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

Refining

Reliability: Consider today’s canned motor pumps

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

We often make the mistake of letting our equipment selection decisions be governed by old data, anecdotes and traditions.

Editorial Comment: What is the future role of the process engineer?

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

During the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ (AIChE’s) Spring Meeting, held in Orlando, Florida in April, I was honored to sit on a panel discussion with Paul Durand from ExxonMobil and Sanjeev Kapur from Apex PetroConsultants.

Industry Perspectives

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Petrochemicals and gas processing/LNG sectors see largest increase in new projects.

People

The BASF board of executive directors has made several personnel changes.

Global Project Data

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

According to Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database, nearly 450 downstream projects are under construction around the world.

Industry Metrics

Reduced refinery output caused by planned and unplanned refinery outages, and record-breaking gasoline export levels and strong diesel inventory drawdowns, drove US margins to a record 3-yr high in April.

Creating a ‘win-win’ between construction contractor and project owner—Part 2

ShureLine Construction: Berg, J.  |  Shahani, G.

For large projects, construction represents the biggest cost component and the greatest risk.

Simplification reduces risks and cuts costs

Victaulic: Bozick, A.

A facility’s ability to operate safely is the determining factor in its success or failure.

Advanced process control of debutanizers makes use of inferential predictions

Total: Ferrari, L.  |  Harrison, P.
Petrocontrol: Friedman, Y. Z.

Following good experience with a generalized cut-point calculation (GCC) inferential package, which models main fractionators with side streams, French energy major Total decided to experiment with a generalized distillation shortcut (GDS) inferential package, which models simpler, two-product distillation columns.

Novel FCC technologies based on reaction chemistry of catalytic cracking

SINOPEC Engineering Inc.: Xie C.  |  Wei, X.  |  Gong, J.  |  Long, J.

The increased use of opportunity crude oils in refinery processing, the growing demand for light fuel, and the efficient conversion of petroleum resources to refined fuels and basic chemical raw materials have become the basis of green and low-carbon refining technology developments.