Subul Energy team operating a full catalyst handling vacuum system in front of refinery columns at night

Safe, efficient catalyst loading, unloading and regeneration for critical process units.

Catalyst Handling Services in Iraq

Safe Catalyst Handling for Critical Units

When your turnaround schedule is tight, catalyst handling becomes one of the most sensitive activities on the critical path. The work happens in confined spaces, often under inert conditions, with crews and equipment operating around valuable catalysts and complex internals.

Our teams handle the full catalyst change-out lifecycle, from planning through blind-to-blind execution. Method statements, risk assessments, manpower and equipment planning, and coordination with your operations and HSE teams are all defined before work starts.

Blind-to-Blind Change-Out Approach

During execution, we manage vessel entry, gas monitoring, isolation confirmation, and permit-to-work compliance while protecting your equipment and internals.

  • Unloading:

    Purpose-built vacuum and screening systems remove spent catalyst, grading, and fines while protecting internals and shell surfaces.

  • Loading:

    Dense loading or sock loading methods are selected based on reactor design and licensor requirements, with a focus on uniform distribution and controlled pressure drop.

  • Units Covered:

    Experience includes hydrotreaters, hydrocrackers, reformers, isomerization units, gas-treating vessels, and other fixed-bed reactors.

  • Spent Catalyst Management:

    Sampling, packaging, and shipment to regeneration or approved disposal facilities, in line with environmental and regulatory requirements.

  • Reporting:

    Daily progress updates, interface management, punch-list follow-up, and final documentation for clear readiness-for-startup status.

Detailed Planning and HSE Control

Change-outs are built on structured procedures, risk assessments, and close coordination with your HSE team for confined-space and inert-entry work.

Specialized Equipment and Methods

Vacuum systems, screening units, and dense or sock loading methods are matched to your reactor design to protect internals and optimize bed performance.

Contact us to discuss upcoming change-outs and define a safe, efficient catalyst handling plan for your units.
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