Refining
Stability analysis of debutanizer columns with hot-vap or bypass pressure control
A debutanizer column was experiencing unstable operation, with frequent pressure swings and product composition fluctuations from the column overheads system.
Ensure a truly rigorous relief valve sizing method
Pressure relief valves (PRVs) protect equipment from excessive overpressure and, in case of emergency situations, they should ensure a sufficient discharge of mass to reduce the pressure below the recommended pressure limits.
Six considerations for turbomachinery control upgrades
Increasing competitive pressures in process industries, including oil and gas, are driving dramatic changes in the operational needs of process plants, utilities and pipelines.
High-pressure water pump mechanical seal failure investigation
To mitigate leakage, mechanical seals are one of the most critical components for centrifugal pumps.
Industrial IoT technologies are revolutionizing oil and gas supply chains
Over the past few decades, the world has seen a surge in demand for oil and gas, and global markets have responded to meet these growing energy needs.
Valves Outlook
Although overall industry growth is not substantial from 2017 to 2018, it translates to $66 MM more in valve shipments for the year, which is a positive sign for the industry.
Cybersecurity
Unfortunately, nation states appear to be launching cybersecurity attacks on other nation states.
Editorial Comment
In early June, Hydrocarbon Processing and Eni—an Italian multinational oil and gas company—hosted the annual International Refining and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC) in Milan, Italy.
Global Project Data
Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database is tracking more than 1,600 projects around the world, representing more than $1.8 T in capital expenditures.
Business Trends
It is never a good sign when a piece of equipment exhibits unsafe behaviors—such as large, unexpected vibrations, or cracks forming around instrument ports—particularly in the thermal reactor of a sulfur plant, where high-temperature gaseous streams chemically react as part of the process that produces elemental sulfur.
- Eberhard Bau signs long-term solar diesel offtake agreement with Synhelion 2/3
- Abundia Global Impact Group appoints Burns & McDonnell as front-end engineer for waste plastics-to-fuels facility 2/3
- Rutgers University researchers develop catalyst that can convert nitrate pollution in water directly into ammonia 2/3
- Italy's Eni teams up with Q8 to build biorefinery in Sicily 2/3
- French ethanol use jumps 15% in 2025, driven by gasoline demand 2/3
- Indian refiners await government advice on Russian oil import halt 2/3
