February 2013

Plant managers should remember that small, incremental changes can make huge differences to the competitiveness of a refinery in today's international marketplace.

In late 2010, Grupa LOTOS SA completed construction of a major residue-upgrading project at its refinery in Gdańsk, Poland. Its 10+ Program was designed to unlock a step change in the facility’s long-term profitability. After two years of operating, this project has had a profound effect on the refinery’s economics.

Using very conservative estimation methods, the estimated benefits for operator training simulators (OTS) show a return on investment certain to surpass the typical corporate investment hurdle rate.

The criteria to consider when selecting a precious metals refiner include procedures associated with the refiner's sampling, assaying, processing and logistics arrangements.

Selective adjustments to FCC operating variables and catalyst quality can significantly increase LCO production, which refiners can then upgrade into diesel blendstock.

Tamoil’s Collombey refinery worked very close with a new catalyst supplier to remove the main operating constraint and significantly improve the unit profitability. Several project goals were set and attained.

This article offers new insight into how the user interfaces to the next generation of process engineering software might look, how they will benefit their users and the key enablers that will make it all possible.

As more regions increasingly adopt clean-fuel regulations, the challenge for refiners is to meet these tightening gasoline specifications for benzene cost-effectively without significant octane loss.

Eni invested in an innovative project involving the conversion of the existing refining scheme of its Venice refinery into a “green cycle” to process very high-quality biofuels starting from biological feedstocks.

Eastern Mediterranean Gas Conference (EMGC) 2013Eastern Mediterranean Gas Conference (EMGC) 2013 is the comprehensive, breakthrough meeting for professionals working in, and seeking to be involved in,..

Experienced reliability professionals know that even the premier equipment standards used in the HPI occasionally fall short of defining the best, most reliable, or safest available technology.

According to the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) trade organization, the US biodiesel industry produced more than one billion gallons (B gal) of biodiesel fuel in 2011, surpassing the 800 million gallo..

The downstream industry is investing billions of dollars in the development and construction of grassroots facilities, along with expansions and upgrades to existing plants.

Hydrocarbon Processing had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Rajeev Gautam, president and CEO of UOP, A Honeywell Co., and discuss several high-level factors impacting the global hydrocarbon processing..

Focus on the big safety improvements and the real problems. This fundamental concept applies to many tasks in addition to functional safety.

Bakken oil destined for New JerseyPhillips 66 has signed a five-year contract to use Global Partners LP’s rail transloading, logistics and transportation system to deliver crude oil from the Nort..

A recent briefing paper from Chatham House thoroughly examines natural gas security issues in northeast Asia. The authors assert that northeast Asia will become a major market for gas in the coming de..

In 2013, just under $26 billion will be spent to remove carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and particulate carbon from stationary and mobile sources. Ninety-two percent of the market purchase..

The Asian region is the largest market for low power AC drives, representing around 42% of the global low power AC drives market. The growth is chiefly driven by improvement of internal infrastructure..

UK firm patents mid-scale LNG technologyGasconsult Ltd. has announced the award of a patent for its new ZR-LNG liquefaction process. ZR-LNG has best-in-class energy efficiency for mid-scale liquefied ..

With US President Barack Obama’s second four-year term now secure, most in the global hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) expect the Obama administration to ultimately approve the controversial..

Large steam-trap selection caters to requirements of plant facilitiesSpirax Sarco’s comprehensive Steam Trapping Overview brochure combines all of its steam-trap products and solutions. The broch..

Stationary heat-transfer fluid systems are now available up to 700°F (371°C)The HTF ST Series of stationary heat-transfer fluid systems, up to 600 kW, is now available up to 700°F (371&..

Workers are protesting Petrobras's latest profit-sharing offer, which the union contends short-changes workers to the benefit of shareholders. The strike is tentatively scheduled to start Feb. 20, said Joao Antonio de Moraes, general coordinator for the Brazilian Oil Workers Federation, or FUP.

This discussion tracks a material flow through the steam system, starting with feed and continuing with steam generation, steam uses and, finally, condensate recovery.