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

June 2024

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Digital Exclusive

Digital Exclusive: The eight best practices for moving safety from compliance to a culture of care

In this article, Owens Corning discusses the importance of safety and provide best practices to institute a culture of safety within an organization.

Digital Exclusive-Flare system design: Liquid pockets in flare headers

In this technical article, written by Saudi Aramco and Siemens Energy, the authors focus on areas where major benefits can be achieved early in the front-end engineering design (FEED) stage of flare header piping designs.

Digital Exclusive: SPECIAL FOCUS: Digital Technologies—Utilize process simulation digital twin to optimize condensate yield

With the aim to maximize profit, and contribute to sustainability targets by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ADNOC Sour Gas (ASG) has optimized condensate hydrotreater operation by adjusting Reid vapor pressure (RVP), which resulted in maximizing condensate yield.

Special Focus: Process Optimization

Research and application of proprietary cold oil absorption technology in the recovery of refinery dry gases
Sinopec (Beijing) Research Institute of Chemical Industry: Li, D.  |  Zhang, J.  |  Liu, Z.  |  Guo, L.  |  Hou, Z.  |  Hsu, R.

With the increasing shortage of global energy and resources, the recovery and utilization of refinery dry gases have become important topics of concern.

A promising new FCC feedstock: Heavy-cut pyrolysis oil from post-consumer plastic waste
Grace GmbH: Brandt, S.
W.R. Grace & Co.: Bryden, K.
Braven Environmental: Goellner, J.  |  Huovie, C.

Plastics are an essential material in modern civilization. Their light weight, durability and property flexibility provide benefits in food preservation, medical applications, building and vehicle energy efficiency, and many other areas.

Hydrogen-rich content gasoline: A new concept for paraffinic gasoline reformulation
HRC Fuels: Burger, J.  |  Byrne, D.
Hoekstra Trading LLC: Hoekstra, G.

Several refiners are evaluating a new gasoline-formulation technology called hydrogen (H2)-rich-content (HRC) gasoline. This patented technology uses low-sulfur, H2-rich refinery blendstocks like straight-run gasoline, isomerates, alkylate, butanes and renewable naphtha in gasoline blends, and adds aromatic amines (a high-octane gasoline additive) to make a drop-in specification gasoline.

Amine strength in gas treatment
INEOS: Kuroda, R.
Optimized Gas Treating, Inc.: Chandran, P.  |  Weiland, R.

Tail gas treating units (TGTUs) are designed to remove the last vestiges of unconverted hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) in the tail gas coming from a sulfur recovery unit (SRU) after the gas has been processed to convert as much H<sub>2</sub>S as possible to elemental sulfur.

Sustainability and the Energy Transition

Transitioning to an electrified future
Siemens Energy: Diezinger, S.

As countries responsible for 75% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions set net-zero targets, oil and gas, chemicals and other energy-intensive process industries are under increasing pressure to decarbonize.

Refinery and Petrochemical Integration

A multi-objective optimization study for an integrated oil refinery-petrochemical plant—Part 2
University of Bahrain, Department of Engineering Management: Al Anazi, K. Q.  |  Shams, M.B.  |  Al Masri, H.

In this research, the integration of an oil refinery and an ethylene-producing facility was examined using a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model that prioritized maximizing ethylene and propylene production and net profit.

Plant Intervals/Piping Systems

Reduce the minimum design temperature beyond the code limit for carbon-steel pipes
Fluor Daniel: Gajapathy, P. R.  |  Sankaran, R.
Fluor Corp.: Ibarra, A.

In the current market scenario, all projects are schedule-driven and highly dependent on total installed cost. To help meet crucial deadlines, industry professionals utilize various technologies and high-end software, and industry must continuously innovate and seek new ideas to find alternative solutions to challenges.

Process Controls, Instrumentation and Automation

Accelerating the DCS of the future: Open process automation technology
PETRONAS: Rashid, S.  |  Mohamed, R.  |  Aziz, Z. A.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, PETRONAS operates all oil and gas resources in the country and is responsible for developing and adding value to them.

Environment and Safety

Alarm rationalization at Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) refineries

The national oil refining company of Kuwait has two state-of-the-art refineries: Mina Abdullah (MAB) and Mina Al-Ahmadi (MAA).

Maintenance and Reliability

Induce unbalance to reduce vibrations
Reliance Industries Ltd.: Mishra, R.

Rotating machinery generate different types of problems, including misalignment, structural issues, bearing faults, internal faults and process-related issues, among others.

Digital Technologies

Hey Siri, optimize my fired heater performance!
XRG Technologies: Korb, T.

The petrochemical and refining industries are facing unprecedented challenges to the current role of fired equipment in industrial processes. Political, social, legislative and environmental factors are driving both economic and compliance pressures to reduce the reliance on, and impact of, carbon-intensive production methods.

Tanks, Terminals and Storage

Thermal inbreathing rates due to vapor condensation in storage tanks—A simplified approach
Covestro: Kim, J. S.  |  Haines, R. J.

Storage tanks filled with condensable vapors can be damaged due to sudden heavy rain if the venting devices are inadequate.

Innovations

Combined PLC+HMI Increases Display Size and I/O Options

Global Project Data
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Spotlight on Asia

People
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

Senior appointment deepens KBR’s digital engineering expertise