Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

May 2010

Archive

Special Report: Maintenance/Reliability

Flow-induced fatigue failure
SABIC R&T: Babakr, A.  |  Westhuizen, C.

Case histories describe a variety of failures and solutions

Purging and inerting large-volume tankage and equipment—jet mixing concept—Part 1
Carmagen Engineering, Inc.: Gollin, M.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods

Heat-exchanger failure analysis in a naphtha cracking unit
University of Tehran: Mazuchi, M.  |  Monemian, S. A.
Shahid Chamran University: Sababi, M.

This case history analyzed the failure and makes recommendations to prevent future failures

Oil-mist lubrication for fin-fan shafts
Colfax Corporation: Duncan, P. W.

Tests show it is superior to grease lubrication

Engineering Case Histories

Case 56: Quick troubleshooting of shaft failures
Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Some simple calculations can guide the way to improved performance

AchemAsia 2010

Closing the gaps

Dr. Hans Jürgen Wernicke    Comments? Write:editorial@HydrocarbonProcessing.comWhen the first AchemAsia opened its gates more than 20 years ago, the move to China, albeit met ..

The Challenge. . .

Carlos A. Cabrera    Comments? Write:editorial@HydrocarbonProcessing.comAs the developed world emerges from the economic downturn and the developing world continues to experience s..

Asia's refining and petrochemical industry: Status and future challenges
FACTS Global Energy, Inc.: Zhang, L.

Asia is becoming the main power pushing the global development of the hydrocarbon processing industry

Instrumentation/Safety

Implementing a suitable safety instrumented system—Part 1
Saudi Basic Industries Corp.: Modi, R.

The "analysis phase" is the most important step for engineering and designing a suitable system

Plant Design and Engineering

Strategize preshutdown work to enhance productivity
Indian Oil Corp. Ltd.: Kumar, A.

Adopt these principles from a refinery revamp project

Plant Safety and Environment

Establishing safety representatives who are effective
Proconsul Services Ltd.: Alevizos, G.

Follow these protocols for a safer workplace

Petrochemical Developments

Fundamental changes coming in Asia's petrochemical industry
FACTS Global Energy, Inc.: Kumar, P.  |  Zhang, L.

Massive new processing additions will impact operations in this region as well as in the global market

Process Developments

Consider CFD analysis to support critical separation operations
Koch-Glitsch Canada LP, University of Calgary: Remesat, D.
Institute of Geonics AS: Riha, Z.

This modeling method can help eliminate chronic problems caused by feed mal-distribution and poorly designed feed devices

Columns

HP Reliability: Repetitive pump seal failures can cause disasters
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Release No. 2004-08-I-NM (http://www.csb.gov), issued in October 2005 by the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, addresses an incident at an oil refinery with a history of repeated pump..

HP Water Management: What's happening with the Legionella Standard?—Part 1
MarTech Systems, Inc.: Huchler, L. A.

In 2007, the governing board of the Cooling Technology Institute (CTI) formed a committee to craft a new standard, "Legionellosis Related Practices for Evaporative Cooling Water Systems" (CTI STD-159)..

HP Integration Strategies: Procedural automation improves process plant performance
ARC Advisory Group: O'Brien, L.

Procedures govern the world of process automation. While we like to refer to the process industries as being largely "continuous," in actuality, process manufacturing is constantly in flux. Whether yo..

New Developments

Selected by Hydrocarbon Processing editors     Comments? Write:editorial@HydrocarbonProcessing.comFlow switch/monitor optimized for process analyzers and sampling systems&#160..

HP Construction: North America
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

Saipem has a contract from PEMEX for two desulfurization units and two amine regeneration units to be built at two of PEMEX's refineries. The scope of work will consist of the engineering, procurement..

HP Construction: South America
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

CB&I has a contract to supply a cryogenic natural gas processing plant in Malvinas, Peru, as part of an expansion of the Camisea gas project. CB&I's $45 million contract is with Pluspetrol Peru Corp. ..

HP Construction: Europe
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

Bayer MaterialScience plans to invest €150 million in a new production plant for toluene diisocyanate (TDI) at Chempark Dormagen in Germany. The new plant will have a capacity of 300,000 tpy and ..

HP Construction: Middle East
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

BILLY THINNES, News Editor     Comments? Write:BT@HydrocarbonProcessing.comSaudi Aramco Shell Refinery Co. (SASREF) recently inaugurated an ultra-low-sulfur diesel unit a..

HP Construction: Asia Pacific
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

Kentz Corp. Ltd. has a site-wide specialist instrumentation contract for the Pluto LNG project on the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia. This brings Kentz's combined value of work secured on the p..

Free Literature

 Selected by Hydrocarbon Processing editors     Comments? Write:editorial@HydrocarbonProcessing.comExpanded training center in SwitzerlandBurckhardt Compression has moder..

HP In Brief: HPIn Brief
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

Fallout from Tesoro accidentTesoro Corp. has temporarily curtailed operations at its Anacortes, Washington, refinery by shutting down crude processing treating capacity involved in the recent explosio..

HP Impact: Underground gas storage on the rise
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

 Billy Thinnes, News Editor     Comments? Write:BT@HydrocarbonProcessing.comCEDIGAZ (www.cedigaz.com) recently released a report on global underground gas storage (UGS). ..

HP Impact: Responding to oil supply emergencies
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

We live in an uncertain world. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks and unforeseen economic collapses all lurk somewhere in the nebulous future, possibly near term or possibly long term. Each of these..

HP Impact: Refiners in a tough market
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

A recent paper from Wood MacKenzie suggests the current global and US market environment for refiners is very challenging, with the industry suffering low utilizations (due to the economic crisis redu..

HP Impact: Medium voltage motor drives sales projected to decline in 2010
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

 Billy Thinnes, News Editor     Comments? Write:BT@HydrocarbonProcessing.comThe worldwide medium voltage motor drives market was estimated to be worth $2.17 billion in 20..

HP Associations: Fossil fuels still meet energy needs of the world
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

 Over Out in the Arizona desert during the waning days of March, the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) gathered its members for its 108th annual meeting. The assembled repres..

Sulfur Solutions 2010 Supplement

Design your sulfur facility with market uncertainty in mind

These strategies can effectively deliver sulfur to the marketplace