Abstract: In the general layout design of petrochemical plant, environmental conditions are comprehensively utilized to reasonably select the construction site and determine the locations of various structures, transportation lines, pipelines and greenings based on the requirements of production, use, safety and environmental protection. The reasonability of general layout directly affects the quality of general layout design, the construction investment and the production and operation cost. The principles of saving land must be abided by, and rational layout and optimum design shall be carried out so as to achieve the effective utilization of land resources. General layout engineers should fully realize the importance of land conservation and scientifically and rationally use every inch of land. This paper introduces the effective measures for saving land in the general layout design of petrochemical plants from seven aspects of reasonable selection of plant site, layout of process equipment area, road design, layout of tank area, comprehensive layout of pipelines, reserved land and correct understanding of specifications

Key words: rational use, petrochemical plant, general layout, land conservation