February 2014

LTOs are paraffinic, low in asphaltenes but high in filterable solids. Understanding the impact of these mechanisms can shed light on preheat exchanger performance and the prediction of fouling rates.

To study the impact on plant efficiency of using MTS catalysts, a comparison case study was held between the HTS-based and MTS-based H2 designs currently in operation.

A case study was conducted regarding the physical and chemical properties of key gasoline oxygenates, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME) and other blending components.

The isomerization of light gasoline fractions is crucial to producing high-octane fuels and to reducing the benzene content in gasoline. One of the most promising options for isomerization is catalytic distillation.

What will the transport sector use as an energy source in 2030? If you answered gas, electricity or hydrogen, you could be on the right track. These sources are becoming increasingly useful to meet cl..

To comply with stricter air quality regulations while allowing for continued growth, hydrocarbon processing facilities must efficiently minimize pollutants without interrupting production (Fig. 1). Tr..

Infrared thermography is a useful inspection tool to help locate problems in steam reformers while the units are online and fired. There are three main areas in a reformer that can be efficiently insp..

Elimination of tank overfills is a significant problem for the petroleum industry. Since most tank receiving operations are manual, the operators rely heavily on tank level gauges and alarms for overf..

Refining heavier and high-sulfur crude oils consumes high volumes of hydrogen (H2). Most refineries have exhausted process-based H2 supplies and must use on-purpose sources. This article follows the d..

Show preview for Gastech 2014.

Year-end always leads to insightful predictions for the upcoming 12 months and possibly some longer-term insights. In writing this editorial at the end of December, HP reviewed several 2014 outlooks t..

Experienced reliability professionals will implement least-risk solutions whenever possible. The following example relates to impeller trimming to reduce the diameter of a fixed-speed centrifugal pump..

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few years, you should have heard about the upcoming ISO 55000 Asset Management Systems standard. How will this impact the hydrocarbon processing i..

Kuwait National Petroleum Co. is investing $31 billion in projects to modernize the country's Mina Abdullah and Mina Al-Ahmadi refineries, as well as to construct the region's largest refinery, the Al-Zour plant. Once completed, these projects will reshape Kuwait's refining sector.

In the US Congress, the Open Fuel Standard Act was introduced to direct automakers to have half of all new cars by the 2017 model year capable of operating on something other than gasoline, with model..

When something vibrates, it is usually in a predictable manner. Motors, pumps, compressors, turbines and centrifuges all vibrate when they are out of balance. Vibration analysis can help predict the s..

A new US Energy Information Administration (EIA) report highlighted a positive trend unfolding within the global energy market. The rise in US crude oil production has greatly contributed to stabilizi..

US senator suggests lifting ban on oil exports    The Trans-Alaskan pipeline terminus in Valdez, Alaska. Photo courtesy of The Center for Land Use Interpretation. Senator Lisa Murk..

Innovations for February 2014.

Marathon Oil’s board of directors has elected Morris R. Clark, currently Marathon Oil assistant treasurer, to the position of vice president and treasurer. Mr. Clark will succeed Michael K. Stewa..

Pumps for fluid control in laboratory, process and industrial applications Fluid Metering, Inc.’s (FMI’s) 2014 full-line catalog contains new products, along with expanded flow and conf..

Centrifugal-pump manufacturer receives award from Russian oil and gas industries   In refineries where toxic/hazardous media are transported, extreme safety is necessary, and the requirement..

Heat gain from ambient or heat loss to atmosphere is discussed in standards and technical publications.1, 2 However, the work on fluid/ambient thermal interactions rarely includes an important factor&..