Maintenance & Reliability
Reliability: Exploring better compressor sour seal oil traps
An interesting case involving sour seal oil traps in an offshore application recently came to our attention.
Taking on petrochemical plant hurdles with networking smarts
The petrochemical industry is facing one of the most significant challenges in its history.
Risk mitigation procedure following criticality assessment and FMEA
In asset performance management (APM), criticality assessment and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) are powerful tools that enable the identification of opportunities to minimize asset lifecycle costs during the development of equipment strategies.
Process control reimagined
Imagine visiting the control room of a typical process unit at a refinery.
Good distributor design for high-velocity feed debottlenecks a crude preflash tower
Bazan Group’s crude unit No. 3—not designed by any of the authors’ companies—was bottlenecked by the preflash tower.
Vapor velocity guidelines for horizontal flare knockout drums
Flare knockout (KO) drums are important components of effluent handling systems.
Thick-wall reactor shell repair procedure after damage detection at an interface in a hydrocracking unit
The vessel and reactor operating in a refinery may undergo various deteriorations due to their operating conditions.
Ensuring safety in dynamic chemical manufacturing environments
As with all industries, chemical manufacturing is evolving in response to technical innovations, new customer requirements and increased global competition.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 112: Remote failure analysis consulting
An article on “Remote training of personnel”1 is interesting and appropriate at this time of COVID-19. It outlines the difficulties in presenting remote training courses and suggests methods that can help.
Reliability: Taking ownership of problems
Taking ownership of issues during a critical or troubling time is just as important as assuming responsibility during times of opportunity and benefit.

- Braskem unveils updated lifecycle assessments for I’m green™ bio-based portfolio 10/8
- Falcker, Vopak sign agreement for worldwide deployment of advanced tank inspection platform 10/8
- Mitsubishi Chemical initiatives joint research project on its antithrombogenic thermoplastic elastomer 10/8
- ABB’s automation and electrification technology to support floating green ammonia production vessel 10/8
- Czech state lending 200,000 tons of oil to Orlen Unipetrol during TAL work 10/8
- Chevron working to restart units at El Segundo refinery (U.S.) after fire 10/8