Maintenance & Reliability
Innovations
In the demanding environment of a Claus reaction furnace, flame detection sensors must distinguish whether a flame is still burning against a hot refractory lining background.
Reliability: Deriving high value from reliability conferences
In August 2017, a publisher-colleague and I attended an important regional reliability conference in Galveston, Texas.
Determine service fatigue life for damaged delayed coking unit drums
Coke drums and delayed coking units (DCUs) have been a recognizable technology in refineries since the 1930s, and in oil sands plants since the early 1960s.
Case histories of amine plant equipment corrosion problems–Part 2
Past corrosion incidents provide insight into the causes of corrosion and the preventive actions required to protect plant equipment and reduce costly plant downtime.
PDVSA's Amuay refinery halts distillation unit
CARACAS (Reuters) — Venezuela’s 645,000 bpd Amuay refinery has halted its distillation unit No. 5 due to an operational problem, union leader and opposition activist Ivan Freites said on Thursday.
Saudi Aramco to push back shutdown at Ras Tanura refinery
(Reuters) — Saudi Aramco is expected to shut down its condensate splitter at its Ras Tanura refinery by the end of November for a month for planned maintenance work, two industry sources said, later than originally planned.
Innovations
ABB has introduced a new MID/OIML R117 certified high-accuracy CoriolisMaster Coriolis mass flowmeter for custody transfer applications in the oil and gas industry (FIG. 1).
Optimization: Filtration for processes inside refineries
Proper filtration is one of the most important functions performed inside refineries.
Reliability: Could a company be its own worst enemy?
In a recent conversation with a “pump veteran,” we explored his 33 yr of experience with pump original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) from 1984–1997 and with a widely known non-OEM (1997–2017).
Connecting rod failure in a new reciprocating gas compressor
Compressor failure in an oil refinery can have severe consequences on health, safety and the environment.
- Honeywell carbon capture technology to create hydrogen and ammonia fertilizer at Indiana gasification facility 11/4
- MENA Biofuels begins Phase 1 of the UAE's first SAF production facility 11/4
- Avantium’s plant-based plastic PEF Releaf® receives CPBR approval for recycling in Japan 11/4
- Plug Power to supply electroylzers to Allied Biofuels eSAF project 11/4
- ExxonMobil explores more refinery upgrades as it hones in on higher-value products 11/4
- Fluor selected for FEED of SAF hub in England 11/4
