Economics
Onsite
Dr. Kheng Lau, BP, presented the keynote address on using high-fidelity simulators for training on day two of Hydrocarbon Processing’s International Refining and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC) Americas.
Global Project Data
<i>Hydrocarbon Processing’</1>s Construction Boxscore Database is tracking more than 1,300 active projects in the hydrocarbon processing industries worldwide.
Business Trends
The oil and gas industry is at a turning point.
Viewpoint—Industry 4.0: Demystifying the next big thing in oil and gas
Until a few years ago, the term Industrial Revolution referred to the significant technological changes that began in the late 1700s with the advent of the steam engine, leading to the mechanization of work and the unprecedented economic growth and prosperity that followed.
Refining—The evolving base oil industry: The Group 1 shift
In April, ExxonMobil launched its 2018 Basestocks Industry Pulse Report. Supported by survey responses from 300 base oil decision makers around the world, the report reveals their own perspectives into the key market trends and industry drivers in the base oils business.
Improve refinery production and efficiency with asset monitoring
The sheer volume of equipment in a refinery—from vessels, columns, huge structures and mazes of pipes to pumps, valves, controllers and instruments—is staggering.
Global Project Data
According to <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i>’s Construction Boxscore Database, more than 320 new projects have been announced in the downstream processing industry over the past year.
Viewpoint: Reducing the sulfur shadow— Who pays the price?
The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) 2020 regulation has been described as the most disruptive change to impact the oil industry in the past 30 yr.
Risk: Measuring margins—Avoiding complacency when the market is stable
When top oil marketer Geneva Energy Markets LLC liquidated its trading book holding<sup>1</sup> “millions of barrels of open interest across crude oil, refined products and natural gas,” managing partner Mark Vonderheide emphasized the pressures and potential damage of new market regulations.
The road to successful plant modernization
Any personnel working in a refinery or heavy petrochemical plant with “vintage” automation equipment are painfully aware of the effects a distributed control system (DCS) from the 1990s, 1980s or even earlier can have on operations.

- Emerson's Aspen Technology business releases new software with expanded AI capabilities, enhanced visualization and simplified workflows 5/13
- LanzaJet and BioD announce feasibility study for SAF plant in Colombia 5/13
- U.S. House targets big climate, clean energy rollbacks in budget proposal 5/13
- Chevron attempting to restart El Segundo, California refinery after taking units offline last week 5/13
- Mexico's Pemex plans to export less crude oil as new refinery starts up 5/13
- BASF is expanding its portfolio of raw materials for the production of concrete superplasticizers for the construction industry in the European market 5/13