February 2005

New processing technologies uncover means to produce low-sulfur biomass-based diesel

Critical hurdles such as testing and supply distribution must be resolved as part of new fuel mandates

Regulation in Europe is on the verge of a radical transformation. What does this mean for the downstream oil industry?

In this revamp project, installing new equipment increased throughput with the added bonus of greater mechanical integrity for the unit

A quick comparison of analytical techniques available to meet regulatory mandates

Tightened specifications challenge refiners to develop innovative solutions that upgrade heavy cuts into high-quality diesel

Increase existing production capacity using these novel technologies

New processing methods fine-tune gasoline for the Chinese market

A simple calculation can help determine the cause

Similar techniques can be used to avoid problems with parallel operation

My friend and colleague, Myke King, wrote an article1 proposing rules for dealing with inferential control models. For the most part, I agree with the arguments, and especially enjoyed the funny illus..

Heinz P. Bloch, Reliability/Equipment Editor       Comments? Write:HB@HydrocarbonProcessing.com The subject of lubrication is rarely, if ever, taught in US universities. Tha..

To remain viable over the long term, successful businesses need to be agile, responding to changing customer needs and dynamic business environments. Agility is needed in many aspects of the business,..

Here's a long view, a very long view, on the way hydrocarbon processing for energy and transport may develop over the next 50 years, starting quite possibly with a billion dollars of investment here i..

Most refineries and chemical plants inspect the waterside of each fired boiler during the annual or bi-annual outage. The purpose of this inspection is to ensure that the corrosion and deposit control..

BASF is expanding its diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) plant in Antwerp, Belgium, from 360,000 metric tpy to 450,000 metric tpy. The expansion is scheduled for completion second-quarter 2005. Report..

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that domestic natural gas production is expected to increase more slowly than consumption, rising to 20.5 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) in 2010 and 21..

The recently developed Professional Piping Designer (PPD) Certification Program from the Society of Piping Engineers and Designers (SPED) shows how the piping design profession is becoming a broad and..

In the past 18 months, China has started more new coal-fired power plants than the US has built in the past half century. Provinces suffering from blackouts and electricity shortages due to the boom..

Foil gas bearings enable oil-free compressor 'breakthrough' Mohawk Innovative Technology, Inc. (MiTi) has enabled what it claims is a truly oil-free plant air compressor. Working with Samsung Tec..

Communicator for advanced maintenance support The 375 Field Communicator now supports 82 additional FOUNDATION fieldbus devices and 50 more HART instruments for maintenance purposes. It is already c..

KIM M. JACKSON , Process Editor       Comments? Write: KJ@HydrocarbonProcessing.com ..

Siemens LLC, Dubai, as a consortium leader, has an order from the Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Co. Ltd. (ADGAS) to modernize and extend power supply and distribution equipment for a gas liquefaction pla..

Honeywell has a $60 million contract from Naftec Spa for an automation project at its refinery in Arzew, Algeria. The project's goal is to modernize instrumentation systems to improve production and o..

Aker Kvaerner China, an Aker Kvaerner Group subsidiary, completed the polyacetal copolymer (POM) resin plant project for Asahi-DuPont POM (Zhangjiagang) Co., Ltd., in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, P..

Pump for abrasive process slurries The Titan Slurry heavy-duty, dual-case lined pump is a horizontal, single-stage, end-suction pump. Its tangential discharge reportedly handle..

  US energy demand outlook The US is th..

Since 2001, Asia's incremental oil demand growth has steadily improved on the back of China's amazing increase in petroleum product demand. A new analysis from FACTS Inc. projects that 2004 will be a ..

The Asian refining industry has endured drastic cycles during the past 15 years. In the early 1990s, the unprecedented expansion led to rapid growth in petroleum demand and the need for refining capac..

Laser scanning is a technology that really shines when labor is expensive, capital is scarce, schedules are tight and appetites for project risk are low. "I don't know anyone who expects relief from a..

New technologies and regulations are spurring growth

   Gulf Publishing Company announced the following management changes:    ..

Reconcile both mass and volume simultaneously

Update the cracker heat balance to minimize coke make