March 2006

Most of the differences relate to online availability

Using integrity levels and instrumented functions is necessary for safe process design

High-speed data capture and analysis can detect many process anomalies

New method evaluates noise in the ultrasonic range

Use the systematic error component of a measuring device to correct mass/ volume balances

Modeling the penalty for violating constraints as well as modeling the credit for approaching them, and shared-risk shared-reward business practices are the solutions

New analytical methods explore processing problems at the catalyst particle level

New calculation method provides better way to distribute flowpaths in distillation column

Innovative operation changes increase run length for sulfur plant

Use these guidelines to help avoid problems

The approach uses synergies that exist between various refinery functions to maximize corporate profit

One of my clients has a dozen or so distillation multi-variable predictive control (MVPC) applications, implemented by one of the major advanced process control (APC) vendors. These applications have ..

In the preface to a recent Pump User's Handbook (ISBN 0-88173-517-5) we alluded to pump failure statistics. These failure statistics are often translated into mean-time-between-failure (MTBF). For wha..

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry is growing explosively around us. Is it exploding safely? Is it moving into mainland Europe in a way that will be acceptable to European society? Whether they ..

A convergence of business, automation and demographic workforce changes are catalyzing a new era of manufacturing. Until recently, a company's success relied heavily on individual knowledge scattered ..

Thermal imaging offers noncontact option for temperature monitoring A new generation of wireless thermal imaging cameras is allowing operators of high-temperature pressure vessels to see in vivid colo..

Single-gas detector offers maintenance-free operation The ALTAIR single-gas detector features three sensor options: carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and oxygen. The CO and H2S ve..

Mustang Engineering, L.P. (Mustang), a John Wood Group PLC (Wood Group) subsidiary, has successfully installed E!CEMS at a refinery owned by Valero Energy Corp. (Valero). The environmental data manage..

Aker Kvaerner has a letter of intent (LOI) with Statoil to provide engineering and assistance for the procurement and construction management upgrade at the group's Mongstad refinery, north of Bergen,..

Invensys Process Systems has a contract with Bechtel to supply Triconex triple modular redundant (TMR) technology for safety instrumented systems in the SonaHess Gassi El Agreb (GEA) redevelopment pro..

GTC Technology has an agreement with Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) to provide licensed technology at its Yanbu site. The company will use the GT-BTX process technology at its grassroots Yanbu N..

GE's Oil & Gas business has a contract with China Petroleum Material and Equipment Corp. and the West East Gas Pipeline Co., a PetroChina Co. Ltd. subsidiary to be an equipment supplier to expand Chin..

Engineering services for the downstream marketplace Bastion Technologies, Inc. is diversifying its base to include petrochemical, offshore oil and gas, power generation and other related markets. The ..

  NOCs to continue acquisitions Executives at National Oil Companies (NOCs) are seeking new relationship..

Aiming to accelerate the pace of technology deployment, industry consortia FIATECH is spearheading a new project. The initiative's mission is to improve the performance of facilities over their full l..

A fundamental and lasting recovery in the chemicals, plastics and fibers markets has reached maturity, according to a recent analysis by CMAI (www.cmaiglobal.com). Several product markets are exhibiti..

In late 2004, a number of US industry mandates—most notably from Wal-Mart and the US Department of Defense—began to force companies to utilize radio frequency identification (RFID) labels. A..

Asia-Pacific distillate prices stabilized somewhat in December along with crude, while product crude price spreads moved in line with historical seasonal patterns, according to an analysis by Energy S..

Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy, President Bush stressed in his State of the Union address. The best way to break what he terms the nation's "addiction" to oil is through techno..

The Gulf of Mexico, one of the US's largest sources of oil and gas production, was dealt a one-two punch by hurricanes last fall, causing destruction and substantial damage to offshore platforms withi..

The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently provided the US Congress with an update on the oil and natural gas industry efforts to meet the nation's energy needs. Nationwide, regular gasoline aver..

An overwhelming majority of US oil and gas investors (81%) support "green" energy investments, according to a recent survey by Deloitte & Touche LLP. Approximately one-third of investors believe compa..

Industry around the globe will be making $2 billion annual investments in thermal treatment systems to reduce air pollutants by 2010. This is an increase of $500 million over the 2005 investment, acco..

European demand for fuels made from renewable resources could triple by 2010. The percentage of biofuels in the region's total fuel mix will rise from the current 2% to 5.75% by decade's end, accordin..

What is holding back the goal of developing interoperability in plant life cycle technology? According to FIATECH's Ric Jackson, some common myths are that: Owners must lead. To this, FIATECH respon..

Because of a typo in last month's "HP Impact" section, total worldwide oil production was wrongly stated. Within the text of an item that appeared on p. 21, titled, "Heavy oils to play enhanced role i..

Using this technique can improve costs and product quality