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

Maintenance & Reliability

HP Reliability: Can integrally geared compressors be successfully used with variable speeds?

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

A recent HP webinar answered a number of compressor-related questions. This same webinar also generated a few additional ones. A viewer thought that two statements from this presentation were in contr..

Integrated software drives improvement in asset management, productivity

Meridium, Inc.: Amos, E.

The evolution is all about connecting people, information and devices to give a holistic view of plant operations used to better manage reliability strategy and operational risk.

Access before acceptance: Chip redundancy for SIS

Professional engineer: Modi, R.

Desired automated plant safety functions are implemented via electrical relays, non-programmable solid-state electronics and programmable electronics (PEs) like microprocessors and microcontrollers. I..

Raise profitability through continuous performance evaluations

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.: Bhachu, U.

Reliability engineers use a wide variety of tools to support plant equipment and to optimize unit uptime and availability. Sound reliability programs assist organizations to be more competitive in the..

HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 81: Is consulting a possible second career for you?

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

Often, engineers consider becoming consultants as a second career path. This was certainly true for this author, and it occurred early during his career. Equally important, his career turned out well,..

HP Project Management: Case history: Hurdles in dismantling a vintage ammonia plant

Engro Fertilizers: Ahmed, Z.

Dismantling an ammonia plant is a daunting task under any circumstances. It is even more problematic when the facility is located in a remote place such as central Pakistan and managed by local contra..

HP Reliability: Consider technology-based specialized industrial services

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Most downstream professions have heard of (or personally experienced) glitches in activities involving offshoring and outsourcing. Too often, some maintenance and purchasing agents travel the “go..

Two approaches to sulfur management

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

Sulfur is naturally present as an impurity in fossil fuels. When the fuels are burned, the sulfur is released as sulfur dioxide—an air pollutant that contributes to respiratory problems for human..

What is the impact of US shale oil on global markets and refinery configurations?

Jacobs Consultancy: Ruwe, W. P.  |  Barela, A. B.

One of the most important factors in determining a refinery’s profitability is its ability to access low-cost feedstocks. This is not to be confused with survivability. Some uneconomic refineries..

Improve monitoring and troubleshooting of reciprocating compressors

Consultant: Geitner, F. K.
Professional engineer: Bloch, H. P.

The terms surveillance and monitoring for reciprocating compressors can be used interchangeably. With few exceptions, the monitoring and/or surveillance tasks are assigned to the unit operators. They ..