Loss Prevention
Catalytic processes operation during downturns in aromatics complexes
Paraxylene production is a highly cyclical business that is subject to changes in the global economy and dependent on feedstock costs, alternative dispositions for aromatics, utilities costs and plant locations, among other factors. With the large PX capacity added by recently started crude-to-chemicals complexes and the expected impact of the economic recession on commodities demand, many aromatics complexes face a significant slowdown in the coming months or, possibly, years.
Reliability: Phased reopening of reliability improvement businesses
Like many thousands of educational and operator training-related endeavors, reliability improvement training was abruptly suspended when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted daily life as it was known prior to 2020.
Editorial Comment: Optimizing operations and recognizing achievements
Over the next two months, <ital>Hydrocarbon Processing</ital> will host two separate events for a global audience. One will gather the brightest minds in the industry to share the latest innovations and technologies in the industry, while the other will recognize the leaders in advancing the industry toward safer and more reliable, sustainable and profitable operations. Both events—<ital>Hydrocarbon Processing’s</ital> IRPC and the HP Awards—will be streamed on digital platforms and free to view.
Advanced analytics drive IIoT success
Refineries and petrochemical plants face similar challenges in daily operations. Each must mitigate risk, anticipate maintenance, optimize operations and minimize expenses. To achieve these goals, plant personnel rely heavily on data to drive decisions.
Innovations
Sphera has released a new Interactive piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) solution that helps organizations break down silos between their operations, maintenance and engineering departments while simplifying isolation planning.
Project Management: Four tips for navigating a shutdown, turnaround or outage successfully
In the oil and gas sector, managing a shutdown, turnaround, or even an outage is an unavoidable requirement.
Business Trends: Managing risk and uncertainty: The importance of optimizing your value chain
No doubt exists that COVID-19 is disrupting the oil and gas industry. Oil prices are falling, demand is down, supply is up, and storage capacity is limited. In these difficult times, the industry must swiftly act to keep business viable to come back strong when conditions improve.
Executive Viewpoint: How to develop a successful asset management strategy during the coronavirus downturn
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has disrupted all sectors of the oil and gas industry, including asset management.
Advanced cooling tower water treatment—Part 1
Refineries, petrochemical plants and similar facilities rely on a significant number of heat exchangers for process control and product formulation throughout the plant.
Fit-for-purpose fireproofing envelopes
Although widely used, the term “fireproofing” is misleading as almost nothing can be made totally safe from the effects of fire. Fireproofing refers to the systematic process (including materials and the application of materials) that provides a degree of fire resistance for protected support structures.

- U.S. oil, biofuel group recommends 5.25 Bgal in biomass diesel mandates 4/11
- Ukraine will add bioethanol to petrol from May, seeks first imports from EU 4/11
- UN shipping agency strikes deal on fuel emissions, CO2 fees 4/11
- S&P analysis: Global refined product demand growth likely to weaken, absolute decline cannot be ruled out 4/11
- U.S. targets China oil storage terminal in new Iran-related sanctions 4/11
- Russia's Novatek plans condensate processing complex in Murmansk 4/11