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

Crude oil

US refining margins improve, but some refineries remain at risk

During the fourth quarter of 2010, US refining industry performance improved relative to the prior quarter. While the US Gulf Coast crack spreads were somewhat lower in the fourth quarter, the light-heavy crude oil price differential (LLS-Maya) continued to favor refineries with heavier crude slates.

Mubarak exits stage right

What will this mean for IOCs doing business in the region?

New licensing agreement makes a wastewater splash

GE has completed a new expanded licensing agreement that will allow the company to continue offering high-efficiency reverse osmosis (HERO) systems to help more of its industrial customers increase their water usage efficiency and reuse capacity as the international community works to address mounting shortages of clean water.

Slurry-phase hydrocracking—possible solution to refining margins

Opportunity crudes require more hydrogen addition to upgrade orphan product streams into higher-value ‘clean’ products

Convert bottom-of-the-barrel into diesel and light olefins

Lummus Technology: Sieli, G.  |  Rama Rao, M.  |  Soni, D.
Indian Oil Corp. Ltd.: Bhattacharyya, D.

Integrating residue hydrocracking operations with advanced fluid catalytic cracking optimizes upgrading of heavy crude oils

What are the future fungible transportation fuels?

Foster Wheeler, Reading: Stockle, M.

Alternatives hold promises to decrease dependence on crude oil, but they also uncover other challenges in distribution and engine use

Minimize carbon footprint from Claus tail-gas units

Linde AG: Heisel, M.
WorleyParsons: Rameshni, M.

Reevaluate emissions efficiencies on sulfur-removal operations

HP Viewpoint: Consumer protection is a key issue for E15

National Petrochemical & Refiners Association: Drevna, Charles T.

NPRA wants to be sure that adding greater amounts of ethanol to gasoline is safe and will not cause engine damage

HP Impact: Team overcomes obstacles to cellulosic biofuel production

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

A newly engineered yeast strain can simultaneously consume two types of sugar from plants to produce ethanol, researchers report. The sugars are glucose, a six-carbon sugar that is relatively easy to ..

Designing atmospheric crude distillation for bitumen service

Fluor Canada Ltd.: Grande, M.  |  Gutscher, M.

Oil sands add complexity to separation units and require a new approach