Maintenance & Reliability
HF Sinclair forecasts lower CAPEX in 2026 on reduced maintenance costs
U.S. refiners have been focusing on maintenance activities after operating at breakneck capacity in 2022 following supply shortages stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Aster to carry out further upgrades at Singapore Bukom refinery
The plans include a previously announced project to spend $75 MM to revitalize its condensate splitter unit which it acquired in June, and $71 MM on its lube oil complex to produce higher-value base oils.
Valero plans CDU upgrades at Port Arthur, Texas (U.S.) refinery in February
Among the improvements will be upgrades to processing of bottoms - heavy, gunky residual crude oil that is usually sent to the coker or used in asphalt.
Update: bp Olympic Pipeline begins restart process after completing repairs
The Olympic Pipeline moves refined petroleum products including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from northern Washington to Oregon and consists of one 16-in. diameter pipeline and one 20-in. pipeline.
Update: bp's Olympic Pipeline shutdown hits airlines' fuel supply
The leak was first reported on November 11. bp restored one of the two pipelines east of Everett that had been shut to determine the source of some product discharge. The restored line was shut down again shortly afterward, halting refined product deliveries on the system.
Digital Exclusive: Mitigating structural resonance in an electric motor support: A field case study
Rotating equipment operating near structural natural frequencies is prone to resonance, resulting in elevated vibration levels and potential long-term damage. This article discusses a field case involving persistent axial vibration on an electric motor despite acceptable performance during decoupled workshop testing. The discrepancy prompted a full diagnostic investigation, including bump testing, modal analysis and structural reinforcement.
Update: bp crew excavates Olympic Pipeline, yet to find cause of leak
bp said on Friday its Olympic Pipeline crew excavated more than 100 ft (0.03 km) of pipeline following a leak earlier this month near Everett, Washington (U.S.), but have not yet identified the source of the leak.
- NAPCOR releases 2024 PET recycling report highlighting system efficiency gains and continued strength of PET circularity 12/12
- OQ courts other partners for petrochemical complex in Oman as SABIC drops out 12/12
- Brazil's BNDES approves $71 MM for carbon storage project 12/12
- Cuba on edge as U.S. seizure of oil tanker puts supply at risk 12/12
- China oil demand to plateau between 2025 and 2030 12/12
- Germany's PCK refinery says no impact from pipeline leak 12/12
