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

Special Focus: Process Control and Instrumentation

Optimizing ethylene production with laser technology
Emerson Automation Solutions: Gogates, A.  |  Gunnell, J.

Ethylene is one of the most valuable organic compound building blocks in the world.

The next generation of advanced process control
APC Performance LLC: Kern, A.
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Andrew, Bob

In this article, Hydrocarbon Processing provides published references on model-based control, and contributing author Allan Kern presents his views on model-less control.

Conceptual troubleshooting training for refinery operators
Visual Performance Solutions, Inc.: Averill, W.

Throughout the refining industry, the average number of years of experience for console operators is decreasing, as large numbers of very experienced console operators are retiring.

Process Optimization

Optimize a refinery H2 network using spreadsheet tools
Ecopetrol: Salgado, H.

One of the major goals in every refining complex is to minimize the utilization of its hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) generation units by maximizing the H<sub>2</sub> recovery from residual streams.

HF alkylation conversion is finally within reach—Part 2
DuPont: Nunez, J.  |  Presley, S.  |  Rana, D.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, recent technology developments to convert hydrofluoric acid (HF) alkylation to sulfuric acid alkylation were discussed.

Regional Report

Diversification: The catalyst for the Middle East’s downstream transformation
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Over the past several years, the Middle East has made substantial investments to increase its downstream processing capacity.

Maintenance and Reliability

Troubleshooting the repetitive failure and shaft seizure of a hot oil circulation pump
Saudi Aramco: Allah, W. K.  |  Al-Abood, A.  |  Ballard, F.  |  Brashler, K.

The Shaybah NGL recovery plant has a single-stage, double-suction between bearings, radial-split design for hot oil circulation.

Minimize engineering errors with competency and proper engineering review
Suncor Energy Inc.: Tharakan, J.

Industry has seen numerous engineering errors during the commissioning phase of projects.

Heat Transfer

Ensure uniformity of air preheater flow to obtain maximum heat transfer efficiency
Reliance Industries Ltd.: Badshahwala, M.  |  Patil, R.  |  Gupta, A.

Uniform flow distribution inside process equipment is desirable for maximizing performance.

New burner structure targets significant NOx reduction
ClearSign Combustion Corp.: Colannino, J.

Delek US comprises both refining and logistic segments.

Environment and Safety

Design atmospheric aboveground storage tanks for accident prevention
TurboTech Consulting Corp.: Zardynezhad, S.

The design and construction of oil, gas and petrochemical facilities is continuously improving, as increasing compliance with ever-changing codes and standards, such as the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is resulting in fewer atmospheric above-ground storage tank (AAST) accidents.

Turn to open-path laser detectors for HF gas safety
MSA Senscient: Dean, K.

Process engineers at a refinery in one of the Rocky Mountain states were concerned about detecting the potential accidental release of hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas at their plant as part of a recent series of upgrades to the facility.

Columns

Editorial Comment: HP Top Project Awards 2017
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

It’s that time again! <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> has announced the nominees for its annual Top Project awards.

Reliability: Technology transfer training is most effective for small groups
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Training can take many different forms.

Automation Strategies: Expanding scope of automation events and alerts
ARC Advisory Group: Cosman, E. C.

Detecting, reporting and responding to abnormal situations or events are important functional elements of a complete process automation strategy.

Engineering Case Histories: Case 98—Why performing calculations is important to an engineer’s career
Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Engineering calculations can help an engineer’s career by controlling the risks taken. The author has followed this path.

Petrochemicals: A global look at the chlorinated paraffins market
Allied Market Research: Peerzade, E.

With the rise in the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry, the chlorinated paraffins market has also been growing since it acts as secondary plasticizers in PVC.

Supply Chain: Integration—The next frontier in supply chain and production management
Honeywell: McDowell, D.  |  Dey, S.

Hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) companies have long used different applications to address their supply chain production management (SCPM) challenges.

Roundtable: The reality of process safety risk
Aberdeen Group: Cline, G.  |  Keim, K.
Petrotechnics North America: Neill, M.
Process Improvement Institute: Thomas, J.

Unavoidably, process safety risks are often managed in different parts of an organization.

Viewpoint: Finding value in the age of smart control
Schneider Electric: Martin, P.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is vastly transforming how manufacturing and process plants conduct their daily operations.

Industry Perspectives: What is the future of the global HPI?
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Over the past year, the world has witnessed significant downstream capacity growth in all sectors of the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI).

Business Trends: Smart refineries—Leveraging data for operational intelligence
Tata Consultancy Services: Agrawal, M. D.  |  Morawala, A.

In the highly competitive, capital- and asset-intensive oil and gas industry, demand is growing for the implementation of information technology (IT) practices covering the following functional requirements.

Industry Metrics
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

US product crack spreads surged amid refinery outages as Hurricane Harvey affected US Gulf Coast (USGC) refinery operations.

Global Project Data
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

<i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i>’s Construction Boxscore Database is tracking more than 1,700 active downstream construction projects around the world.

Show Preview: ADIPEC
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Blume, Adrienne

The 20th edition of Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) will take place 13–16 November at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Innovations
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Andrew, Bob

At the beginning of 2017, Lewa GmbH commissioned its newly designed process pump testing room.

People
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

EnLink Midstream has named Rhonda L. Price to succeed Jennifer K. Johnson as Senior VP of human resources.