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

Refining

Business Trends: Innovative commissioning and startup technologies for industrial projects

University of Nevada: Choi, J. O.
University of Texas: O'Connor, J. T.
Delta Air Lines: Winkler, M.

The performance of capital project facility commissioning, startup and initial operations often falls short of expectations, and the opportunity for innovative commissioning and startup technologies has yet to be discussed extensively.

Design and troubleshoot the orifice chamber in an FCCU

Indian Oil Corp. Ltd.: Saidulu, G.  |  Yadav, M.  |  Satheesh, V. K.  |  Sahney, A. S.  |  Bhattacharyya, D.

The fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process remains one of the most important secondary conversion processes due to its inherent capability to upgrade residual streams and its flexibility to maximize the desired product, depending on market dynamics.

Enhanced flash zone design for coker fractionators

Bechtel Corp.: Thomas, C.  |  Spalding, M.  |  Patel, D.  |  Varma, H.

Since the flash zone is the first process undergone by the coke drum effluent vapor upon entering the column, the operation of the flash zone is critical to the operation of the entire coker fractionator column.

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.

Could your facility benefit from a marine terminal assessment?

Carmagen Engineering, Inc.: Blundell, R.

How sure would a terminal manager at a distribution terminal, or a line manager at a refinery or a chemical plant that has marine loading and unloading docks, be that those docks are being operated at a level that ensures long-term safe performance?

Viewpoint: The future of India’s refining capacity and the rise of clean fuels

Contributing Writer: Kanwar, R.
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

India is emerging as the world’s new oil demand center, with burgeoning consumption providing huge potential for downstream oil and gas growth. With a GDP ranked in the top 10 globally and a large, growing population, India has seen continuous increases in demand for energy in all forms.

People

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

John Flannery, the President and CEO of GE Healthcare, has been named CEO of the company, effective August 1, and Chairman and CEO effective in January 2018. Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO, will remain Chairman of the Board through his retirement at the end of the year.

Refining: Fuel processing vs. imports in East Africa: Will new refinery plans be realized?

Contributing Editor: Oirere, S.

Many analysts believe that Africa will remain a net importer of petroleum products for the foreseeable future. However, a few countries in the region have plans in place to build new refineries.

Industry Metrics

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

US gasoline crack spreads continued to rally, but were offset by supply-side pressure as higher refinery runs contributed to increased inventories.

Reliability: Consider best available resources for reciprocating compressors

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Whether it is compressor selection, upgrading, routine maintenance, major maintenance, failure avoidance or failure analysis: Realize that the reciprocating compressor procurement and improvement options available today are surprisingly advantageous compared to the options of 30 yr ago.