Petrochemicals
CB&I wins early works contract for Axiall, Lotte’s Louisiana ethane cracker
The companies are evaluating the construction of a cracker with the capacity to produce 1-million tpy of ethylene employing CB&I's latest, proven ethylene technology, including highly selective SRT cracking heaters and its innovative recovery section design.
Enabling the refinery of the future—Safety first
Within this “new” economy, automation systems must be capable of delivering new levels of productivity and scalability, while ensuring safety, managing globalizations and addressing new workforce demographics.
Central America: A downstream outlook to 2020
Due to the growth in the region’s middle class, Latin America has seen tremendous petroleum products demand growth over the past decade.
Determine fouling margins in tubular heat exchanger design
Fouling, which is caused mainly by the deposition and accumulation of an undesired layer of solids on a heat transfer surface, is very common in tubular heat exchangers.
Improve refinery flexibility and responsiveness
The hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) has changed significantly with an abundance of available discounted crude oils, a rise in markets served beyond the traditional local or regional demands, and a renewed focus on being both competitive and profitable while complying with ever-changing regulations.
Proposed US water definition may alter future of HPI
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) proposed Rule 33 CFR Part 328, a regulation intended to redefine and clarify the reach of the EPA’s jurisdi..
HP Automation Safety: Conducting audits to confirm safety standard compliance
The ISA 84 (IEC 61511) standard on safety instrumented systems (SISs) in the process industries states that assessments and audits are required to determine that functional safety has been achieved and maintained.
HP Global: First phase of Middle East refinery projects nearly complete
The first phase of new refining capacity in the Middle East has already come onstream, with more than 1.1 MMbpcd of incremental capacity in Saudi Arabia (at SATORP and YASREF refineries) and the UAE (..
HP Business Trends
To satisfy its growing refined fuel demand, Latin America has relied heavily on imports from the US. Major refinery projects have been announced to curb this reliance, but the drop in crude oil prices has limited capacity expansions.
HP Industry Metrics
The US product market continued to reflect a surge in domestic gasoline demand, allowing gasoline cracking spreads to hit levels not seen in more than two years.
- UPM unlocks new bio-based markets as Leuna biorefinery produces its first commercial product 12/19
- Stamicarbon awarded technology licensing contract for new urea plant in Eastern China 12/19
- Ford takes $19.5-B writedown on EV business 12/19
- Babcock & Wilcox awarded $40-MM contract for advanced wet gas scrubbing technology at Canadian petroleum refinery 12/19
- Aarti Industries secures methanol and toluene feedstock supply through multiple long-term contracts 12/19
- bp picks first outsider CEO Meg O'Neill after abrupt Auchincloss exit 12/19
