"Say it early, say it straight, say it all" was a phrase that characterized the collaboration among team members involved in $1.6 billion in upgrades to the 83-year-old Marathon Oil refinery in Detroit.

Photo Courtesy of Fluor
Despite logging more than 8 million man hours, upgrades to a Marathon Oil refinery in Detroit logged zero lost time incidents.
Photo Courtesy of Fluor
Renovations increased capacity by 15%.

Teamwork promoted transparency for issues ranging from cost to onsite safety. Despite logging more than 8 million man-hours, the project recorded zero lost-time incidents and received a workplace safety award from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Although the upgrades increased capacity by 15%, the facility releases fewer emissions due to the installation of a sulfur-recovery complex, an ultra-low nitrous oxide burner, a selective catalytic reduction system and a hydrogen plant to remove sulfur from motor oils.

Marathon Detroit Heavy Oil Upgrade,Detroit

Key Players

Owner: Marathon Oil, Houston

GC: Fluor, Sugar Land, Texas

Designer: Fluor, Houston