August 2013

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.

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..

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.

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..

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..

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..

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.

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.

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..

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..

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..

“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...

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

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..

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..

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 ..

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..

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..

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..

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 ..

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..

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..

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,..

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..

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

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..