Refining
Reliability: Overcome biases and challenges facing industry
When asked about the challenges facing the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI), our answer was swift and direct: The trials we face are bundled, or can be found, in lessons some of us learned decades ago. However, lessons learned and explained decades ago were often disregarded by managers with a short-range focus.
Industry Metrics
US refinery utilization rates have increased in some areas following the peak of maintenance season.
Business Trends: Will India be Asia’s next downstream powerhouse?
The Asia-Pacific region dominates in the total number of active projects in all sectors of the downstream hydrocarbon processing industry. Just as China has seen unprecedented growth over the past decade, India is emerging as the globe’s new oil demand center.
Catalyst replacement strategy for a hydrocracking unit at a Middle East refinery
A Saudi Aramco refinery operates a series-flow, single-stage hydrocracking unit (HU) in a recycle high-conversion mode. The HU has been in operation for over 35 years and is being debottlenecked to increase its throughput by 20%.
Utilize an optimizer to blend gasoline directly to ships
A new control system and single-blend optimization system make it possible to blend gasoline directly into tanker ships for delivery, rather than only into tanks, thereby saving millions in capital and reducing product giveaway.
Optimize isomerization reactor temperatures and component RON
Isomerate is useful because it is paraffinic and contains no benzene, aromatics or sulfur. This pentane and hexane fraction of crude oil is known as light naphtha. The main objective of reactions is to increase the research octane number (RON) of the components. Decreasing fuel consumption without changing the product RON of isomerization units is discussed here.
Syngas from H2S and CO2: An alternative, pioneering synthesis route?
Hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide represent major concerns for the hydrocarbon industry. Both species are contaminants and, since their use as feedstock is minor, are considered troubling byproducts.
People
Amec Foster Wheeler Plc named Halliburton executive Dr. Jonathan Lewis as chief executive officer (CEO), effective June 1.
Secure the best benefits from C4 hydrocarbon processing—Part 1: Separation sequences
Crude C<sub>4</sub> streams from the steam cracker unit or the fluidized catalytic cracker unit contain valuable hydrocarbons, such as butadiene and C<sub>4</sub> olefins.
Reduce revamp costs with appropriate 3D laser scanning strategies
The traditional approach for collecting plant as-built data commonly used for the revamp and retrofit of existing facilities, as well as for plant maintenance and operation, includes manually collecting the data and reviewing existing plot plans, elevation drawings, systems isometrics, or other 2D CAD drawings.
- Technip Energies, Shell Catalysts & Technologies move towards an exclusive global alliance for carbon capture 11/14
- SOCAR, Baker Hughes partner on integrated gas recovery, H2S removal system at the Heydar Oil Refinery 11/14
- India shaping up as refining hub, to rely on fossil fuels until 2040 11/14
- Sinopec starts up 1.2-MMtpy ethylene complex in north China's Tianjin 11/14
- US refiner margins to stabilize next year as plant closures cut supply 11/14
- Germany blocks oil firms from using past emissions credits to support biofuel industry 11/14