Environment & Safety
US agency: Weak safety standards led to Exxon refinery blast
HOUSTON (Reuters) -- The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has concluded that a 2015 explosion at a Torrance, California, refinery then owned by Exxon Mobil Corp could have been prevented, the agency concluded in a report issued on Wednesday.
Gas leak at chemical firm Ineos contained at Scotland's Grangemouth
EDINBURGH (Reuters) -- A gas leak inside chemical firm Ineos' Grangemouth site in Scotland was successfully contained on Tuesday after emergency services rushed to the scene, police said.
Business Trends: Human reliability—a disruptive innovation
Annual bottom-line losses due to equipment failures total more than $100 MM at major refineries and petrochemical complexes. Corporate executives charge plant personnel with improving the reliability of the facility.
Editorial Comment: Maintenance—a value-added expense
This issue of <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> tackles one of the most integral aspects of the downstream industry (or any industry, for that matter): maintenance and reliability. These two terms go hand-in-hand and help to ensure efficient and safe operations.
Prevent human-created hazards with improved job safety analysis
Safety incidents have occurred since the beginning of time. If a “hunter-gatherer” failed to return at the end of a day, the remaining group members took it in stride.
Installation of liquid sulfur degassing processes in existing SRUs
Over the last 35 yr, more companies worldwide have installed liquid sulfur degassing processes in their sulfur recovery units (SRUs) to minimize the dangers of the release of hydrogen sulfide from the produced elemental sulfur.
A deeper examination of thermal expansion issues in process equipment and piping
Piping and process equipment that operate at high temperatures experience thermal expansion. If free thermal expansion is restrained, mechanical stresses are created within the component.
API: New safety standards enhance industry equipment, operations
WASHINGTON – The American Petroleum Institute’s Global Industry Services department (API Global) released two new safety standards: API Standard 16AR—Standard for Repair and Remanufacture of Drill-through Equipment and API Standard 18LCM—Product Life Cycle Management System Requirements for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries.
US pipeline regulator raises penalties for safety violations
HOUSTON (Reuters) -- The US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on Friday said it increased the maximum civil penalties that may be imposed for violations of federal pipeline safety laws.
Daimler says diesel probes could result in penalties, recalls
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- Daimler on Wednesday reiterated that recent steps by United States authorities to investigate diesel emissions pollution and so-called auxiliary emission control devices could lead to significant penalties and vehicle recalls.
- Valero Energy Q4 profit beats estimates; shares surge 1/30
- Dow launches "Transform to Outperform" to raise the competitive industry benchmark for productivity and growth to enable improved returns 1/30
- Russian oil refineries' peak maintenance expected in January and September 1/30
- U.S. lifts some Venezuela sanctions to ease oil sales 1/30
- Keppel, Aster plan sustainable aviation fuel project in Singapore 1/30
- Boeing, Israel's Technion to develop sustainable aviation fuel, as sector grapples with 2050 goal 1/30
