April 2019

With an increase in concern for the environment, countries around the world are implementing stringent environmental regulations and are continuously pressuring refiners to reduce the amount of sulfur in transportation fuels—primarily gasoline and diesel—to combat airborne pollution caused by vehicles.

The fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) is one of the main units providing gasoline with high-octane numbers to the refinery gasoline pool.

The blowdown (BD) system in delayed coking units (DCUs) receives waste streams generated during the coke drum (CD) decoking process to recover valuable hydrocarbons and water. In recent DCU designs, the CD pressure relief valves (PRVs) also discharge to this system and then to the flare system via the BD PRVs.

Most hydroprocessing reactors are fixed-bed reactors comprising several catalyst beds that are divided by quench zones containing mixing chambers that introduce a vapor-quenching medium.

Separation of oil, water, gas and solids (sand) droplets/particles is one of the most common requirements in most oil and gas facilities.

Catalytic reforming has been a staple in petroleum refining since 1949.

Refineries and petrochemical plants form some of the major sections of the hydrocarbon industry and consume much of the fuel that is burned in furnaces (heaters and specialty furnaces, such as reformers and crackers) to meet process heating requirements.

With major projects (FIG. 1), alternatives are generally considered in overall project execution and in construction.

Hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) is one of the most common hazards in the oil and gas industry.

Cooling water systems play an important role in today’s industry.

In the January issue of Hydrocarbon Processing, the editorial comment focused on the roadmap to advancing ideas.

Early in our training as engineers, we developed the ability to collect and evaluate data.

According to recent statements of leading Japanese analysts in the field of refining and the country’s largest producers, the Japanese refining industry is moving towards consolidation and an increase in efficiency.

When a vessel containing a flammable liquid under pressure (such as those in an LNG road tanker truck) ruptures and ignites, a vapor fireball explosion can occur.

Two transformative drivers—global economic growth averaging more than 3%/yr and the world population expanding to more than 9 B by 2040—will have the net effect of adding another India and China to today’s global energy demand.

International oil and gas (O&G) and hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) companies are under great pressure to be profitable.

According to Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database, new project announcements are nearly 28% higher in 1Q 2019 compared to 1Q 2018.

If plastics demand follows its current trajectory, global plastics-waste volumes would grow from 260 MMtpy in 2016 to 460 MMtpy by 2030, taking what is already a serious environmental problem to a new level.

All main US products performed positively as refinery product outputs declined considerably and led to a fall in inventory levels, fueling bullish sentiment.

Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database is tracking nearly 1,300 projects around the world.

Industrial workers can strengthen their grasp of production and make more informed operating decisions with the new Allen-Bradley CompactLogix 5480 controller by Rockwell Automation.

Geoffrey Somary has been named CEO of Ipsen Group worldwide, succeeding Thorsten Krüger, who will move to the company’s advisory board. Since 2005, Mr. Somary has held several senior positions within Ipsen.