Middle East
Apply new pump-drive software to test performance
Process control schemes involving fluid-flow machinery with traditional adjustable speed drives (ASDs) or modules encounter limitations such as control flexibility and accuracy. In this context, the t..
Saudi Polymers starts up commercial operations at Al-Jubail complex
The new integrated facility includes 1.22 million tpy of ethylene capacity, about 1.1 million tpy of polyethylene, 440,000 tpy of propylene and 400,000 tpy of polypropylene.
Technip to help upgrade two Kazakhstan refineries
The awards consist of the modernization of two out of three existing refineries in the country. The scope includes new and revamp process units as well as utilities and offsite facilities aiming to increase production capacity and conversion. Technip's operating center in Rome will execute the contracts.
IEA aims to halve road transport fuel use by 2050
In two reports published Wednesday, the IEA said there was massive potential for fuel efficiency improvements to reduce demand for transport fuels by 2050, even if the number of road vehicles doubles in the same period. The reports highlight technology available or about to enter the mainstream market.
IEA sees high refinery activity boosting fuel supply
The Paris-based energy watchdog, which represents major oil-consumer nations, expects refiners to process around 75.7 million bpd of crude in the third and fourth quarters, 1.3 million bpdmore than in the last quarter of 2011. Behind the output rise is unexpectedly high production in developed economies.
Tyco signs global agreement with Shell to provide pressure relief valves
The five-year agreement covers Crosby and Anderson Greenwood direct acting and pilot-operated pressure relief valves, line block relief valves and supporting services for all of Shell's global operations. During 2011, Tyco was also selected by Shell to provide butterfly valves in a similar arrangement.
Sasol eyes growth in North America, exit from Iran
Sasol's CEO said the company has a “huge strategy” in North America. In Louisiana, it is looking at building an $8 billion to $9 billion gas-to-liquids plant that would produce 96,000 bpd of mostly diesel. It is also looking at a 48,000 bpd plant in Alberta, Canada that would cost about $8 billion.
SK Energy, Kuwait agree to build Indonesia refinery, petrochemical complex
The refinery will have a capacity to produce between 200,000 and 300,000 bpd of Kuwaiti crude oil and will be located inside the petrochemical complex, which will be built in Balongan, West Java, according to KUNA.
Foster Wheeler wins engineering on monoethylene glycol project of Qatar, Shell
The MEG facility will be part of a new petrochemicals complex in Ras Laffan Industrial City being developed by a joint venture of Qatar Petroleum and Shell. The two-train MEG facility, based on Shell’s OMEGA technology, is planned to produce 1.5 million tpy of MEG. The expected startup date was not disclosed.
Maximize diesel production in an FCC-centered refinery, Part 1
For refineries with an FCC unit as the main conversion vehicle, the debate is how existing refinery assets can best be used to economically increase diesel production.
- 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

