Economics
Business Trends: Asia’s smaller downstream players have big plans
Most of the focus on Asian downstream capacity construction revolves around large consuming nations, such as China and India.
Viewpoint: Envisioning a “future-proof” refinery of the future
Trying to predict how global refining markets will look in 2026 is a losing proposition. The only thing we can count on with any real certainty is uncertainty.
Reliability: Machinery quality assessment on twin-screw compressors
Machinery quality assessment (MQA) is similar to bid conditioning, and both relate to structured efforts.
Global: Meeting Africa’s demand for oil products
Demand for refined oil products is expected to continue growing in Africa, both in the short and medium terms. However, the continent’s refining capacity is unlikely to keep pace as commercial risks threaten to hold back planned new refineries and the expansion of existing facilities.
Industry Metrics
US refinery utilization rates have increased in some areas following the peak of maintenance season.
Business Trends: Will India be Asia’s next downstream powerhouse?
The Asia-Pacific region dominates in the total number of active projects in all sectors of the downstream hydrocarbon processing industry. Just as China has seen unprecedented growth over the past decade, India is emerging as the globe’s new oil demand center.
Innovations
Unintended fugitive emissions from pressurized plant components have long been a key concern for operators as well as regulators.
Global Project Data
According to <i>Hydrocarbon Processing’s </i> Construction Boxscore Database, there were nearly 90 new project announcements from January 2015 to June 2015.
Daimler Mercedes-Benz's cleaner technology in European diesel, gasoline engines
Daimler said it will spend €3 B ($3.35 B) to curtail diesel exhaust pollution levels by modifying its engines and exhaust treatment systems.
Gazprom sees record 2016 gas exports to Europe
Russia's Gazprom plans to export a record 165 Bcm of gas to Europe this year, as falling gas prices have made its gas more attractive to European consumers.
- UPM unlocks new bio-based markets as Leuna biorefinery produces its first commercial product 12/19
- Stamicarbon awarded technology licensing contract for new urea plant in Eastern China 12/19
- Ford takes $19.5-B writedown on EV business 12/19
- Babcock & Wilcox awarded $40-MM contract for advanced wet gas scrubbing technology at Canadian petroleum refinery 12/19
- Aarti Industries secures methanol and toluene feedstock supply through multiple long-term contracts 12/19
- bp picks first outsider CEO Meg O'Neill after abrupt Auchincloss exit 12/19

