Petroleum coke is a carbonated solid derived from oil refinery coker units or other cracking processes. Traditionally, coke has been derived from coal. The carbonization reactions involve dehydrogenation, rearrangement and polymerization.

In the delayed coker the feed enters the bottom of the fractionator where it mixes with recycle liquid condensed from the coke drum effluent. It is pumped through the coking heater then to one of two coke drums through a switch valve.

In the delayed coker the feed enters the bottom of the fractionator where it mixes with recycle liquid condensed from the coke drum effluent. It is pumped through the coking heater then to one of two coke drums through a switch valve.

So why is Petroleum Coke in the news today? A freighter that left Port Arthur to find a safe haven away from Hurricane Ike has lost its propulsion and is now in the storm's path, according to a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard. The freighter is so far offshore that only way to help the crew might be to send in helicopters, but the strong winds make that possibility difficult.