Americas

Phillips 66 plans to lay off 1,100 workers by end-2022

Refiner Phillips 66 said on Wednesday, it plans to reduce its employee headcount by 1,100 to help cut costs and meet its savings target of $500 MM by end-2022.

Why sulfur plants fail: An in-depth study of sulfur recovery unit failures—Part 2

Bohme, G. E., Sulphur Experts Inc.

Equipment malfunction or an unplanned shutdown of a sulfur recovery unit (SRU) can have a significant effect on a production company’s profitability, along with an equally serious impact on personnel safety and the environment.

Potential US refined oil product export ban would challenge already constrained global markets and refining systems

A proposed US refined product export ban would save US consumers at the gasoline pump but pose significant challenges and costs to US and global refining systems, according to a recent analysis from Wood Mackenzie.

Exxon selling Montana oil refinery to Par Pacific for $310 MM

ExxonMobil Corp agreed to sell its Billings, Montana, refinery and related pipeline properties to Par Pacific Holdings Inc for $310 MM.

Exxon says Texas refinery lockout was lawful in reply to NLRB complaint

ExxonMobil Corp said in its reply to a U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) complaint that the lockout of over 600 workers at its Beaumont, Texas, refinery was lawful, according to a filing with the board.

Diesel’s gloomy message for the global economy

Global shortages of middle distillates such as diesel, gas oil and heating oil are intensifying rather than easing – making it more likely a relatively severe slowdown in the business cycle will be necessary to rebalance the market.

2022 HP Awards Finalists

Nichols, Lee, Hydrocarbon Processing Staff

Hydrocarbon Processing, the downstream processing sector’s leading technical publication for 100 yr, has announced the finalists for its sixth annual HP Awards, which celebrate innovative technologies and people that have been instrumental in improving facility operations over the past year.

AFPM, API joint statement on White House, DOE meeting with U.S. refiners

The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) and American Petroleum Institute released the following statement after a meeting with leaders of the top U.S. refining companies.

Data, algorithms and collaboration combine for machine-learning success

Venkat, A., Zakeri, S., Disantis, J., Seeq; Johnstone, A., Ithaca Energy; Martin, J., allnex

Process manufacturers are investing significant resources in machine-learning (ML) to increase reliability, profitability and sustainability in their operations—saving millions of dollars in short periods of time through increased efficiency.

Accelerating the transition to renewable fuels

Carugo, M., Valentine, J., Emerson Automation Solutions

The global push to neutralize carbon-based GHG emissions by 2050 not only holds great promise for the future of the planet, but it also stands to create millions of jobs, spur rapid growth and drive technological innovation.