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

Refining

Saudi Arabia secures diesel imports for this year amid rising fuel needs

Saudi Aramco has bought diesel under term contracts for 2013 from multiple suppliers including BP, Shell, and Phillips 66, Singapore-based traders say. The country used to be a key exporter of oil products but is increasingly importing more oil products due to strong domestic demand.

US votes to reinstate biodiesel tax incentive

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

The $1/gal incentive was first implemented in 2005, though Congress has allowed it to lapse twice. It will be reinstated retroactively to Jan. 1, 2012, and to the end of 2013.

Calumet completes acquisition of NuStar refinery, terminal near San Antonio

The acquired assets include a refinery in San Antonio, Texas with crude oil throughput capacity of approximately 14,500 bpd. The refinery produces ultra-low sulfur diesel, jet fuel, specialty solvents, reformates, naphtha and vacuum gas oil. The aggregate deal price was $115 million.

Refiners now have a new biofuel option

Butamax Advanced Biofuels: Schubert, A.

Biobutanol is coming to market as a gasoline blendstock and can be efficiently made by a range of renewable feedstocks.

Evaluate pressure relief system forces in existing installations

Smith & Burgess LLC: Smith, D.  |  White, J.
Frenk Water Technologies LLC: Frenk, B.

The purpose of this study is to limit the number of relief valves that require rigorous engineering calculations to determine the adequacy of the installation.

Improve your plantwide steam network

Merrick & Co.: Pelham, R. O.

When optimizing an existing steam network, design and process engineers need a complete understanding of all aspects of the existing system. Accurate energy and material balances must be established.

HP Brief

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

Uncertainty looms in EU economyEuropean chemicals output contracted by 2% in 2012 compared with 2011, according to European chemicals group Cefic. By lowering its forecast released in September, the c..

HP Industry Perspectives: 2012: Is it over yet?

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Romanow, Stephany

According to a year-end report from the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the global economy is still stumbling three years after the “great recession of 2008.” The Euro area is challenged t..

HP Impact: US crude production hits 15-year peak

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that US crude oil production (including lease condensate) averaged almost 6.5 million bpd in September 2012, the highest volume in nearly 15 year..

HP Impact: Canadian oil sands GHG emissions scrutinized

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

IHS has released an update to its 2010 report comparing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fuels made from Canadian oil sands to those from other crude sources. The new analysis found that total ..