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

Management

Engineering Case Histories: Case 95—How to avoid becoming overwhelmed in a failure situation

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

When you are involved with a major failure and find yourself staring at pieces of debris scattered all over the area, it can be easy to become overwhelmed.

People

Linde Engineering North America Inc. has appointed Jason Cooper as the company’s President and CEO.

Automation Strategies: Next-gen automation services support operational excellence and reduce project cost

ARC Advisory Group: O'Brien, L.

Major suppliers are expanding their automation-related service capabilities from project and engineering services through services for operations and maintenance. This is happening partly in response to overall automation market conditions, but largely in response to evolving user challenges and requirements.

Reliability: The risks of deferred compressor maintenance

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

At a recent conference attended by failure investigation professionals in San Antonio, Texas, a participant spoke about an explosion and fire event on a multistage horizontally opposed compressor in oxygen (O2) service. He had scant data, but he knew the machine did not have cylinder lubrication.

Never waste a shutdown to improve process safety and uptime

Honeywell Process Solutions: Loseto, M.

Process safety cannot be ensured solely by design, as it relies on the effective operability of safety and control components. Effective operability is influenced by factors that include the condition of components and operational practices.

Improve metering pump reliability through maintenance training

Milton Roy: Louque, K.

While equipment reliability is not a new concept in hydrocarbon processing facilities, it is increasingly becoming the top priority for plant managers. Plant managers realize that operational efficiency is far from being a passing trend, and is closely linked to the quality and reliability of the equipment used.

Maintain the simplicity of maintenance work processes

T.A. Cook Consultants Inc.: Asquini, M.

In the processing industries, companies rely on their physical assets to guarantee that they are always producing at the same capacity, or preferably higher, than they began. To achieve these high levels of production, assets must be readily available.

Use the right model to unlock utility system potential

KBC Process Technology Ltd.: Gómez-Prado, J.  |  Hutton, D.

Although we have entered a new era of low energy prices, energy still represents one of the largest, but most easily managed, operating costs in the hydrocarbon industries.

Improve plant work processes with enhanced alarm response programs

MAVERICK Technologies: Millinger, G.

One of the unfortunate realities of automation in process industries is the stubborn inability to improve on the weakest link of the chain: human beings.

Solve operator training in a challenging refining industry

SNC-Lavalin Inc.: Alamo, J.
Honeywell Process Solutions: Ross, M.

Workforce reduction, the expected retirement of baby boomers, personnel leaving the industry in search of better opportunities, and the lack of jobs for new graduates will create a skills deficit once the industry begins growing again.