August 2013

Archive

Special Report: Fluid Flow and Rotating Equipment

Optimize your compressor maintenance program
Geitner, F. K., Consultant

One deviation alone might not be enough to bring on a compressor failure, but, when several more deviations combine, the failure risk is known to increase exponentially.

Use a simulation tool for multi-commodity pipeline scheduling
Ortega-Mier, M., García-Sánchez, A., Polytechnic University of Madrid; Goti, A., Natra SA

Pipeline transport represents one of the most important means of moving oil derivatives to different locations. It is both a reliable and inexpensive means of transport, and it yields small variable c..

Digital is the solution for modern compressor protection
Stachel, K., Locken, T., Hoerbiger Compression Technology

Compared to traditional analog communications technologies, digital systems cost less, offer greater flexibility, and are more reliable thanks to built-in self-checking systems and resistance to interference.

Case history: Failure analysis of a syngas compressor

A first-stage impeller in a synthetic gas compressor failed after 20 years of service. The compressor is a six-stage centrifugal compressor driven by a steam turbine. This case history discusses the i..

Ensure an accurate reading in a differential pressure steam application
Moore, E., Johnson, S., Swagelok

A common process instrumentation application measures differential pressure in a steam line, with the final output being a flowrate measurement. The process instrument engineers or technicians who man..

Improve pressure drop calculations for saturated water lines

When saturated water flows through pipes and components, it flashes—thus increasing its specific volume and limiting the fluid flowrate. Due to these conditions, the calculation and design for pi..

Bonus Report: LNG Developments

Take a collaborative approach to improving LNG terminal performance
Fahl, M., Kelly, P., Honeywell Process Solutions; Blair, N., National Grid

Personnel are now able to make the right decisions at the right time, and then execute appropriately. The CDP solution is seen as an area for growth and integration throughout the Grain LNG operation.

World’s largest GTL facility turns to LIMS for enhanced operations
Thurston, C., Thermo Fisher Scientific

Pearl GTL is using a new laboratory information management system (LIMS) to manage, analyze and integrate data that keeps the plant functioning securely and efficiently.

Process/Plant Optimization

Reduce hydrocarbons and solids contamination in sour water strippers
Spooner, B., Engel, D., Sulphur Experts

A modern refinery in Finland processes used lubrication oil and produces renewed base oil for lubrication products, gasoil and fuel gas. The process uses a front-end additive removal stage from the us..

Achieve uniform heat flux in a coker furnace
Patil, R., Mishra, V. P., Das, A. K., Reliance Industries Ltd.

A delayed coker unit thermally cracks vacuum residue (VR) and converts it into products like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), naphtha, gasoil and petroleum coke. A majority of the thermal cracking takes..

Columns

HP Reliability: Four-stage, low-flow process centrifugal compressor can fill important industry gaps
Bloch, Heinz P., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

In the 1970s and 1980s, multistage centrifugal compressors in the 3,000 acfm (about 5,000m3/hr) and lower flow ranges were largely confined to instrument and plant air duties. Three stages with interc..

HP Integration Strategies: Consider procedural automation at a commercial-scale pilot plant
Miller, Paul, ARC Advisory Group

“All processes are batch processes to some degree. Even in ‘continuous’ process plants, processing units will need to be shut down at some point and then restarted to resume production...

HP Boxscore Construction Analysis: Outlook for major revamp projects—Part 2
Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Worldwide, refiners are investing billions in upgrading and modernizing projects. These efforts are focused on:Increasing flexibility to process heavier, sourer crudesImproving energy efficiencyMeetin..

HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 74: How to determine impact forces when troubleshooting
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

When troubleshooting failures, it is not unusual for the metallurgical report to indicate that the failure was the result of an impact type of force. The investigator who receives this information mus..

HP Industry Perspectives: US oil and gas executives energized for the year ahead
Romanow, Stephany, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

A recent survey of US executives by the KPMG Global Energy Institute supports growing optimism in the domestic energy and manufacturing industries. Much of the renewed enthusiasm is strongly linked to..

HP Brief
Thinnes, Billy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Train accident raises concerns on safetyThe train derailment that killed at least 38 people in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, has heightened safety concerns about crude oil shipments by rail. It has been ..

HP Impact: Dilbit poses no extra pipeline risk
Thinnes, Billy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Diluted bitumen (dilbit) has no greater likelihood of accidental pipeline release than other crude oils, says a new report from the National Research Council. The report found that diluted bitumen has..

HP Impact: Canada takes steps to enhance its pipeline system
Thinnes, Billy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources recently announced the government’s plan to further enhance the country’s pipeline system by requiring companies operating major pipelines to have..

HP Impact: ACC publishes comprehensive economic profile
Thinnes, Billy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has issued its 2013 guide on the business of chemistry, a detailed economic profile of the chemistry industry and its contributions to the US and world economies.U..

HP Impact: OAS report examines cyber security trends in the Americas
Thinnes, Billy, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The Organization of American States (OAS) has released a report analyzing Latin American and Caribbean cyber security trends and government responses. Prepared in collaboration with the company Trend ..

HP Innovations
Blume, Adrienne, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Technology converts syngas directly to fuelsPrimus Green Energy’s proprietary STG+ technology combines and improves upon prior commercially proven methanol synthesis and methanol-to-gasoline (MTG..

HP Associations: IRPC 2013 highlights refining, petrochemicals integration
DuBose, Ben, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The importance of downstream integration and strategies to compete with new US plants dominated talk at the fourth annual International Refining and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC).The three-day event..

Free Literature
Meche, Helen, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Detector tube system for leak detectionGastec pumps and detector tubes are said to precisely measure gases and vapors in over 600 applications, making them ideal tools for detecting and measuring gas,..

New Developments
Meche, Helen, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Actuator safely operates valves in remote oil, gas and chemical processing applications  The FlexiDrive valve actuator is a dependable, versatile and cost-effective remote valve operator that can..

Misc

EIA: China set to top US as world’s biggest oil importer

China is set to the the largest world import of crude oil in October and will hold that ranking in 2014, forecasters at the federal Energy Information Administartion said Friday

Safety, Security and Environment 2013 Supplement

Dropped tools are a dangerous problem
Schueppert, S., Total Safety

Explosions, car wrecks and workplace violence: these are events that grab headlines. What is interesting, however, is that the most mundane things are often the most dangerous. In the realm of hydroca..