April 2006

For this industry, the forecast is optimistic. Yet, energy prices can dim future demand and profits

Innovations in technology and best practices facilitate economic survival for global operating companies

A new reactor system capitalizes on shifting butene-2 to butene-1 from C4 fractions

Innovations in radiant coil design and layout facilitate leap to greater-capacity single-cell furnaces for ethylene plants

Operating company chooses to revamp the primary reformer to increase capacity of existing unit

Plagued with operating problems from solid benzoic acid accumulation, this Canadian operating facility successfully converted the venturi scrubber into a packed tower/ quench unit

Simple method can be used to calculate the dewpoint temperature

Thermal upsets can cause pump problems due to piping loads

Innovative project construction phasing, and the combination of precast, cast-in-place and pre-tensioned concrete construction technologies resulted in a proper restoration

Use these techniques to help improve organizational culture and business alignment

Using both techniques provides the best solution

Using this technique can help size gas plant inhibitor packages

An experienced reliability manager recently asked our opinion on the subject of turbomachinery vibration. He and his staff had been discussing the vibratory behavior and applicable settings on one of ..

It has always been ARC's position that technology itself has no inherent benefit unless it provides a measurable value proposition to the end user. The drive toward business value and the path to oper..

You may be aware that there's some scratching of heads in this heavily dieselized continent about particulate matter (PM) pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) has just issued its first Air Q..

With the rising cost of energy, many process engineers are focusing on opportunities to conserve energy within the energy-intensive utility operations – the boiler and steam circuit. Most enginee..

Emerson Process Management, an Emerson business, and BP International Ltd. have a contract for Emerson to replace aging process automation systems at BP's three largest US refineries. Covered in the a..

Specifics of air compressor service levels Sullair Corp.'s new series of literature explains its various customer-service levels, detailing parts, service and training agreements. Levels of ..

  Revival for refining It seems news of new refining investments occur daily. At the end of January 2006..

Exceptional oil consumption and the resulting high prices have put refining firmly in the public spotlight. Competitive demands and public expectations are both increasing, according to in a recent ou..

Surprisingly, despite China's oil-poor reputation, that country could become a major competitor in petrochemical production, says a new analysis from SRI Consulting (http://wp.sric.sri.com). "In the h..

The downstream industry is in a new state of transition – transition in the sense that the recent surge in the demand for engineering contractor services is ushering in an entirely new era for th..

The Society of Piping Engineers and Designers (SPED) has successfully completed its final pilot test of its certification exam for Professional Piping Designer (PPD) Level III. The pilot test was give..

Standard & Poor's reports ongoing confidence in energy stocks, favoring investment strategies that overweight exposure to this sector. The independent financial research firm's council of senior econo..

US demand for fluid-handling pumps is expected to increase 2.7%/yr to $8.5 billion in 2010, supported by an improved outlook for many pump-using industries. In addition, gains will be bolstered by con..

Choosing inferential modeling tools In Zak Friedman's "HPIn Control" column (January 2006, pp.15 – 16) on the relative merits of inferential models based on spreadsheet regression techniques, Mr...

The hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) is constantly re-inventing itself. Many factors are propelling these efforts including high energy prices, crude oil shortages, tight natural gas supplies, en..

 KIM M. JACKSON, Process Editor       Comments? Write: KJ@HydrocarbonProcessing.com Mustang Engineering (Mustang), a John Wood Group PLC (Wood Group) subsi..

 KIM M. JACKSON, Process Editor       Comments? Write: KJ@HydrocarbonProcessing.com Lentjes GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany, a GEA Group subsidiary, has new orde..

 KIM M. JACKSON, Process Editor       Comments? Write: KJ@HydrocarbonProcessing.com Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd. (FWEL) and Foster Wheeler Arabia, Ltd., both..

 KIM M. JACKSON, Process Editor       Comments? Write: KJ@HydrocarbonProcessing.com Foster Wheeler Ltd.'s Global Power Group has a contract for two circula..

WENDY WEIRAUCH, Managing Editor       Comments? Write: WW@HydrocarbonProcessing.com Overall, Latin America contains 13% of the world's oil reserves and is now the..