January 2008

Debottlenecking processing units improved performance and costs

Using this simple correlation can help the bottom line and improve hazardous conditions

Constructing new terminals requires overcoming resistance to meet energy needs

Combining analyzer technology improved refinery maintenance and improved operating costs

Better application of process chemistry enables efficient sulfur abatement

This analyzer technology is replacing conventional sensors to improve the bottom line

New integrated liquids recovery/vaporization method maximizes terminal operator options

Quality issues on imported natural gas will require more processing at receiving sites

Sulfur abatement technology in waste gasification facilities provides hydrocarbon feedstock or fuel

The results are hammering of the gears and fretting of the splines

Use these equations to determine capacity requirements

Follow these guidelines to improve process safety and reduce maintenance costs

Fairly simple changes lead to a considerable improvement in accuracy

We haven't made a survey as to which of the hundreds of "HPIn Reliability" columns published each month over a span of more than 17 years merit being updated. Some are "evergreen," but a few might be ..

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 85 standard addresses the design, installation and operation of single- and multiple-burner boilers and other fired equipment. The NFPA 86 standard addr..

Versatile control monitor reduces downtime Tyco Flow Control has developed the Westlock XR linear/rotary control monitor, claimed to be the industry's first versatile, stand-alone field device that in..

The global control valve market is in the midst of a phase of unprecedented growth due to booming Greenfield plants in developing countries and exploding investment in oil and gas exploration and prod..

The share of natural gas use has grown worldwide from 19% of the total world primary energy to 23% over the past 25 years. In the US, natural gas represented 22% of total primary energy use in 2006. A..

By 2011, the world is forecast to be operating 1.6-million MW of installed capacity, according to an updated study from the McIlvaine Company. In 2020, approximately 2.1 million MW of installed capaci..

Enhanced sulfur recovery Stronger environmental awareness and new sulfur processes call for an upgrade in sulfur-recovery units. Refineries are usually equipped with Claus plants to produce sulfur fro..

  BASF is expanding its production capacity for epsilon-caprolactone (CLO) with a project to raise its capacity by up to 2,000 metric tpy in 2008. In line with market growth, further capital has..

  Integrated Biodiesel Industries, Ltd (IBI) has an agreement with Terminal Puerto Rosario S.A. (TPR) to build a 60,000-metric tpy biodiesel plant inside its facilities in the city of Rosario, A..

  Galp Energia will use UOP/Eni ecofining technology to produce diesel fuel from vegetable oils in a new process unit. Eni S.p.A, which co-developed the technology with UOP, is in the process of..

   GE Oil & Gas will supply three compression trains for a new, large-scale ethylene cracker plant in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, which will have a capacity of 1.165 MMtpy when it enters comme..

  Emerson Process Management has been named main instrumentation provider for the Dushanzi Petrochemical Corp. oil refining and ethylene project in Dushanzi City, China. The Dushanzi project inc..

  Real world flowmeter installation help  Fluid Components International's new Best Practices Engineering Guide: Installation Recommendations for FCI Single-Point, Thermal-Dispersio..

Rewards of cutting energy waste A new analysis commissioned by the United Nations Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy and grant-making organization, f..

Initial estimates for the first half of 2007 (1H07) show that global LNG demand reached 86 million metric tons (MMton). This represents a 6.3-MMton increase-or 8%-when compared to the first half of 20..

Two decades of poor refining margins precipitated reduced refining capacity in Europe. With claims that a lack of refining capacity contributes to high oil prices, developing the refining industry has..

Pending energy legislation in the US Congress would likely have significant adverse effects on the economy and consumers—including 5 million lost jobs and $1 trillion in lost economic output, acc..

TVP, RVP and other important acronyms The October 2007 article "Predicting the true vapor pressure of LPG and natural gasoline" propagates a bias that I believe pervasively exists in a number of tech..