Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

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Business Trends: Autonomous operations in process manufacturing—Part 2

IBM Corp.: Agnihotri, R.

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate an autonomous operations (AO) vision, along with its feasibility, by conceptualizing a roadmap where meaningful progress can be achieved in a horizon of 3 yr–20 yr.

Editorial Comment: Hydrocarbon Processing’s 2020 Top Projects award nominees revealed

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

<i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> has announced the nominees for its annual Top Projects awards.

Shape the refinery of the future through integration—Part 2

SNC-Lavalin Inc.: Maiti, S. N.

Part 1 of this article, which appeared in the September issue, discussed various aspects of evaluating options that enable an existing refiner to make investment decisions to optimally diversify into petrochemicals through integration. Part 2 will detail a case study that illustrates the synergies of refinery-petrochemical integration through a propylene recovery unit from an FCC-based refinery, as well as financial, configuration and sensitivity analyses.

Driving FCCU value through fresh and flushing catalyst activity modeling

BASF: Shackleford, A.  |  Tan, A.  |  Eren, B.

Refiners are continually challenged to maximize economic gain in the face of cost pressures and plant operating constraints. The fluidized catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) plays an integral role in the optimization of the facility. FCC catalyst is often one of the largest budget items in the refinery. Therefore, the balance between FCCU performance and catalyst costs has a significant impact on refinery profitability.

Shape the refinery of the future through integration—Part 1

SNC-Lavalin Inc.: Maiti, S. N.

The negative impact of fossil fuels on the environment has become widely accepted, and our global society has begun to focus on alternative fuels. The pollution of the local, regional and global environment has become a primary concern.

Industry Perspectives: Save the date: Hydrocarbon Processing’s Top Projects Awards

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Over the past several years, <ital>Hydrocarbon Processing</ital> has honored the feats of capital project excellence with its Top Projects Awards. The winners and nominees encapsulate important contributions to the global hydrocarbon processing industry, whether that is through significant capital intensity, diversifying product offerings or adding a significant amount of refining and/or petrochemical processing capacity.

Editorial Comment: Optimizing operations and recognizing achievements

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Over the next two months, <ital>Hydrocarbon Processing</ital> will host two separate events for a global audience. One will gather the brightest minds in the industry to share the latest innovations and technologies in the industry, while the other will recognize the leaders in advancing the industry toward safer and more reliable, sustainable and profitable operations. Both events—<ital>Hydrocarbon Processing’s</ital> IRPC and the HP Awards—will be streamed on digital platforms and free to view.

Business Trends: Managing risk and uncertainty: The importance of optimizing your value chain

AVEVA: McMullen, J

No doubt exists that COVID-19 is disrupting the oil and gas industry. Oil prices are falling, demand is down, supply is up, and storage capacity is limited. In these difficult times, the industry must swiftly act to keep business viable to come back strong when conditions improve.

Piping and instrument diagrams (P&IDs): Part 2—Causes and management of change

Process Engineering Consultant: Shah B.

It is difficult to categorize or group the many reasons for routine or late changes to a P&ID. Some causes are listed here.

Intensification of sulfur processing units by oxygen enrichment and process flowsheet optimization

Hyundai Oilbank Co. Ltd.: Yang, W.
Advisian, a Worley Company: Lewis, J.  |  Racz, A.

The consistent global trend toward improvements in air quality and tighter regulations on emissions, as well as the International Maritime Organization’s shipping regulations, continue to mitigate sulfur levels—not only in conventional transport fuels (petrol and diesel), but also in jet fuels, fuel oils and other heavier distillates.