January 2011

Improved analytics measure moisture and dew points for natural gas components

Case studies give an indication as to probable causes for water hammer

Data shows potential harmful effects to workers due to acid gas exposure

Technology avoids huge capital investments while speeding up results

New developments improve operation of Claus sulfur recovery units

A risk analysis can determine which critical welds to repair

New environmental challenges require a new way of thinking by the hydrocarbon processing industry

Guidelines explore protecting critical systems from disaster

Look at these advantages in using ultrasonic leak detectors

New options recover waste gas energy as steam and electricity for plant use

I followed my April 2010 call for renewal of process control and IT practice with editorials on purpose in August, performance in October and consequences in December. Now I turn to selection of contr..

Although I’ve watched it coming, it still feels like a historic moment to see the oil industry pack up its things and leave. If you sell catalysts, pumps, inspection services, display ads or anti..

Overview.In the 35 years since they introduced distributed control systems (DCSs), automation system suppliers have provided the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) and other customers with far more..

Statistics show that for every 1,000 pump failures in hydrocarbon processing plants, there will be a fire. Fig. 1 shows a typical visible outcome, and the final bill for remedying such disastrous resu..

Improved outlook for US chemicalsThe outlook for the US chemicals manufacturing sector is improving gradually and global production is set to increase in the coming year, thanks in part to dramatic gr..

Technip has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction-support lump-sum contract by Valero Refining Co. for two flare-gas recovery units at its Port Arthur, Texas, refinery. Each unit i..

UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, has announced that Petrobras has selected UOP to provide all of the process technologies for two new maximum diesel refineries to be built in Brazil. UOP hydrocracking an..

Because of the persistently high demand for polyamide 12, worldwide, Germany-based, Evonik Industries will continue to expand its laurolactam capacity further. This expansion represents a boost to the..

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (HHI) held a naming ceremony for the Usan FPSO, reported to be the world’s largest floating production storage and offloading facility. The Usan FPSO can refine ..

Axens (Performance Programs) has delivered a process operations simulator (POS) to Aromatics Oman LLC for its ParamaX complex that started up at the beginning of 2010. The POS integrates all of the co..

Total and China Power Investment Corp. (CPI) will build a coal-based petrochemical plant in China. The two companies signed a letter of understanding (LOU) in Paris, France, to study the construction ..

The costs for designing and constructing downstream refining and petrochemical projects rose 3% from Q1 2010 to Q3 2010, according to the latest edition of the IHS CERA Downstream Capital Costs Index ..

According to Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions’ recent study, the Gulf of Mexico deepwater drilling remains vital to the US economy and is vital for future growth. For the record, “easy o..

Investment in the development of shale gas in the US and Europe could present Middle East markets with a reduction in demand according to Euro-Petroleum Consultants’ (EPC) President Colin Chapman..

According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) World Energy Outlook 2010, the energy world market faces unprecedented uncertainty. The 2008–2009 global economic crisis threw the..

New alternative technologies for oil spill cleanupC.I.Agent Solutions, a global leader in solutions for fuel and oil spill cleanup and containment, exhibited at Clean Gulf 2010 and featured its latest..

Innovative and flexible flame-detection series  The FLAMEVision (FV) 40 series of flame-detection products includes five configurable models that reportedly meet the needs of multiple industries ..

Vacuum products and services Pfeiffer Vacuum’s Trinos Division has released a 400-page, four-color catalog covering its complete range of components, chambers and measuring instruments. This..