Construction
Automation Strategies: Next-gen automation services support operational excellence and reduce project cost
Major suppliers are expanding their automation-related service capabilities from project and engineering services through services for operations and maintenance. This is happening partly in response to overall automation market conditions, but largely in response to evolving user challenges and requirements.
Editorial Comment: The future of refining lies in clean fuels
Each year, <sub>Hydrocarbon Processing</sub> devotes an issue to the topic of clean fuels—and rightly so. As the world continues to welcome more vehicles on the road, and as emerging economies invest in civil, industrial and energy projects, global fuels demand is forecast to increase through the end of the decade.
Design operations-and-maintenance-friendly skid-mounted units
Skid-mounted units are omnipresent in the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI), as facilities are scattered in remote locations, and site construction is time-consuming and expensive. Skid units are equally popular in downstream refineries and the chemical processing industry (CPI).
Performance testing: The key to successful revamps
Process unit revamps often do not result in a refiner achieving its desired objectives. This is typically not the result of mechanical defects with process equipment.
Army Corps of Engineers to give easement to Dakota Access Pipeline
(Reuters) -- The Army Corps of Engineers will proceed with the easement needed to complete the Dakota Access Pipeline, US Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota said in a statement on Tuesday.
Enterprise to build isobutane dehydrogenation unit in Texas
HOUSTON -- Enterprise Products Partners L.P. announced plans to construct a new isobutane dehydrogenation (“iBDH”) unit in Mont Belvieu, Texas that will have the capability to produce 425,000 tpy of isobutylene. The project, which is supported by long-term contracts with investment-grade customers, is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2019. The isobutylene produced by the plant will provide the necessary feedstock to fill underutilized capacity at Enterprise’s existing downstream octane enhancement and petrochemical facilities.
GE proposes investing in Nigeria's ailing oil refineries
LAGOS (Reuters) -- General Electric Co has proposed investing in Nigeria's oil refineries, potentially convening a consortium of companies to improve capacity at the run-down facilities.
Saudi Aramco shelves $27-B refining, petrochemical project JV with Petronas
KUWAIT (Reuters) -- Saudi Aramco has shelved plans for a partnership with Malaysian state-oil firm Petroliam Nasional Berhad in a $27 billion refining and petrochemical project in the southeast Asian country, industry sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.
Viewpoint: Reshaping the industry toward innovation, certainty and efficiency
It is no secret that capital costs of major projects have skyrocketed over the past decade. A July 2015 industry report noted that the average megaproject’s cost increase is 80% of its original value, with an average schedule slippage of 20 months.
Business Trends: India’s natural gas demand—a welcome sign for LNG exporters
India is emerging as the world’s new oil demand center. Complementing its thirst for crude oil, the country has the potential to become a hotbed for natural gas consumption over the next few years.
- Valero Energy Q4 profit beats estimates; shares surge 1/30
- Dow launches "Transform to Outperform" to raise the competitive industry benchmark for productivity and growth to enable improved returns 1/30
- Russian oil refineries' peak maintenance expected in January and September 1/30
- U.S. lifts some Venezuela sanctions to ease oil sales 1/30
- Keppel, Aster plan sustainable aviation fuel project in Singapore 1/30
- Boeing, Israel's Technion to develop sustainable aviation fuel, as sector grapples with 2050 goal 1/30
