Crude oil
Fluid Flow: Energy markets, product improvements drive growth in the global flowmeter market
The size of the global flowmeter market has followed the upward and downward fluctuations in oil prices and is now on an upward trajectory, according to a new study by Flow Research that provides total global market shares of the major suppliers of each flowmeter technology (except sonar and optical) by 2018 revenues.
Industry Perspectives: Petrochemicals surge despite possible future roadblocks
Over the past several years, investments in petrochemicals capacity additions have skyrocketed. Hundreds of billions of dollars have and will be invested in additional petrochemicals units and complexes.
The plight of the modern refinery: Racing to meet IMO 2020 regulations
When Kitack Lim won his second, four-year term as the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in November 2018, it solidified the organization’s aggressive 2020 deadline for a global < 0.5% sulfur limit on fuel oil used onboard ships. This reduced sulfur requirement, commonly known as IMO 2020, squeezes the oil and gas industry, confounding the medium- and small-size refineries that struggle to produce low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO), and wracking the nerves of maritime freight shippers facing volatile fuel pricing.
HP Top Project Awards
The editors of <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> have identified nine projects that are anticipated to significantly impact the global or regional downstream industries. The winners and nominees of the HP Top Project awards will have a considerable impact on the HPI, whether through CAPEX, satisfying domestic or regional demand, diversifying product offerings, or adding to the resurgence in refining and/or petrochemical processing capacity.
Improved cooling system performance begins with data
Refineries consume large amounts of energy and water to refine crude oil into products. Up to 10% of crude oil’s energy content is consumed during processing, and it takes 1.5 bbl of water to process one barrel of crude oil. Refining processes also generate large quantities of excess thermal energy that needs to be expelled into the environment using a once-through or recirculating cooling system.
Business Trends: One downstream—Strategic imperatives for the evolving refining and chemical sectors
Downstream executives will remember the present decade as a golden age for the industry, driven by low feedstock prices and healthy end-use demand.
Diversifying the future: Incentives for worldwide adoption of renewable fuels and chemicals—Part 1
Bio-based, renewable fuels and chemicals can reduce the environmental footprint of maintaining global transportation and product demands, while also supplementing traditional fossil fuels in a global environment with increasing energy demand.
Opportunity crudes and refinery challenges during hydrocracking operations—Part 2
Refineries worldwide often face practical challenges and operating issues when processing opportunity crude oils to maximize profit margins.
Business Trends: Crude-to-chemicals—An opportunity or threat?
For most oil refiners and chemical producers, the need to improve margins and remain competitive has never been greater.
Asia: China eyes significant growth in petrochemicals
China aims to grow its domestic petrochemical production during the next 5 yr–7 yr, driven by the ongoing modernization of major production facilities and an increase in foreign investments.
- 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