Crude oil
Hydrocarbon Processing Awards
<i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i>, the downstream processing sector’s leading technical publication, has announced the finalists for its second annual awards.
Viewpoint: Toward a world of cleaner fuels
Fuel is a necessary requirement of global economic development.
Viewpoint: Electric vehicles vs. the perfect battery
It is no surprise that electric vehicles (EVs) are getting a lot more attention, now that carmakers have announced plans to increase production of them.
Africa: Challenges facing harmonized fuel standards in East Africa
East Africa developed coordinated fuel standards as early as January 2015.
Editorial Comment: What is the future role of the process engineer?
During the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ (AIChE’s) Spring Meeting, held in Orlando, Florida in April, I was honored to sit on a panel discussion with Paul Durand from ExxonMobil and Sanjeev Kapur from Apex PetroConsultants.
Industry Metrics
Reduced refinery output caused by planned and unplanned refinery outages, and record-breaking gasoline export levels and strong diesel inventory drawdowns, drove US margins to a record 3-yr high in April.
Advanced process control of debutanizers makes use of inferential predictions
Following good experience with a generalized cut-point calculation (GCC) inferential package, which models main fractionators with side streams, French energy major Total decided to experiment with a generalized distillation shortcut (GDS) inferential package, which models simpler, two-product distillation columns.
Use an Excel-based method to evaluate performance for the preheat train of a CDU
A rigorous and accurate performance evaluation of existing equipment is a key factor for the success of a plant revamp study.
Use advanced predictive analytics for early detection and warning of column flooding events
In this study, a methodology was implemented to predict crude distillation tower flooding events based on key process variables, including product yields, column pumparound (PA) flowrates, column temperatures and overhead reflux flowrate.
Refining: Winning strategies for oil producers
The prospect of peak oil demand will put pressure on resource-rich national oil companies (NOCs).
- BASF introduces low-VOC polyurethane catalyst Lupragen® N 208 12/8
- Idemitsu Kosan to be first Japanese refiner to supply biofuels to shipping industry 12/8
- China refiner moves forward with expansion despite sanctions 12/8
- Air Products and Yara to partner on low-emission ammonia projects 12/8
- Opinion: G7’s Russian oil tanker ban shows teeth, but bite is in doubt 12/8
- Exxon, Aramco, Samref to explore major upgrade of Yanbu refinery 12/8
