May 2015

Archive

Special Report: Maintenance/Reliability

Reduce maintenance and production losses by benchmarking asset performance
Naik, M., Meridium, Inc.

Benchmarking can help operators identify assets with chronic failures, and it can also drive failure elimination efforts to improve their reliability and availability while cost cutting.

Consider new labyrinth seals to optimize compressor operations
Gresh, M. T., Flexware, Inc.; Whalen, J. K., John Crane Engineered Bearings

Degradation of labyrinth seals in centrifugal impellers can have a significant impact on not only compressor power consumption but also on plant production rate. Upgrading to rub-tolerant seals can be..

Maximize energy recovery with small steam turbines
Kaupert, K., Energent; Krull, R., Iles, R., Energent Corp.

Using smaller turbines (50 kW to 300 kW) can aid system efficiency and help conserve energy. We investigate examples in which the application of smaller steam turbines provided return on investment within two years.

Lubrication update for rotating equipment
Bloch, H. P., Professional engineer

API-610 is the most widely used pump standard in the petrochemical and refining industries. It includes experience-based recommendations for lubricant applications and one of those recommendations rel..

Process Engineering

Improve relief-device sizing under supercritical conditions
Smith, D., Smith & Burgess LLC; Burgess, J., Smith and Burgess LLC

Properly sized relief devices under supercritical conditions are vital to processing natural gas and gas condensates into olefins. These processes operate near the critical locus of the process gases ..

Process Technology

Improve measurement of heavy oil viscosity
Sundararaj, U., Sadeghi, S., Sadeghi, F., University of Calgary

This work will study the viscosity behavior of bitumen and its blends with diluent at different temperatures, as well as evaluating simulations for prediction of viscosity of the blend.A blend of bitu..

Regional Report

The Middle East’s strategic expansion of refined products exports
Rhodes, Mike, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Already a leader in crude oil exports, the Middle East is making a deliberate move to increase its participation in the refined and petrochemical products markets. It is likely that the ME will continue to add downstream projects. Refining capacity will center on domestic demand and export opportunities to Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Rotating Equipment

Use new methods to optimize energy efficiency of hydrogen compressors
Vila Forteza, M., Repsol SA

Hydrogen (H2) is a key to efficient operation of refinery desulfurization units (DSUs). Process H2, both pure and recycled from DSUs, must be compressed to pressures up to 85 kg/cm2. Centrifugal compr..

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IRPC 2015: Advancing the global HPI by sharing knowledge and best practices

May 31–June 3, 2015 Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, UAEThe sixth annual IRPC features a four-day forum focused on the downstream industryDay 1—Full-day workshop presented by Takreer Re..

Columns

HP Editorial Comment: Change is redefining the petrochemical industry
Romanow, Stephany, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

The petrochemical industry is embracing more “change” that is largely due to the recent drop in crude oil prices.

HP Reliability: Reassessing and updating electric motor bearing lubrication
Bloch, Heinz P., Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Over the past 25 years, this column has often dealt with electric motor lubrication. As listed in the recommended reading list, this subject is often asked and, of course, there are updates to the rec..

HP Automation Strategies: Developing the best practices for operator effectiveness in the age of collaboration
Miller, Paul, ARC Advisory Group

Multiple converging trends make operator effectiveness even more important today than ever before. These include: loss of expertise in industrial plants and the transition to a new workforce, business..

HP Project Management: Build a better bid, or how to achieve a competitive advantage in capital projects
Beck, R., AspenTech

As backlogs and revenues continue to be strong and on an upward path for most global engineering and construction (E&C) firms, competition for the best projects has increased. The energy industry’..

HP Global: Uganda proceeds with new refinery
Oirere, S., Contributing Editor

Uganda is proceeding with the construction of a $2.5-B, 60-Mbpd crude oil refinery with approvals from analysts for this landlocked country’s downstream plans. The engineering, procurement and co..

HP Petrochemicals: M&A deals rise as investors push petrochemical leaders to restructure
Martin, S., Contributing Editor

Oil and petrochemical companies are seeking strategies to remain competitive as their cash flows continue to take direct hits due to depressed oil prices. This is resulting in significant restructurin..

HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 84: Remaining service life of plant equipment can be determined
Sofronas, A., Consulting Engineer

For new plant machines and equipment, the life expectancy is determined by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Yet, different analysis techniques are often required in a failure analysis. In a ..

HP Viewpoint: Methanol takes on LNG for future marine fuels
Dolan, G. A., Methanol Institute

As the lifecycle economics of using MeOH compared with other emission compliance options become more evident, we will see the tide rising on the use of MeOH as a marine engine fuel.

HP News
Rhodes, Mike, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Shell to become largest LNG player with €47-B BG Group acquisition Royal Dutch Shell’s agreement to purchase BG Group for approximately €47 B in cash and shares is the oil and gas ..

HP Industry Metrics
Rhodes, Mike, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Global product markets and refinery margins, particularly in the US, have seen steady improvement since January. Worldwide gasoline demand has soared in recent months in both OECD and non-OECD regions..

HP Innovations
Blume, Adrienne, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Coatings line wins innovation awardHempel’s HEMPADUR AvantGuard range of products won the 2014 European Frost & Sullivan Award for the category of new product innovation. To be presented on May 1..

HP People
Rhodes, Mike, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Cornelius Weitzmann has been appointed managing director of the Power, Oil & Gas business division at Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG. He will be taking over from Matthias Grawe, who is leaving the company...

HP Free Literature
Meche, Helen, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Motion Industries’ newest MiHow2 video, ‟Timken RotaLube Lubrication System,ˮ which was filmed with the help of Timken (a key Motion Industries supplier), features the benefits of using a RotaLube system and shows viewers how to install it.

HP New Developments
Meche, Helen, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Caps offer advanced fire protection on bolted connections AkzoNobel has introduced its Chartek bolt caps to the North American market. The bolt caps are an easy-to-install solution for high-level..

Terminals and Storage Supplement

Safety and environmental updates for HPI storage tanks

   © leungchopan—Shutterstock.com Storage tanks are common in any hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) facility or receiving/shipping terminal. Crude oil, refined produc..