Trends and Resources
HP Innovations: HPInnovations
New catalyst boosts gasoline yields Engelhard Corp. has released a new proprietary catalyst technology named Flex-Tec. It is estimated to significantly improve gasoline yield from heavy resids. Flex-T..
HPInformer
Australian energy businesses sold Aquila, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, is selling its Australian interests for approximately $589 million which - after fees, expenses and taxes - is projected to yield..
New Developments
Masks provide respiratory protection X-plore masks and filter respirators offer new levels of comfort and protection from hazardous compounds. The new materials and design provide a comfortable face s..
HP Construction: North America
ExxonMobil is expanding a cogeneration facility at its Baytown, Texas manufacturing complex. This expansion is expected to increase the energy efficiency at the complex's refinery and t..
HP Construction: Middle East
Alstom has two separate orders for a total of four GT35C power generation sets. The orders were placed by Bechtel International Inc. and the units will be incorporated into a new LNG fa..
HP Construction: Africa
Sasol is constructing a new 1-octene production plant at Secunda, South Africa, to meet growing global demands. The chemical is claimed to help impart special performance features such ..
HP Construction: Europe
Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd., a Foster Wheeler Ltd. subsidiary, has a five-year, long term agreement (LTA) for ExxonMobil project work in Europe, including projects at ExxonMobil's integr..
HP Construction: Asia Pacific
Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., and its Korean subsidiary Matheson Gas Products Korea, completed a new high purity ammonia facility located in Chonan, Korea. The plant is designed to produce an..
HP Construction: South America
Axens has several contracts to expand the Ecopetrol Cartagena, Colombia refinery. The project is to increase refinery capacity from 75,000 bpsd to 140,000 bpsd, while increasing residue..
Free Literature
Boiler system offers savings Miura steam boilers reportedly provide instantaneous backup systems. By going from zero pressure - cold - to operating pressure in five minutes, they are ideal w..
HP In Brief: HPIn Brief
SARS impacts product ..
HP Impact: Global ethylene: feeding the giants
The steam cracker remains the fundamental unit of the global petrochemical industry, and its key product - ethylene - the most important base feedstock. What is becoming increasingly cl..
HP Impact: PET: Growth picture looks bright
In the past, PET has been the darling of the petrochemical industry, with double-digit growth rates and higher margins than most other plastic resins. PET has outpaced other resins in g..
HP Impact: Middle East operators plan polyethylene expansions
Many factors affect global polyethylene (PE) prices. Several major business conditions include: consumer spending, retail sales, oil prices, ethane (propane) inventories and values, nat..
HP Impact: Polypropylene producers strive for low-cost position
The polypropylene (PP) industry continues to evolve as more challenges materialize for this polymer. The 1990s was an unusual development period; continuing high demand and high polymer..
HP Impact: PVC demand to increase dynamically in Asia
PVC production consumes nearly half of the chlorine consumption. North America and Europe have been the major PVC users. However, PVC demand is rising in developing nations; thus, marke..