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Americas

PDVSA's refining network to work at 44% of capacity in August

HOUSTON (Reuters) — Venezuela's oil company PDVSA expects its refining network to work at 44% of capacity in August due to a lack of light crude and spare parts and planned maintenance work, according to an internal report from the state-run firm seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

Brazil fuel, lubricant imports surge 57% in July

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) — Brazil's fuel and lubricant imports shot up 57.3% in July from the same month in 2016 to $1.522 B, government data showed on Tuesday.

US oil refiner HollyFrontier's profit tops estimates

(Reuters) — US oil refiner HollyFrontier Corp on Wednesday reported a quarterly profit that handily beat analysts' estimates, helped by higher production and refinery margins.

US ethanol makers steer away from fuel, reach for booze

CHICAGO (Reuters) — A US glut of fuel-grade ethanol has major producers, including Green Plains Inc and industry pioneer Archer Daniels Midland Co, pursuing other markets and idling excess capacity in an effort to rebuild sagging margins.

Troubleshooting vacuum operation of an inter-after condenser unit in an ethylene plant

Sasol: Wieslaw, T.  |  Nichols, J.
Process Improvement Engineering: Lieberman, N.
Graham Corp.: Johnson, E.

A system of compressors powered by surface condensing steam turbines is inherent in the operation of a typical ethane cracker unit.

Boxscore Construction Analysis: The state of the global downstream construction sector

Gulf Publishing Company: Balboa, B.

In May, Lee Nichols, Editor and Associate Publisher of <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> and <i>Gas Processing</i>, presented a detailed, year-to-date trend analysis and review on new and active downstream construction projects around the world.

People

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

Dr. Béla Kelemen has been named President of the European Petroleum Refiners Association for the next 2-yr term.

Global Project Data

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

<i>Hydrocarbon Processing’s</i> Construction Boxscore Database is tracking nearly 350 downstream projects with capital expenditures (CAPEX) of $1 B or greater.

Business Trends: Ethylene production economics from optional feedstocks

Gulf of Suez Petroleum Co.: Sorour, F. H.
Cairo University: Abdelmonem, N. M.
National Research Center (NRC): Tewfik, SH. R.
British University in Egypt: Ashour, F. H.  |  Gadalla, M.A.

The petrochemicals industry is witnessing enormous growth worldwide. Ethylene is produced by cracking a range of hydrocarbons. Naphtha is the main raw material used in European and Japanese crackers, while the US utilizes ethane as its primary feedstock.

Industry Perspectives: The global reach of Hydrocarbon Processing

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Since the beginning of this year, Hydrocarbon Processing has published more than 200 articles and columns. These publications include technical and trends-based articles on the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) within the magazine, online, in show dailies, etc.