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

Middle East

HP Industry Metrics

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

A sharp drop in the gasoline crack spread following the end of the US driving season and increasing inventories caused refinery margins to fall.

Dow Chemical to reduce role in Kuwait JVs, plans new US Gulf MEG plant

MEGlobal will build a new MEG plant on the US Gulf Coast -- enabling MEGlobal and its parent companies to enjoy growth and drive significant expansion of MEGlobal’s geographic footprint.

Global petrochemical prices fall to six-year lows

Petrochemical prices, expressed as a monthly average, fell $102/ton from August to $786/ton in September. This is the second straight month where the average price has fallen over $100.

Total, Saudi Aramco remain interested in SATORP petrochemicals expansion

A leading Total executive told Reuters that the SATORP expansion would be large and involve capacity increases for linear-alpha olefins, poly-alpha olefins and elastomers.

Improve refinery margins with new crude selection concept

Statoil Refining Denmark: Knudsen, P. U.
Frontline Systems, Inc.: Maleki, S.

A refinery with an active crude selection strategy encompassing dedicated staff, preapproval of all new crudes and an updated crude acceptance window can gain $0.5/bbl–$1/bbl vs. a more passive strategy.

Maintaining gas system accuracy and reliability through calibration

AURA Gas Controls: Dickerson, D.

In the process industries, laser-based analytical techniques have emerged as a popular method of examining process line samples because of their high level of durability, fast response time and minimal maintenance requirements.

Managing the recovery from the Jaipur oil terminal fire

Oil Industry Safety Directorate: Dutta, H.

In October 2009, a devastating fire at the oil terminal in Jaipur, India, killed 11 people, injured many more and incurred a significant financial loss.

HP Automation Strategies: APC technology adapts quickly to economic changes

AspenTech: Singh, T.

With significant fluctuations in feedstock and energy prices, making economic changes quickly is vital to capitalize on the most profitable assets.

HP Industry Metrics

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

High US refinery utilization rates have continued, encouraged by strong gasoline demand amid lower crude prices.

Varied solutions to the challenges of sulfur management

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

As governments impose progressively stringent limits on the sulfur content of fuels, the refining industry and the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) are increasing their focus on sulfur removal to maximize profits from sulfur-rich oil and gas resources.