Process Optimization
Achieve uniform heat flux in a coker furnace
A delayed coker unit thermally cracks vacuum residue (VR) and converts it into products like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), naphtha, gasoil and petroleum coke. A majority of the thermal cracking takes..
HP Reliability: Four-stage, low-flow process centrifugal compressor can fill important industry gaps
In the 1970s and 1980s, multistage centrifugal compressors in the 3,000 acfm (about 5,000m3/hr) and lower flow ranges were largely confined to instrument and plant air duties. Three stages with interc..
HP Integration Strategies: Consider procedural automation at a commercial-scale pilot plant
“All processes are batch processes to some degree. Even in ‘continuous’ process plants, processing units will need to be shut down at some point and then restarted to resume production...
HP Boxscore Construction Analysis: Outlook for major revamp projects—Part 2
Worldwide, refiners are investing billions in upgrading and modernizing projects. These efforts are focused on:Increasing flexibility to process heavier, sourer crudesImproving energy efficiencyMeetin..
HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 74: How to determine impact forces when troubleshooting
When troubleshooting failures, it is not unusual for the metallurgical report to indicate that the failure was the result of an impact type of force. The investigator who receives this information mus..
HP Industry Perspectives: US oil and gas executives energized for the year ahead
A recent survey of US executives by the KPMG Global Energy Institute supports growing optimism in the domestic energy and manufacturing industries. Much of the renewed enthusiasm is strongly linked to..
INEOS picks KBR for FEED work on major US Gulf polyethylene proposal
The new INEOS facility for high-density polyethylene is expected to be located in the US Gulf coast area. KBR’s scope of work includes the FEED for the inside and outside battery limit facilities, development of an appropriation grade cost estimate, and order of long lead equipment for the project.
Dow chooses Foster Wheeler for Louisiana ethane cracker upgrading project
The objective is to boost the Plaquemine plant's ethane flexibility to take advantage of low-cost feedstocks, specifically via brownfield additions and retrofit modifications.
Sasol taps Emerson to automate planned Louisiana cracker, GTL complex
The automation program’s overall scope -- including dozens of integrated process units and more than 100,000 measurement and control points -- makes it one of the largest Emerson has been awarded.
ExxonMobil picks Wood Group for engineering on Papua New Guinea LNG
Under the contract, Wood Group PSN will provide brownfield engineering and procurement support to ExxonMobil's operations in PNG, including construction and maintenance services to both the Hides gas conditioning plant in the highlands, and the LNG plant northwest of Port Moresby.
- Kumho Mitsui Chemicals to increase capacity of MDI production facilities 12/15
- ABS, Eneos, NYK Line and Seacor Holdings launch joint study to develop a methanol marine fuel supply network in the U.S. 12/15
- ENEOS accelerates AI-driven materials discovery of immersion cooling fluids and novel catalysts Using NVIDIA ALCHEMI 12/15
- SAMSUNG E&A wins FEED contract for nearly $5-B SAF plant in the U.S. 12/15
- KBR wins green ammonia project by IGNIS in Spain 12/15
- Phillips 66 announces $2.4-B capital budget for 2026 12/15
