Process Optimization
HP Water Management: Consider software tools for water reuse projects
The hydrocarbon processing industry needs reliable and economic sources of water for present and future operations. Ensuring a sustainable water supply requires a focused effort to evaluate the qualit..
Update hydrocracking reactor controls for improved reliability
The industry consultant believes auto-quench, excursion control and bed-outlet layers should join auto-depressure as industry-best practice for all hydrocrackers.
Why don’t we properly train control engineers?
While there are managers in the process industry that see training control engineers as a “no-brainer,” these are very much in the minority. They may send staff on courses covering configura..
Identify and control excess air from process heaters
Process heaters are the largest consumers of energy in most plants. A refinery, on average, burns approximately 2 billion Btu/hr of fuel in fired heaters. The total quantity of fuel burned (heat relea..
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..
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.
Petronas to license Jacobs technology for Malaysia sulfur recovery project
For the project, Jacobs is licensing its SUPERCLAUS technology. Jacobs introduced the technology in 1985, and now has over 200 licensed units in operation. The technology offers performance features in areas such as reliability, sulfur recovery levels, sulfur emissions reduction and continuous operation.
CB&I to upgrade Polish refinery coking technology
Once the coking technology from CB&I is implemented, the Gdansk refinery of Grupa Lotos will have the capability to process 2,400 to 3,840 tpd of a blend of vacuum resid and ROSE pitch, depending on the season. The Gdansk refinery is the second-largest refinery in Poland.
Jiutai licenses UOP methanol-to-olefins technology for China coal project
Jiutai will produce 600,000 tpy of ethylene and propylene at its facility in Ordos City, China. In addition to technology licensing, UOP is to provide basic engineering, catalysts, adsorbents, specialty equipment, technical services and training for the project, which is expected to start up in 2014.
Foster Wheeler, Hyundai win design deal for new PdVSA Venezuela refinery
Foster Wheeler’s scope of work includes early detailed engineering design and the delivery of an open book estimate for the crude distillation unit, storage and blending unit and fuel distribution plant. The main release of the detailed engineering design work will be booked at a later date.
- 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

