emphasis on being a High Reliability Organization (HRO). We believe process control and optimization are important if we are to meet the world’s growing energy needs. We’re constantly looking for ways to improve productivity and efficiency while maintaining the highest safety and environmental standards.
Achieving these goals takes a great team. There’s a very real sense of pride that comes from being part of our cohesive team. If you enjoy the opportunity to put your experience to work in a challenging and supportive environment where personal and professional development are a top priority, come join us at Whiting.
Achieving these goals takes a great team. There’s a very real sense of pride that comes from being part of our cohesive team. If you enjoy the opportunity to put your experience to work in a challenging and supportive environment where personal and professional development are a top priority, come join us at Whiting.
