Protect | 240321 | Employee interviews | Company information

石油製品を毎日
安定供給することで
人々の暮らしを守る。

Chiba Complex Refinery Section 1

M.YOSHIHARA

Idemitsu Chiba Complex, located in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, is Complex integrated Refinery and petrochemical plant with a vast site of 1,150,000 tsubo (3,820,000 square meters). Refinery was completed in 1963 and continues to supply petroleum products today.

INTERVIEW POINT

Joined the company in 2007. After being assigned to the Oil Refining Section 1, he spent 10 years on shift work in charge of operating equipment, and 6 years in charge of operation planning, before returning to shift work in 2022. Responsible for the operation of multiple equipment, including the atmospheric distillation equipment, which is the most upstream part of crude oil processing.

原油から
石油製品を作る
上流装置を
預かるという重責

Refinery equipment continues to operate 24 hours a day.

Refinery at Idemitsu Chiba Complex has approximately 50 refining units. It takes one day for crude oil to pass through refinery equipment and become petroleum products. Crude oil is first separated into different fractions in an atmospheric distillation unit, which is about 50 meters high. After secondary treatment and quality confirmation, it is turned into petroleum products such as LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, and lubricating oil. become.

Staff supporting the constantly operating Refinery

Yoshihara's day begins at 7:30 a.m. when he takes over from the night shift supervisor, and his work continues until 8:00 p.m. "At the morning meeting, everyone confirms the operations to be performed that day. The equipment is then put into operation. The operator has a 'boardman' who adjusts the flow rate, pressure, etc. on a computer screen in the control room, and We have ”fieldmen” who inspect the equipment, prevent troubles, and make adjustments."Fieldmen handle nearly 10,000 valves of atmospheric distillation equipment alone, as well as rotating machines and inspection items stipulated by various laws and regulations. Apparently it takes 4 to 5 hours to check each and every one of them. "I work 11 hours a day, but I use the time in between to review work, do individual assignments, and do self-study.There are required qualifications for operation, and in our department, we have the qualifications required for hazardous materials handling. I need qualifications as a boiler engineer and a high-pressure gas production safety supervisor.Therefore, I study hard during work hours and after I get home, and then take the qualification exams for each."

有事の際にも、
安全を確保し
エネルギーの
安定供給を続ける

Handle problems with caution and safety as the top priority

Since oil refining operations involve machinery, unexpected troubles can sometimes occur. “Since Complex has been established for more than 50 years, we sometimes experience problems with our equipment that would not occur in a modern plant.Even when we say trouble, there are various situations. Sometimes the switch does not turn on.The piping of oil refining equipment circulates water, other utilities, steam, steam, etc.For example, cooling water for cooling rotating machines flows through the gaps between joints. Suppose that there is a leak in the cooling water.If it is a domestic pipe, you can remove it and replace it, but in the case of a purification device, this is not the case.To replace the defective part of the cooling water in a rotating machine that is continuously operating You must carefully consider where to stop the machine and make a plan before stopping the machine and taking action.When an abnormality or operational change occurs, an alarm is activated; There are parts that are graded, and alarms sound in two stages depending on the grading and process.In the case of a gradual failure, recovery can be made after the first stage alarm.However, in the case of a sudden failure, etc., the alarm goes off in two stages. There is a possibility that the situation will break through, so I am training regularly to be able to make decisions on the fly."

What is required in an emergency is to continue to provide the correct supply.

“During the Great East Japan Earthquake, huge lines in front of gas stations were reported on the news.I personally witnessed that situation.At that time, my boss at the time told me how to continue supplying infrastructure "properly". I remember talking about how important it is. "Correctly" means supplying products safely and stably, and with quality that falls within correct control values. In this case, it's about supplying the gasoline base material, blending it and getting the product out."

時代が変わっても
人々の暮らしを
守る存在で
あり続けたい

Petroleum products that continue to protect the lives of all people

"Petroleum products are used not only for fuels such as gasoline, but also for plastic products. Some of the household goods we use every day are actually made from our products. I think most people use electricity every day, but heavy oil and lubricating oil are required to turn the turbines of generators.

To contribute to the energy supply of the next era

"During the past 10 years or so, there has been a rapid generational shift, and human resource development in the field has become an urgent need.When I joined the company, I remember that the majority of people in the field were in their 50s. Currently, most of the people are in their 20s.The equipment needs to be maintained, but we also need to train people who understand and use the equipment.From my point of view as Naonaga, there is no time for grace, and we need to think about training methods and grow together. I think there is no other way.”

ANOTHER STORY

What is a new method of human resource development that transcends the generation gap?
Aiming to develop human resources that lead to safe operations

"Right now, I am faced with the challenge of having to think about a different training method than the education I received.When I first joined the company, when my subordinates were feeling down, my boss would try to cheer them up by drinking. However, in this day and age, things don't always work that way.For example, some people handle things roughly.Even in normal life, things can break when thrown, or unexpected problems can occur. I believe that basic things like treating things with care lead to safety.That's why we need to know how to convey our thoughts and ideas in a way that helps others understand their actions. We are working every day through trial and error to see if things will change.”

*As of March 2024