Alcohols
Overcome the imbalance between diesel and gasoline production
A number of strategies can be applied to increase the overall product selectivity to middle distillates.
Consider olefin offgas as feed for ammonia production
Ammonia production using hydrogen (H2)-rich offgases is an established method, but it is practiced only in a handful of plants. The dynamics of new feedstocks in the petrochemicals industry coupled wi..
HP Viewpoint: Refining industry developments—Growing opportunity and uncertainty
The U.S. has seen a dramatic change in energy production in just a relatively short period. Crude oil output has increased by about 55% in the last five years, according to data from the Energy Inform..
HP Industry Perspectives: New development for drop-in fuels
Future fuels must have a unique “drop-in” capability. They must also be compatible with present vehicle engines and fungible within the distribution system. Finding alternatives to corn-base..
HP News
IChemE awards highest professional honor to Shell The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) awarded its highest honor to Shell in recognition of the company’s worldwide skills and profession..
Global refining: What is the future?
Demand for transportation fuels will continue to increase over the next 15 to 25 years. These fuels will still be primarily based on crude oil. Developing nations are driving growing demand for energy..
HP Industry Perspectives: Second-generation petrochemical processes take lead
Ethylene is the bellwether petrochemical. Almost all petrochemicals begin with ethylene and proceed to other major petrochemicals, including polyethylene (PE), ethylene dichloride, ethylbenzene and et..
Ethanol-to-ethylene process provides alternative pathway to plastics
Tight operating margins make the ethanol-to-ethylene technology marketplace a challenging space in which to compete. However, a new, second-generation route can deliver market-leading conversion efficiency at lower cost and complexity than existing technologies.
Case history: Optimization of aromatics complex
Borealis Polymers executed an online optimization project at its phenol and aromatics plants in Porvoo. The plantwide application increased the output rate by 9% and greatly improved the stability of operations.
Improve thermodynamic equilibrium among light olefins in FCC operations
Worldwide propylene demand is strongly increasing. About 28% of the global propylene supply comes from refinery fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units. The light olefins have relative selectivity due to..

- India eyes ending import tax on U.S. ethane and LPG in trade talks 4/17
- KBR’s ammonia cracking technology selected by Hanwha for hydrogen project in Korea 4/17
- Mabanaft expands aviation fuel supply to airlines at Frankfurt Airport 4/17
- Top Turkish refiner Tupras resumes buying Russian Urals crude 4/16
- U.S. fuel exports to Mexico by land halted by higher scrutiny 4/16
- Tata Steel and MCB save 186 tpy of CO2 with steel transport on biodiesel 4/16