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Refining

UOP technology drives China’s first dual plants for propylene, isobutylene

The new unit, which is the first of three in China, uses Honeywell UOP’s C3/C4 Oleflex process technology to produce propylene, a building block for making plastics, packaging and synthetic fiber, and isobutylene, a component used for high-octane gasoline and synthetic rubber.

Neste expands California renewable diesel sales

California is a forerunner in renewable energy, and renewable diesel plays a big role in California's climate plan. Neste says its NEXBTL renewable diesel meets US and California spec requirements.

Shell to exit from Tongyi Lubricants JV in China

Tongyi, a joint venture between Shell and Huo’s Group, is a prominent Chinese lubricant supplier with blending plants in Beijing, Xianyang of Shaanxi province and Wuxi of Jiangsu province.

ExxonMobil expands Beaumont refinery’s capacity to process light crudes

ExxonMobil will add flexibility to process light crudes at its Beaumont refinery, increasing production capacity by approximately 20,000 bpd, the company said.

REG to acquire US biodiesel refiner Imperium

REG will acquire all the assets of Imperium, including a 100-million gal capacity biomass-based diesel refinery and deepwater port terminal at the Port of Grays Harbor, Washington.

Consider Zone 0 vertical pumps for slop pits

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Over the past several decades, a leading overseas HPI corporation experienced a disturbing number of explosions in its belowground hydrocarbon sump pits.

Wetted surface area calculations for fire-relief sizing in ASME pressure vessels

Fluor: Firoozi, B.

Although individual operating facilities take many steps to protect plants from fire, pressure vessels within a fire zone must be protected by a pressure safety valve (PSV). Proper calculation of the vessel’s wetted surface area is a crucial step in properly sizing a PSV.

HP Editorial Comment: An extraordinary year and new beginnings

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

It is quite extraordinary, the events that can happen within a single year. Beginning in July 2014, the world began to witness a widespread fall in crude oil prices. By the end of January 2015, both W..

HP Reliability: Ten sure steps to substandard reliability performance

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Equipment reliability can be enhanced or jeopardized by many different actions, inactions, commissions and omissions. Reliability may be a hollow term to many. Still, first and foremost, a reliable plant is a safe plant.

HP Project Management: An update on Lang factors

Project Management Consultant: Wolf, T. E.

Lang factors are cited frequently and used within the HPI. With the ensuing changes, the question must be asked, “Do Lang factors still present a realistic approximation of capital cost today?”