Europe
TAIF awards engineering deal to Toyo for Russian refinery modernization
The modernization project at Nizhnekamsk will be completed in 2016. The upgraded complex will convert the following oil refinery heavy residues: 2,700,000 tpy of vacuum residue and 1 million tpy of vacuum gas oil with a high ratio of conversion to more high-quality oil products.
UK leaders call for more women in engineering
An IChemE executive says more women are needed to enter engineering and recognize it as a career choice enabling them to make a difference for future generations.
KBR wins project management work for Azerbaijan gas processing plant
The new SOCAR gas processing plant will be located within the new oil-gas processing and petrochemical complex (OGPC) in Azerbaijan. The gas processing plant FEED completion is expected in October 2013, with the overall complex expected to start up operations in late 2020.
BASF to supply FCC catalysts for Shell refineries
This enhanced relationship agreement also includes collaborative activities designed to accelerate the introduction of new FCC catalyst technologies, according to company officials. BASF says the deal will ensure that Shell has the most advantageous FCC catalysts in its operations at all times.
Lanxess to shut Belgium butyl rubber, Texas EPDM plants amid weak demand
Soft underlying demand in the second half of 2012 has continued into 2013 across most businesses, against the usual seasonal trend. Lanxess said the closures are to counter the current soft demand.
Phillips 66 mulls sale of European, Asian refineries
Larry Ziemba, executive vice president for refining, project development and procurement, said that, for the right price the company would consider selling a 71,000 bpd refinery in Cork, Ireland, and its joint venture stakes in refineries in Malaysia and Germany. "They're really not strategic," Mr. Ziemba said.
Lukoil sells Odessa refinery in Ukraine to Vetek
The refinery, with a capacity of 3.9 million tpy, has been idle since the end of 2010. The decision to sell is part of a plan by Lukoil -- Russia's No. 2 crude oil producer -- to restructure its international refining assets, the company said. The deal is expected to be closed before June 1, after both sides fulfill conditions.
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..
- IRRC refinery in Canada successfully exits receivership with new ownership 7/27
- HF Sinclair sues EPA for delays on biofuel exemption decision 7/27
- Haldia Petrochemicals says June fire was not caused by its naphtha pipeline 7/27
- Brazil fuel subsidies to cost around 6.8 billion reais ($1.3 B) a month, minister says 7/27
- South Korea extends fuel tax cuts by two months to end-September 7/27
- Kuwait's KPC signs $16-B lease and leaseback deal for oil pipeline network 7/27
