Corrosion
Investigate power limitations in a large steam turbine
An investigation was carried out to rectify power limitations for a steam-turbine driver of a cracked-gas compressor (CGC) in a world-class ethylene plant.DescriptionThe turbine is a nine-stage, impul..
Seal safety may require going beyond typical standards
Top industry professionals believe users must reach beyond typical standards in applying safer mechanical seals when hazardous and toxic chemicals are involved.
Flare header failure: An investigation
A 60-in. flare header suffered three identical failures with buckling and cracking at the circumferential weld at the bottom of the pipe. The failures are believed to have originated during hot relief..
Select the right shaft-riding brushes for turbomachinery
Since the mid-1950s, much progress has been accomplished in the development, design and production of shaft-riding brushes for turbomachinery applications. The machinery includes steam and gas turbine..
HP Water Management: Update: Online measurement of oxidizing biocides
Nearly all owners of industrial cooling towers feed oxidizing biocides—chlorine (Cl) and bromine (Br)—to kill bacteria in the recirculating cooling water. Minimizing the populations of bacte..
Monitor and minimize corrosion in high-TAN crude processing
In addition to inhibitor dosing, intensive corrosion monitoring and analytical tests play a major role in equipment and piping health monitoring and in analyzing stream properties online.
Mitigate reactor failures due to graphitization
Graphitization occurs in carbon steel (CS) reactors in high-temperature service (> 455°C). As discussed in this case history, the shell of a methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) reactor became s..
Corrosion under insulation is a hidden problem
Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is one of the costliest avoidable problems facing the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) today. CUI afflicts refineries—specifically, the steel piping, storage..
HP Reliability: How the best lubricant provides added value
In November 2012, a highly competent lubrication engineer and I met again at the ExxonMobil Maintenance and Productivity Improvement Symposium in San Antonio, Texas. We talked about the small, but pes..
HP Innovations: Innovations
Coating system gets European patentHempel’s Ultra-High Solids and Speed (UHSS), a two-coat protective paint system certified for C5-M and C4 corrosive environments, has been granted a patent from..

- Refinery closures may lead to higher gasoline prices on the U.S. West Coast 7/9
- INNIO Group, Gföllner Group establish JV, offering power solutions to the U.S. market 7/9
- U.S. crude stockpiles increase, gasoline falls on July 4 driving demand 7/9
- Nigeria's Dangote refinery plans 1.6-MMbbl fuel storage tanks in Namibia 7/9
- Brazil's Petrobras to invest $4.8 B in integration between Reduc refinery and Boaventura complex 7/8
- Braskem completes first sale of circular polyethylene in South America 7/8