December 2007

Using a main automation and electrical contractor approach can provide predictable costs, consistent results, standardized and scalable designs, and lower risk of unexpected scope growth

Retrofit of heater required unique engineering, design and construction methods

Use these tips and real-world examples to improve the quality of your layouts

One gasoil hydrotreater case history illustrates how $12.5 million was saved

Key benchmarks define operations performance for global industry

Innovative methods are vital in new project management

Relocating an entire agrochemical facility added needed capacity while saving significant time and money

Prepare for cost-control challenges and revenue-generating opportunities

Here's how first-quartile companies optimize maintenance and improve reliability

The technique is an integral part of asset integrity management

Incorporating these aspects early in the planning process significantly reduces rework and subsequent costs during construction and operation

This can be accomplished by integrating hot utility duties to enhance waste energy recovery

New model helps estimate yields for 'bottom-of-the-barrel' residuals

Products yield and specifications with energy conservation goals can determine options to revamp distillation units

Innovative methods conserve energy resources for oil sands projects

Potential operational savings justifies the initial investment

Wetted equipment requires a different calculation approach for fire relief loads

I recently received a letter from Pavlos Ioakimidis of Hellenic Petroleum responding to my editorial about inferential models that correlate but do not predict.1 That March editorial argued that regr..

Continuous operational condition monitoring implies that machine condition data are collected and evaluated in real time. Of special interest here are data that could rapidly change and are tell-tale ..

James Watson, the Nobel Laureate who with Francis Crick first discovered the structure of DNA, has gone to great lengths in his life to do something that comes relatively easily to me. In his early yo..

For liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, future plant designs will apply larger train capacities to take advantage of the economy of scale. To fully realize savings in capital and operating costs w..

The use of dynamic simulation to check out and validate process automation systems, perform software acceptance tests and train operators provides numerous benefits to companies in the process industr..

"HPIn Associations" offers event listings and keeps track of association leadership. We interview professional staff and high-ranking advisory board members, asking about their goals, lobbying practic..

High-speed wireless corrosion transmitter Emerson Process Management and Rohrback Cosasco Systems (RCS) are jointly introducing the RCS Microcor Wireless Transmitter for high-speed communication of c..

Integrated video-monitoring and wireless network appliance The ION video-monitoring application reportedly makes it easy to quickly and cost effectively add video monitoring of process equipment, plan..

  AMEC Paragon has a contract with Baard Energy to provide engineering and project management services for the front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase of the $5 billion Ohio River clean fu..

  Polinter C.A. has chosen to expand its linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) capacity utilizing NOVA Chemicals Corp. technology. The capacity expansion wi..

BASF will expand its Verbund plant for low-molecular-weight, highly reactive polyisobutene (HR PIB) in Antwerp, Belgium. The expansion is expected to be 25,000 tons, providing for a new capacity of 10..

Two Foster Wheeler Ltd. subsidiaries have contracts with Qatar Intermediate Industries Holding Co., Ltd., to execute the front-end engineering design (FEED) and to provide project management and cons..

  RAE Systems Inc. delivered a suite of custom wireless gas detection systems and over 150 handheld gas monitors to protect the workers on eight mobile oil drilling and explorations rigs at Petr..

  Convenient flowmeter selection tool  McCrometer's new online flowmeter selection tool is said to offer an innovative on-demand search capability based on fluid, industry and appli..

Asian giants remixing trade The staggering pace of the Chinese and Indian economic growth has sharply elevated their energy needs, of which a growi..

For a long time, the engineering and construction (E&C) contracting industry was torn between two extreme contractual formulas for work: 1) reimbursable, which fundamentally places most project risks ..

The North African hydrocarbon industry is on the cusp of significant growth in both upstream and downstream capital expenditure (Fig. 2). From 2007 to 2011, these two markets are forecast to grow by $..

Biofuels production is developing within the context of shifting options and goals related to US energy production. The technology has several impacts that must be considered. These include energy ret..

A research team from the University of Houston reports that it may eliminate one of the biggest hurdles to the wide-scale production of fuel cell-powered vehicles. Peter Strasser, an assistant profess..

When examining the challenges facing the Middle East petrochemicals industry, a complex mix of market forces and geography reveal not only challenges but opportunities. "I believe the industry will fa..

R&D is becoming a truly global enterprise with all sectors moving within the not-too-distant future to a near-equal distribution of effort, funds and activity. This trend is countering the domination ..

China's stunning growth has been in the news for at least the past five to seven years. The billions of dollars that are annually being poured into the economy leave some wondering when this industria..

The final word (for now) on dry gas seals Our September "HPIn Reliability" column generated considerable interest. The intent of the column was to convey the wisdom of staying abreast of upgrades to ..