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Petrochemicals

History of the HPI: The 1990s: Clean fuels and emissions mitigation, M&A, GTL and the fieldbus wars

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Much like several initiatives passed in the 1970s and 1980s, the 1990s were a decade heavily focused on environmental issues, with many new regulations being enacted to not only mitigate industrial and vehicle emissions but also to advance the production of clean fuels globally.

Hydroprocessing catalyst reload and restart best practices—Part 2

PetroQuantum: Dyke, S.
Global R&D: Pongboot, N.

Hydroprocessing (hydrotreating and hydrocracking) units are high-pressure, high-temperature units that have multiple reactors, multiple beds per reactor and specialized metallurgy. Catalysts in these units are replaced on a 2 yr–5 yr cycle, depending on feed quality, unit design, catalyst selection, operational constraints and performance.

Corpus Christi Polymers awards Worley contracts for facilities producing plastics

Corpus Christi Polymers has awarded Worley construction management and general services contracts. The scope of the construction management contract includes Corpus Christi’s new PET and PTA facilities in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA.

Borealis prolongs stand-still for its PDH plant construction site

In light of recent developments and news reports about alleged malpractices at one of its contractors at the new PDH construction site at Kallo, Belgium, Borealis has decided to declare a three day stand-still for its Kallo PDH construction site.

Vietnam firm to build $1.5 B polypropylene plant

A private Vietnamese petrochemicals firm is planning to invest $1.5 B in a polypropylene plant in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Valvoline fuels retail drive with $2.65 B lubricants unit sale to Saudi Aramco

Valvoline Inc is selling its unit that makes lubricants, coolants and other automotive products to state-owned Saudi Aramco for $2.65 B in cash to sharpen focus on its retail services business.

PetroChina begins $4.5-B refinery expansion

PetroChina has launched a $4.52 B program to expand a subsidiary refinery in southern China into an integrated petrochemicals complex.

Dow and Al-Hejailan Group sign MoU to build joint venture MDEA plant

Dow and the Al-Hejailan Group signed an MoU to form a joint venture to design, build and operate a methyl diethanolamine plant in the PlasChem Park in Saudi Arabia.

INEOS and SINOPEC sign three petrochemical deals worth $7 B

INEOS and SINOPEC signed three back-to-back deals worth a combined value of $7 B. These landmark agreements are expected to generate a combined turnover of around $10 B from 7 MMt of capacity.

LyondellBasell helps close the loop on polypropylene by joining NEXTLOOPP initiative

LyondellBasell, one of the largest plastic and chemical companies in the world, has recently joined the initiative that brings more than 40 major industry players together.