Hydrocarbon Processing Awards
Hydrocarbon Processing, the downstream processing sector’s leading technical publication, has announced the winners for its second annual awards.
Hydrocarbon Processing, the downstream processing sector’s leading technical publication, has announced the winners for its second annual awards. The HP Awards celebrate innovative technologies and people that have been instrumental in improving facility operations over the past year. The awards cover 12 strategic categories in the hydrocarbon processing industry. More than 80 nominations were submitted from 18 countries. Each abstract was voted on by an independent Hydrocarbon Processing advisory board. The following is a complete list of the winners in each category. The winners were announced during a black-tie gala at The Houstonian Hotel in Houston, Texas on August 30.
BEST ANALYZER TECHNOLOGY
Finalists: Rosemount CT5800 Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) Gas Analyzer, Emerson;
Ultima X5000 Gas Monitor, MSA Safety; Real-time Crude Assay Technology, AVEVA-Schneider Electric
Winner: Verax Digital Crude Signature Analyzer, JP3 Measurement
Built around cutting-edge, proprietary near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, this new digital crude signature (DCS) technology provides a composite picture of crude oil properties including true boiling point cuts, hydrocarbon composition, API gravity, RPV and contaminants. The DCS allows downstream purchasers the ability to track individual batches of crude from point of purchase through transportation to refinery delivery, as well as the ability to optimize blended crudes for each individual crude tower.
BEST CATALYST TECHNOLOGY
Finalists: Solid Acid Alkylation Technology (K-SAAT), KBR; Gemini Process, Siluria Technologies
Winner: Granite™ FCC Catalysts, Albemarle Corp.
Utilizing newly developed matrix/binder systems, Granite fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts provide increased profitability through improved zeolite stability, better bottoms upgrading and improved coke selectivity, while achieving targeted product yields.
BEST ASSET INTEGRITY TECHNOLOGY
Finalists: Asset Performance Management, AspenTech;
Setpoint System, Bruel & Kjaer Vibro; COMPACS System, Dynamics SPC USA INC.
Winner: OTE GT 15 Lubricants, Eni
Eni has developed an innovative, low-viscosity lubricant for the turbomachinery sector. The company’s OTE GT 15 lubricating oils have reduced fuel consumption and emissions and have demonstrated a longer durability. The product has shown energy savings by reducing friction losses by up to 15%, as well as decreasing the consumption of natural gas and CO2 emissions compared to a traditional ISO VG 32 oil. These energy-saving lubricating oils provide an optimized approach for turbomachinery applications.
BEST AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY
Finalists: Distributed Control Systems (DCS), ABB; Control Building and Human Machine Interface (HMI)
Upgrade Project, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC); Open Secure Automation (OSA) Remote Controller,
Bedrock Automation; DeltaV PK Controller, Emerson; SIMATIC PCS 7 v9.0, Siemens
Winner: EcoStruxure™ Profit Advisor, Schneider Electric
From the equipment asset level of a plant to the process unit, plant site and enterprise levels, the EcoStruxure Profit Advisor solution measures and controls the real-time profit performance of the entire industrial operation. Developed through a partnership with Seeq, the IIoT-enabled solution applies big data analytics and patented real-time accounting models to identify potential profitable improvements.
BEST DIGITALIZATION TECHNOLOGY
Finalists: ABB Ability, ABB; AR/VR Enhanced Operations, AVEVA; Plantweb Optics, Emerson; Connected Plant Skills and Safety Immersive Competency, Honeywell Process Solutions; Proscient, Petrotechnics
Winner: Aquavista™, Veolia Water Technologies
This secure, cloud-based digital solutions platform provides a dashboard that is customized to meet the needs of any type of water treatment operation. Aquavista comprises four key resources—Portal, Insight, Assist and Plant—that allow customers to efficiently manage their facilities and water treatment equipment while generating maximum value from their assets and processes.
BEST GAS PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
Finalists: Integrated Gas Processing Facility Project, Schlumberger; LNGo System, Siemens
Winner: Benz-FreeSM Technology, McDermott
Benz-Free technology is a cryogenic, heavy hydrocarbon removal process for LNG applications that accommodates a wide range of feed gas pressures, compositions, richness and freeze component concentrations.
BEST HSE IMPLEMENTATION
Finalists: Repair to Pakistan’s Largest Storage Tank, Byco Petroleum Pakistan Ltd.; Turbine Retrofit, Siemens
Winner: FlareGuardian Technology, Zeeco Inc.
This new direct flare combustion efficiency measurement and monitoring technology directly, autonomously and continuously monitors flare performance in real time to provide faster and more accurate data. Known as video imaging spectro-radiometry (VISR), the technology utilizes a multi-spectral IR imager to simultaneously measure the relative concentrations of the products of combustion, CO2 and unburned hydrocarbons at the pixel level.
BEST MODELING TECHNOLOGY
Finalists: SimCentral Simulation Platform, AVEVA; Electrical, Instrument and Telecom (EIT) Automation, Petrofac; gPROMS Refinery Fouling Manager, Process Systems Enterprise; Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Plant Design, Saudi International Petrochemical Co. (SIPCHEM)
Winner: SIMIT Simulation Platform, Siemens
The SIMIT simulation platform enables comprehensive testing of automation applications and provides a realistic training environment for operators to use, even before the real startup. This tool allows operators to learn the facility’s process, control system and HMI in a risk-free environment.
BEST INSTRUMENT TECHNOLOGY
Finalists: DDAU3 Condition Monitoring Unit, Bruel & Kjaer Vibro; OilWatcher Technology, Clearview Sensing; Rosemount 5408 Non-Contacting Radar Level Transmitter, Emerson; Foxboro S-Series Pressure Transmitter, Schneider Electric
Winner: Vanguard WirelessHART Toxic and Combustible Gas Detector, United Electric Controls
The Vanguard WirelessHART gas detector, which boasts a battery life of more than 5 yr, augments combustible (and toxic) gas detection coverage for any hydrocarbon processing facility without the need for power and signal wiring. The device’s plug-and-play technology enables it to integrate with other WirelessHART-enabled devices. This allows the device to be installed anywhere in the network to provide an instant gas monitoring point.
BEST REFINING TECHNOLOGY
Finalists: Anode Grade Coker Technology, Indian Oil Corp. Ltd.; Asphaltene integrated Management Solution (AiMS); KBR; MAX-ISOM, KBR; LTAG, Sinopec
Winner: ConVexSM Hydrofluoric (HF) Alkylation Conversion Technology, DuPont Clean Technologies
This technology converts existing HF alkylation production facilities to the sulfuric acid alkylation process, while providing refiners with the opportunity to more than double unit capacity at 40%–60% of the cost of building a new plant. The impact of the new technology is significant given the continued focus on safety for refinery personnel and surrounding communities and the growing octane gap in developing regions across the globe.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Finalists: Dr. Madhukar Garg, Reliance Industries Ltd.; Dr. Pat Kennedy, OSIsoft; Lee Solomon, Solomon Associates
Winner: Norman Lieberman, Process Improvement Engineering
Mr. Lieberman began his career in 1965 with Amoco Oil, where he designed the first complex fractionator using a computer simulation. He has authored more than 100 articles, as well as 11 technical engineering books that are focused on solving processing problems. His continuing education courses on troubleshooting process operations have been attended by more than 18,000 engineers and technicians since 1983. Mr. Lieberman specializes in the retrofit design of crude units, FCU fractionators, delayed cokers, sulfuric acid and alkylation plants, and sulfur recovery units.
MOST PROMISING ENGINEER
Finalists: Paul Duhon, Dow Chemical; Bob Halgren, Emerson; Balivada Ravi Kumar, Indian Oil Corp. Ltd.; Bryant Lynch, Fluor; Ahmed Al Own, Kuwait National Petroleum Co. (KNPC)
Winner: Sabrina Hermann, Siemens
Ms. Hermann is the first woman appointed to the head of Siemens’ regional office in Dusseldorf, Germany. She began her career with Siemens in 2008 and has held various international sales and marketing functions for the company’s oil and gas business units, including head of sales for the Southeast Asia downstream market, Vice President of sales management for new equipment (Dresser-Rand) and head of Siemens’ Building Technologies business in Western Germany. She was also instrumental in leading the integration efforts of the Dresser-Rand and Siemens organizations. HP
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