Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Loss Prevention

Using an improved method of capitalized cost to evaluate alternatives

Contributing Writer: Kerr, C. P.

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

DuPont: Planche, S.

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

Tracerco: Pless, L.

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

Rayong Engineering & Plant Service Co. Ltd.: Tiyawongsakul, T.

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?

Palmela: Almas, A.

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

TUV NEL Ltd.: Macgillivray, A.

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

Sasol: Wieslaw, T.  |  Nichols, J.
Process Improvement Engineering: Lieberman, N.
Graham Corp.: Johnson, E.

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

Stratus Technologies: Fryer, J.

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

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

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

Opportune LLP: Campos, J.
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Andrew, Bob

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.