September 2009
Special Report: Refining Developments
Many decades of experience confirm the success of oil mist for rolling-element bearings in the operating speed and size ranges found in motors for process pumps. For the past 40 years, empirical data ..
The potential for overheating is one of many concerns
Next-generation hydrocracking processes increase conversion of residues
Computational fluid dynamics methods improve designs for NOx reduction applications
Proposed federal measures may require that refiners report and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions
Novel approach incorporates liquid redox methods to manage refinery sulfur loading
Novel 'control' scheme optimizes operations and reliability of combustion units
New hydrocracking technology efficiently 'cracks' heavy end cuts for distillates
LNG Developments
New requirements dictate operational flexibility of the design
Management Guidelines
Applying these guidelines can effectively leverage economies-of-scale
Refining Developments
Recycling spent activated carbon can offer economic benefits and environmental credits
Rotating Equipment
An evaluation carried out for a specific project demonstrated that the technology can result in lower operating and investment costs
Columns
Main fractionators are distillation columns that handle wide boiling curve feeds, cutting it into several products. Almost every major refinery unit has such a column, all with similar design features..
There's no avoiding the inevitable; it's time for terminal owner-operators to get ahead of the fuel blending automation curve. The migration of blending to marketing load terminals, and eventually to ..
In September 2004, with anticipation of that year's European Refining Technology Conference, I summoned up an image of a ring of refining VPs around the Atlantic basin looking at billion-dollar invest..
Trends and Resources
Syngas and power produced from urban waste Rentech, Inc. plans to build a plant in Rialto, California, that will produce ultra-clean synthetic fuels and electric power from renewable waste biomass fee..
  The Shaw Group Inc.'s Power Group Maintenance Division has a maintenance, modifications, packaging and small capital construction contract with Lion Copolymer to service its two plants in Geism..
  PetroquímicaSuape is building a large pure terephthalic acid (PTA) plant in the Port of Suape, Pernambuco, Brazil. For the project, Aker Solutions is delivering basic and detailed engineer..
  Technip has an engineering, procurement and construction management contract for a "crystal" gas plant project in Etzel, Germany. The contract was awarded by Electricité de France S.A., in..
  ABB has a contract worth $223 million from Sonatrach for three gas plants in Algeria. Scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2012, the project includes new compressor trains, re-instr..
  Samsung Total Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., has selected Merichem Chemicals & Refinery Services' technologies for a heavy-ends byproduct upgrade project at its petrochemical complex in Daesan, Sout..
Refining outages and gas prices Refining outages can have varying gasoline price impacts, but gaps in federal data limit understanding of these imp..
From Nexant's latest report, "Styrenics Market Dynamics," the styrenics industry continues to endure difficult market conditions. Over recent years, producers have struggled with a shrinking market ca..
Developing nations show increased demand for polyethylene (PE) while the global plastic industry struggles, according to Townsend Solutions. The Middle East, Africa, India, Eastern Europe and South Am..
  Contractors, owners and members of academia met at the Construction Industry Institute (CII) conference July 28–30, 2009, in Reno, Nevada. The..
Misc
  At Marathon Oil Corp., we bring a positive, disciplined outlook to analysis of our industry and its prospects. This is even more important today because of the current economic turmoil, declin..
- Digital Exclusive (sponsored): NXRe™: A novel recycling technology to support the plastics industry in creating efficient and effective circular value chains 12/22
- Portugal's Galp plans to start producing biofuels in 2026 12/20
- Prax and Shell call off deal on stake in PCK Schwedt oil refinery 12/20
- Nigeria's Dangote Refinery hits 85% refining capacity 12/20
- India's BPCL buys first Argentinian crude oil cargo for Feb. delivery 12/20
- Sinopec's Zhenhai oil refinery expands capacity to 40 MMtpy 12/20