Loss Prevention
Using an improved method of capitalized cost to evaluate alternatives
The method of capitalized cost is often used to determine the most desirable economic alternative. In its most simplified form, it consists of the original cost of an alternative plus the capital cost of a perpetuity needed to generate funds to replace the item at known intervals of useful-life.
Rethinking the risk mitigation process and revitalizing operational safety
For the past 2 yr, oil prices have been in free-fall. At the time of writing, the WTI price is around $50/bbl, up slightly since OPEC’s May 2017 announcement to extend its September 2016 production cut of 2.2%.
Identify the cause of liquid maldistribution inside packed beds
Diagnosing liquid maldistribution problems inside packed beds that can cause mass transfer efficiency loss is a challenge to process engineers.
Carburization inspection robots for radiant tubes inside ethylene cracking furnaces
In an olefins plant, the reliability of ethylene cracking furnaces is one of the deciding factors used to indicate whether or not the plant can be operated at its design productivity.
Does your control valve talk?
Pneumatic operated control valves (POCVs) are consistently the most used control final element for process control across most industries—in some cases, they are also part of the safety instrumented systems (SISs) layer.
Plug the metering skills gap to ensure measurement accuracy and safety
In all sectors of industry, the measurement of flow is of vital importance. However, in an industry that is cutting costs, what impact will a growing skills gap have on meter management and accuracy of measurement?
Troubleshooting vacuum operation of an inter-after condenser unit in an ethylene plant
A system of compressors powered by surface condensing steam turbines is inherent in the operation of a typical ethane cracker unit.
Automation Strategies: Navigating automation in oil and gas—Lessons learned from other industries
In today’s economy, industrial automation has become absolutely essential for refiners, petrochemical producers and pipeline owners looking to maintain profitability and competitive advantage as market pressures bear down on them.
Reliability: Identify top ways to weather weak market conditions
New Jersey-based Carmagen Engineering Inc., a member of Mistras Group Inc., is a highly respected consulting engineering and project management firm comprising experienced subject matter experts (SMEs).
View/Alt-View: Giving voice to alternative views
Our publication often features a Viewpoint column, an executive-level short opinion piece that usually focuses on the author’s sector of the hydrocarbon processing industry. This month, we are featuring two columns back-to-back, presenting alternative views on a single topic. We use the word “alternative” deliberately—rather than “opposing”—as we wish to highlight views that present legitimately different perspectives.
- Sponsored Content: Demystifying industrial AI agents: What we can learn from Iron Man 11/1
- LyondellBasell misses quarterly profit estimates on falling refining margins 11/1
- ExxonMobil sells French Fos-sur-Mer refinery to Trafigura consortium 11/1
- Drone crashes on oil depot in Russia's Stavropol region 11/1
- Lummus and Advanced Ionics establish partnership for green hydrogen 11/1
- Consortium to launch world's first commercialized PET bottle using bio-paraxylene 10/31