Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

August 1998

Archive

Instrumentation/Control

Understanding object-oriented technology

A revolution is occurring in business and control software

Management Guidelines

The changing hydrocarbon processing industry
Transmar Consult Inc.: Chevriere, J. P.

Find out how top executives of some international oil, chemical and engineering companies cope

Manager's guide to competency testing and certification
Technipetrol SpA: Robertson, D.

Is strategic competency measurement the HPI's performance management tool of the future?

Process Technology/Distillation

High-capacity distillation
CH2M Hill: Sloley, A. W.

New directions with trays increase tower capacities

Rotating Equipment/Piping

Influence of piping vibration on pump shaft cracks
Polimeri d.o.o: Mahulja, M.

Vibration analysis found the problem

Columns

HP Reliability: Melding preventive and predictive maintenance
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

An effective maintenance program places more emphasis on failure prevention than on correction. Using this approach, the net result is safer operations, stable production, higher service factor and lo..

HPInternet: Delft University of Technology
Competitive Analysis Technologies: Crowley, B.

Let's visit Europe this month, specifically the Delft University of Technology's Waterman Institute and the department for Chemical Process Technology (http://www.cpt.stm.tudelft.nl/cpt/). This area o..

HPIn SHE: Just say no!
ility Engineering: Whetton, Chris

I have recently been reviewing a number of major accidents, gathering material for a paper to be presented at the World Engineering Congress in 2000. What struck me as interesting about some of these ..

HPIn Processing: Tips to prospective authors
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nakamura, D. N.

In my five years as Process Editor, I think this summer has been one of the most uneventful in the HPI. Since there is not much newsy-type stuff to write about, I thought I would take this opportunity..

HPIn Competitiveness: Has your firm answered the performance questions?
Cost Control Systems, LLC: Lamb, R. G.

Most firms and their plants now have a history of undertaking programs to improve equipment reliability and maintenance. Many still expect good results. Some are becoming discouraged. As a predictor..

HP Innovations: HPInnovations

Advanced DAF aidsoil, grease removal Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is a commonly used clarification process for refinery wastewaters. Free and emulsified oil and grease (O/G) and suspended solids ar..

HPInformer: HPInformer, North America edition
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Stephens, F. P.

Brown & Root Engineering and Construction, Alhambra, California, and Phillips Chemical Co., Bartlesville, Oklahoma, have collaborated on the application of Philips' E-Series Catalyst for the selective..

HPInformer: HPInformer, International edition
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Stephens, F. P.

ABB, Zurich, Switzerland, an international electrical engineering company, has agreed with Alfa Laval, Sweden, to acquire its Alfa Laval Automation unit. The acquisition is subject to approval of regu..

New Developments: NEW developments

Bearings resist heat and wear Made from a new and patented material, WearComp bushings and bearings are being used to extend drill time in the well and maintain production equilibrium in downstream ..

HP Construction: HPIn Construction
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Stephens, F. P.

Another PP expansion for Exxon Chemical Exxon Chemical Co. plans to build a 275-Mtpy polypropylene (PP) facility at its Baton Rouge, Louisiana, polyolefins plant. Completion is scheduled for mid-200..

Free Literature: FREE literature

Hydrocarbon calibration standards Air Products offers a new brochure describing the full range of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon process calibration standards and natural gas reference standards ava..

HP In Brief: HPIn Brief
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

Demand for refined petroleum products is 'enjoying slow, steady growth worldwide,' despite growing concern about the climactic effects of using hydrocarbon fuels, says a report from the International ..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Gas to capture 27% share by 2015 of total primary energy consumption
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

Advances in gas technology have played a leading role in improving the outlook for natural gas in recent years. The 1998 edition of the Gas Research Institute's (GRI) Baseline Projection indicates tha..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Ethylene capacity utilization, margins outlook for next decade
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

A review from SRI Consulting assesses the influence of the Asian crises on global ethylene demand and the resulting impact on global ethylene capacity buildup. Implications for the industry are also b..

HP Impact: HPImpact: EAM software market to reach $1.9 billion
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

Leading edge manufacturing companies implementing enterprise asset management (EAM) software solutions are driving the evolutionary process of elevating the traditional computerized maintenance manage..

HP Impact: HPImpact: 'Demand boom' forecast for naphtha, LPG in Middle East refineries
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

The demand situation in what a new study from the East-West Center calls the "Mideast 9"* is complex. Price increases in Saudi Arabia in 1995, and annually in Iran since 1995, have slowed demand growt..

HP Impact: HPImpact: What are opportunities, constraints for international HPI businesses?
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

Doing business in a global economy means opportunities, but there are also pressures. A report from the Center for Advanced Purchasing Studies and A.T. Kearney analyzes the direction this new business..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Seven devices complete Fieldbus registration
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

The concept of fieldbus has long-promised fully integrated digital control with interoperable host and field devices. Recently, seven fieldbus devices have successfully completed the Fieldbus Foundati..

Misc

More about closed-loop optimization
Petrocontrol: Friedman, Y. Z.

Editor's note: In the March '98 "HP In Control" editorial1, I named several controversial issues and requested readers' input. Dr. Friedman is responding to per..

Where do we go from here?

Has the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) met all its environmental goals? Have all compliance objectives and tasks been completed? Is everything done? Amazingly enough, some folks believe that ..