November 1998
Computer Technology
Actual plant examples show how this technology can solve problems and improve operations
Instrumentation/Control
Benefits from this application were worth about $7 million per year
Project Management
Participation in a technical writing process helps employees to learn and perform their job effectively by independently writing facility training and operating documentation
Reliability/Safety
Dynamic modeling predicts pressure wave effects and consequences during a tube rupture
Columns
The ISA Expo '98 conference and exhibit was held Oct. 19–23 in Houston. Each year, some technology seems to dominate the event. In '97 the buzz words were "asset management." Although many new as..
Major machinery foundations suffer from occasional cracks and other defects that detract from achieving industry's reliability goals. In a recent case, a petrochemical company in the Midwestern U.S. o..
I am often asked about finding current chemical prices on the Internet. I often respond that what is there isn't current. Like buying a car, the advertised price is rarely what you actually pay. There..
ISA held its international exhibition and conference in Houston, Oct. 19–22, 1998. As with most international technical forums, four days was too short to cover the entire show. But why should pr..
Recently, I stayed in a hotel where, besides the traditional mint on the pillow, several magazines were provided for guests' entertainment. One magazine had a title similar to: Viking! The New Magazin..
Have you read your company's most recent annual report? Pay special attention to the section typically titled "To Our Stockholders" and signed by the chairman. Better yet, access the Web sites of your..
Trends and Resources
Coriolis flowmeter has custody-transfer rating Schlumberger's Coriolis mass flowmeter received National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) approval for custody-transfer applications. This volumetric app..
Aspen Technology, Inc. (AspenTech), Cambridge, Massachusetts, a leading provider of Smart Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management software and services for the process industries, and SRI Consulting..
BP Chemicals, Shanks & McEwan (Northern), Valpak, and SCORE Environment have agreed to formalize their respective roles in a œ 300,000 study to examine the feasibility of building a polymer crack..
Easy to install, cost-saving steam trap New steam trap series RHOMBUSline has been specially designed for the varying needs of modern steam systems in warehousing, installation and maintenance work...
ABB Lummus awarded delayed coking plant by Coastal ABB Lummus Global has been awarded a lump-sum turnkey contract by subsidiaries of Coastal Corp. for its new San Nicolas, Aruba, delayed coking plan..
Fractionation trays New multi-page brochure from ACS Industries describes the design and manufacture of conventional trays (sieve, valve and bubble-cap) as well as high capacity trays. It contains m..
Overall instruments market will grow 4.1%/year from 1998–2003, according to a study from Business Communications Co., Norwalk, Connecticut. Highest growth rate of any category will be in UV and v..
Despite the maturing of the petrochemical industry, world and regional outlooks for petrochemicals are "surprisingly strong," says a new report from SRI Consulting, Menlo Park, Calif. This assessment ..
Oil and gas producers have an important stake in electric industry restructuring. As consumers, oil producers must seize the initiative to control their electricity costs. This will entail both unders..
Two recent market analyses from The Freedonia Group, Cleveland, Ohio, forecast world demand for polypropylene and the U.S. outlook for gasoline. Polypropylene. World demand for polypropylene (PP) i..
The market for high-performance ceramic coatings services is expected to reach $987 million by 2002, an increase from $710 million in 1997. That's an average annual growth rate of 6.8%. So says resear..
The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) recently testified on the costliness of EPA's Refinery MACT II proposal. "The cost-effectiveness of the EPA's proposed controls to reduce inorg..
A new partnership has been established between the U.S. petroleum and chemical industries, the EPA and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The initiative aims to voluntarily provide the public with ..
Misc
The title of the June 1998 "HP In Processing" was "Deal-making heats up in 1998," and although refiners were busy with consolidations, joint ventures, mergers, etc., I had no idea what was in store fo..
- Sealmatic partners with Saudi Thalate in Saudi Arabia 10/14
- Colonial Oil Industries Marine Division achieves ISCC Plus and EU certifications 10/14
- Fulkrum diversifies its service portfolio with new offerings 10/14
- Kinaxis, ExxonMobil partner to transform energy sector supply chains 10/14
- Phillips 66 agrees to sell interest in Switzerland-based joint venture 10/14
- Nigeria signs deal to supply gas to proposed $3.5-B petrochemical plant 10/14