Economics
IEA: The changing landscape of energy investment
As the global energy sector undergoes deep transformations, investment decisions are more important than ever. They play a critical role for energy security and environmental sustainability and will shape the energy landscape for years to come.
Business Trends: Anticipated market and pricing impacts from new marine fuel regulations
In October 2016, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that it will implement a new regulation that calls for the sulfur content in marine fuels to be reduced from 3.5% to 0.5%. The new regulation will go into effect in January 2020. This action by the IMO will have a profound impact on the maritime and refining industries worldwide, as well as on the environment. This month’s Business Trends section provides an overview on the anticipated impacts of the IMO’s decision on petroleum product markets.
Global: Is India ready for the BS-6 changeover?
India is the seventh-largest country in the world by land mass. Urbanization is taking place at a rapid pace: According to the country’s 2011 census, more than 377 MM Indians live in nearly 8,000 towns and cities. This count represents more than 31% of the country’s total population.
Refining: Europe’s refineries: Walking dead or happy valley?
Unloved and increasingly unneeded, Europe’s oil refining sector has been under duress for an astonishing four decades.
Automation Strategies: Next-gen automation services support operational excellence and reduce project cost
Major suppliers are expanding their automation-related service capabilities from project and engineering services through services for operations and maintenance. This is happening partly in response to overall automation market conditions, but largely in response to evolving user challenges and requirements.
Use the right model to unlock utility system potential
Although we have entered a new era of low energy prices, energy still represents one of the largest, but most easily managed, operating costs in the hydrocarbon industries.
Reduce coke formation and save operating costs with optimization of DMDS into ethane cracking furnaces
Steam cracking furnaces produce olefins, which are high-value feeds in the petrochemical industry. Coke formation is an unavoidable part of a thermal cracking furnace.
Commercialization of pyrolysis oil in existing refineries—Part 1
In Part 1 of this article, the incentives and information needed to relax the constraints of being O<sub>2</sub>-free are outlined. The authors hope that this perspective provides new directions for improving the economics of using pyoil to produce advanced biofuels (ABFs).
Engineering Case Histories: Case 94: Why mentors are important for industry
When I started working in industry 50 years ago, it was management’s job to have a senior engineer watch over my work. Much of the quality of my analytical work and technical discipline were formed early in my career with help from these engineers.
Reliability: Reliability and the EPC contractor
In this column, I have often elaborated on critical information related to reliability thinking. However, reliability thinking is continually subverted by approaches that concentrate excessively on project cost and completion.
- KT-Kinetics Technology, NEXTCHEM awarded contracts for Petronas hydrogen unit 1/14
- Chinese, Indian refiners seek new supplies as US sanctions tighten grip on Russian oil 1/14
- Clariant to fight 1.4-B euro ethylene lawsuit from BASF 1/14
- Poland's Orlen plans to invest up to nearly $92 B by 2035 1/14
- Genesis Fertilizers, Stamicarbon partner to advance sustainable urea production 1/14
- Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical to invest $2.9 B to upgrade Chinese operations 1/14
