Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Refining

Cut emissions and fuel while increasing capacity in fired heaters

IGS: Poth, J.

According to a recent digital refining article,1 fired heaters are responsible for an estimated 400 MMtpy–500 MMtpy of CO<sub>2</sub>, with at least 73% of average refinery CO<sub>2</sub> emissions coming from combustion.

U.S. EPA proposes higher biofuel blending volumes, EV program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed increases in the amount of ethanol and other biofuels oil refiners must blend into their fuel over the next three years.

A novel deep catalytic cracking technology for residue-to-chemicals processes

SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing: Gong, J.  |  Zhang, J.  |  Zhang, Z.  |  Wei, X.  |  Chang, X.  |  Zhu, J.
SINOPEC Engineering Inc.: Wu, L.
China Petroleum and Chemical Corp.: Cao, D.
SINOPEC Anqing Co.: Ma, Q.

Over the past two decades, annual global demands for refined products and basic petrochemicals have increased by approximately 1.3% and 3.5%, respectively.

More ethanol was blended into U.S. gasoline last summer than ever before

Last summer, when the price of fuel ethanol was lower than the petroleum component of gasoline, record amounts of ethanol were blended into the gasoline sold in the United States (blend rates).

Development/industrial application of FCC catalyst for boosting high-octane gasoline production

Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP): Sha, Y.  |  Han, L.  |  Wang, P.

Globally, crude oil is trending toward being heavier; the proportion of heavy crude oil reserve is expected to be 50% of the entire recoverable oil reserve moving forward from 2020.

Flexibility in catalyst technology for improved bottoms upgrading

BASF: Senter, C.  |  Clough-Mastry, M.  |  Tan, L.  |  Eren, B.

Bottoms product from fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) is typically one of the least valuable products from a refinery.

Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

N’GENIUS Materials Technology has developed a new series of high-strength austenitic stainless steels that the company says will transform how materials are specified and utilized across the oil and gas sector.

Industry Perspectives: Despite reaching $180 B, new project announcements are down year-over-year

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Over the past year, the Global Energy Infrastructure database has tracked more than $180 B in new project announcements.

Partners maximize profitability during the pandemic

Advanced Refining Technologies (ART)/ Chevron Lummus Global (CLG): Zhan, B.-Z.
Chevron Lummus Global: Fritz, J.
Advanced Refining Technologies: Somers, D.

The COVID-19 pandemic can be viewed as one of the most challenging periods in the history of the oil and gas sector. Refineries worldwide faced difficult times operating at their turndown capacities or even temporarily shut down units at the refinery.

Solving maldistribution: Catalyst loading and why it matters

Shell Catalysts & Technologies: Maas, E.  |  Sigaud, J.
CREALYST-Oil: Poussin, G.  |  Caldas, T.

Are your reactor yields lower than forecast? Does your fixed-bed catalytic reactor suffer from hotspots?