Refining
Cheap gas slashes US coal-by-rail traffic, lowers demand for diesel
This is reducing the number of railcars moving across the tracks and the railroad companies' purchases of diesel, leaving diesel stocks at a seasonal record.
Visbreaking technology: Is it obsolete, or is there potential for upgrade?
Visbreaking technology is a well-known, simple thermal cracking process for residual oils.
In-depth and preemptive front-end planning yields positive project results
Despite the challenges that major projects can present (short deadlines, budget constraints and overruns, unforeseen problems onsite and tension throughout executive teams), they can also prove to be a win-win for both the owner and the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm.
Design a pressure safety valve at the centrifugal pump discharge
In most process plants, it is unusual to install a pressure safety valve (PSV) to centrifugal pump and compressor discharge, but some PSVs are needed and are installed to protect the system against miscellaneous scenarios that could create overpressure in the system.
Codes and Standards: How much fireproofing do we need?
This article is the first under the Codes and Standards series. The purpose of this series is to make readers aware of code requirements, the interpretations and the limitations as they stand today, and what engineers can do as an alternative engineering. This series is based on the actual implementation of what is narrated and the satisfactory experiences drawn.
Viewpoint: Pave the way to safer, more productive plants with the IIoT
The next generation of manufacturing will be driven by connectivity. It is happening today in modern plants: the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is enabling manufacturers to embed physical objects with the capacity to both communicate with and sense the world around them.
Industry Metrics
US product markets weakened despite strong domestic gasoline demand.
People
Marathon Petroleum Corp. has named Gary Heminger, the company's president and CEO, to succeed Thomas Usher as chairman of the board, in addition to his current duties.
Nigerian leader criticizes state petroleum minister over fuel shortages
An economic crisis caused by low oil prices has created shortages because fuel importers cannot get the dollars needed to buy petrol and the state oil firm has not been able to sign agreements quickly enough to exchange crude oil for gasoline.
High gasoline demand leaves US refiners with surplus of distillates
To meet gasoline demand from motorists, refiners have to process increased volumes of crude, leaving them with unwanted stocks of hard-to-sell distillates and other products.
- 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
