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

Environment & Safety

ExxonMobil Baton Rouge refinery shuts CDU due to flooding

ExxonMobil Corp. shut a crude distillation unit at its Baton Rouge refinery Tuesday as flooding disrupted operations at a LPG storage facility.

Metrohm develops ASTM acid number method for petroleum products

A method of determining the acid number in crude oil and petroleum products using thermometric titration has been developed by Metrohm and released by the ASTM.

LyondellBasell 's Houston refinery returns to normal operations

LyondellBasell Industries returned its Houston refinery to normal operations Wednesday, one day after a power interruption on a unit cut production in half.

Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Andrew, Bob

Turning methane into a high-value chemical was achieved by German chemical company Grillo after years of intensive research.

Consider post-design changes to confine a hazardous area

Petrokon Utama Sdn Bhd: Bapat, S. V.

Hazardous area classification (HAC) is carried out while performing basic design engineering, and HAC drawings are produced as one of the deliverables.

Understand the sources of oil pollution in water

NEL: Yang, M.

Oil in water is one of the most common types of water pollution.

Marathon's Galveston Bay refinery partially evacuated after butane leak

Marathon Petroleum Corp. evacuated workers from a portion of its Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City, Texas due to a butane leak, but no injuries were reported.

Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Andrew, Bob

Unintended fugitive emissions from pressurized plant components have long been a key concern for operators as well as regulators.

How small deviations and lack of management access compromise reliability

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

In 2013, Refinery “X” was experiencing serious pump distress—the third or fourth in a 12-month period. We received calls about the latest thrust bearing failure event on this important 3,560-rpm process pump. Soon after, a surprisingly similar incident happened at Refinery “Y” in 2015. Both incidents are considered here.

US gov't withdraws $40-MM windpower grant

Dominion Virginia Power is assessing options for its proposed offshore wind demonstration project in light of an announcement today that the US DOE is withdrawing $40 MM in funding.