October 2015

A refinery with an active crude selection strategy encompassing dedicated staff, preapproval of all new crudes and an updated crude acceptance window can gain $0.5/bbl–$1/bbl vs. a more passive strategy.

A commercial simulation tool is used to carry out the analysis of the transient phenomena caused by the tube rupture event during the design phase of an HP heat exchanger.

Radiation-based continuous level gauges provide highly reliable measurements because no part of the instrument system is exposed to the process fluid, and they do not require penetration into the process vessel.

In the process industries, laser-based analytical techniques have emerged as a popular method of examining process line samples because of their high level of durability, fast response time and minimal maintenance requirements.

Ethylene manufacturing is a continuous race to be commercially competitive in a volatile global market.

Unlike much of Southeast Asia, which is presently building downstream infrastructure to meet increasing demand, Northeast Asia is well-developed.

In October 2009, a devastating fire at the oil terminal in Jaipur, India, killed 11 people, injured many more and incurred a significant financial loss.

Without a holistic approach and a structured root cause analysis, it is hard to unearth complex and multiple issues, particularly design deficiencies.

This article addresses the generation of thermal NOx in the furnace of each process, NOx abatement by SCR, and premature degradation of SCR catalyst by chromium species in the flue gas.

Fired heaters are essential and important major pieces of equipment in a process plant.

A conventional hydrogen (H2) plant in a Middle Eastern refinery was designed to produce 75,000 normal cubed meters per hour (Mnm3/hr) of H2 product with 95% purity with plat offgas feed (platformer offgas mixed with hydrocracker offgas).

As we move deeper into 2015, Hydrocarbon Processing continues to add new features to better serve our readers.

The statistics on job seekers with college degrees and job seekers qualified to do the work for which they actually apply will differ.

With significant fluctuations in feedstock and energy prices, making economic changes quickly is vital to capitalize on the most profitable assets.

Process safety and cyber security are distinctly different disciplines, but there is now a growing realization within the downstream automation sector that they are related.

The ongoing debate over the Iran “nuclear deal” isn’t just political talk. It could be a key influencer for the future of the global petrochemicals industry, too.

As 2015 enters its final quarter, Hydrocarbon Processing is once again evaluating the top projects from this past year with the most significant impacts on the global or regional downstream industry.

As a consequence of the shale gas boom, US crackers have switched away from naphtha feedstock to ethane-based feedstock.

High US refinery utilization rates have continued, encouraged by strong gasoline demand amid lower crude prices.

The Hydrocarbon Processing Construction Boxscore Database is tracking over $1.5 T in active projects around the globe.

EGC Critical Components has announced its dures brand of materials, a new family of proprietary thermoplastic polymer composites developed specifically for the manufacture of bushings, bearings and wear rings in pumps handling a wide range of liquids, including those that contain solid matter.

Wood Group Mustang has appointed Elaine Lisenbe to the position of chief financial officer (CFO), and Valencia Amenson to VP of human resources.

As governments impose progressively stringent limits on the sulfur content of fuels, the refining industry and the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) are increasing their focus on sulfur removal to maximize profits from sulfur-rich oil and gas resources.