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Maintenance & Reliability

WorleyParsons awarded framework agreement by Refining NZ

Refining NZ has awarded WorleyParsons a 5-yr framework agreement for performance of engineering, procurement, shutdown and construction management services (EPCm) at the Marsden Point Refinery.

Black Sea diesel plant upgrade delayed by a year to 2019

MOSCOW (Reuters) — Russia's Rosneft has postponed plans to upgrade a plant on the Black Sea by around a year, delaying the supply of an additional 5.5 MMt of Russian diesel per year, industry sources told Reuters.

California safety, health board approves new hazard regulations for refineries

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Department of Industrial Relations' (DIR) Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved a regulation to strengthen workplace safety and health at oil refineries across the state. The new regulation provides a framework for anticipating, preventing and responding to hazards at refineries.

Scott Safety releases reusable single gas monitor, docking station

MONROE, N.C. -- Scott Safety introduced the Protégé SG, a reusable single gas monitor, and the MasterDock II, an expandable docking station.

US agency: Weak safety standards led to Exxon refinery blast

HOUSTON (Reuters) -- The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has concluded that a 2015 explosion at a Torrance, California, refinery then owned by Exxon Mobil Corp could have been prevented, the agency concluded in a report issued on Wednesday.

Equipment critical analysis: The need for an effective maintenance program

Toyo Engineering Canada Ltd.: Zardynezhad, S.

Oil refineries and large petrochemical plants contain thousands of pieces of process and utilities equipment that are subject to wear, erosion, deterioration, aging, etc., resulting in increasing breakdowns and outages. Imagine being a maintenance engineer and receiving 50 work orders during an overhaul with a limited budget, time, labor, spare parts, tools, machines, etc. How does that engineer prioritize the work?

Root cause analysis on bearing failure on an induced draft fan

Saudi Aramco: Allah, W. K.

This case study aims to provide the root cause analysis behind bearing failure of an induced (ID) fan at a new refinery startup in 2015.

Reliability: Understanding right-angle gear backlash

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

By definition, all gear units have teeth. These teeth are designed and produced to a certain strength, or a defined force-on-tooth, or an allowable pressure-load on tooth.

Business Trends: Human reliability—a disruptive innovation

Small Hammer Inc.: Snider, B.

Annual bottom-line losses due to equipment failures total more than $100 MM at major refineries and petrochemical complexes. Corporate executives charge plant personnel with improving the reliability of the facility.

Editorial Comment: Maintenance—a value-added expense

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

This issue of <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> tackles one of the most integral aspects of the downstream industry (or any industry, for that matter): maintenance and reliability. These two terms go hand-in-hand and help to ensure efficient and safe operations.