Crude oil
South America: State reform to boost investment attractiveness of Brazilian refining
Brazil’s refining industry is on the verge of large-scale change. Its recent steps toward de-monopolization and liberalization, as well as the divestment of refining assets by state-owned oil major Petrobras, are propelling Brazilian refining in a more attractive direction for investment.
Editorial Comment: Hydrocarbon Processing’s 2020 Top Projects award nominees revealed
<i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> has announced the nominees for its annual Top Projects awards.
Driving FCCU value through fresh and flushing catalyst activity modeling
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
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.
Business Trends: Managing risk and uncertainty: The importance of optimizing your value chain
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.
Industry Metrics
Refinery margins in the U.S. Atlantic basin rebounded. Deeper refinery intake cuts, as well as the low feedstock price environment, helped offset unappealing demand-side signals.
Base layer enhancement study for crude oil distillation process
Base layer control is one of the most important stages of a process control system hierarchy for refinery applications.
Intensification of sulfur processing units by oxygen enrichment and process flowsheet optimization
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.
Industry Metrics
Refinery margins came under added pressure, affected by the downturn in product consumption inflicted by COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
Business Trends
Rovuma LNG, a JV comprised of ExxonMobil, Eni and China National Petroleum Corp., will likely delay its final investment decision (FID) on the group’s $30-B Mozambique LNG project.
- Rompetrol completes DCU project at Petromidia refinery 7/17
- U.S. SAF production forecast to eclipse 50,000 bpd by 2026 7/17
- Pertamina expects Balikpapan's CDU IV to resume later this month 7/17
- Exxon shut Joliet, Illinois, refinery after power outage 7/17
- ExxonMobil introduces Enable™ 1617 performance polyethylene 7/17
- Tribunal rejects TC Energy's $15-B claim for Keystone XL 7/17
- Digital Exclusive: SPECIAL FOCUS: Digital Technologies—Utilize process simulation digital twin to optimize condensate yield
- Digital Exclusive-Flare system design: Liquid pockets in flare headers
- Hydrogen-rich content gasoline: A new concept for paraffinic gasoline reformulation
- Alarm rationalization at Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) refineries
