Refining
Improve FCC margins by processing more vacuum residue in feed
With the greater processing of heavy crude oils in refineries, the importance of fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCUs) has increased.
Optimize alkylation unit operation by using response surface methods
A new methodology can be used to optimize the operations of an alkylation unit based on response surface methods.
Use model predictive control to achieve real-time management of a DWC
A dividing-wall column (DWC) can provide significant savings in energy and capital cost compared to a conventional distillation column design.
Advances in dry gas seal technology for compressors
Compressor owner-operators now have unprecedented and solidly verifiable options.
Improve performance and reduce costs of wastewater treatment plants
The increasing costs of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) motivated a major specialty chemical plant to improve the performance of its treatment unit.
HP Automation Strategies: A portfolio approach to operations IT solutions management
The need for more automated and efficient operations has led end users to accumulate large and increasingly complex collections of operations-related information technology (IT) solutions.
HP Global: Forthcoming tax hike could hamper Russian refining
Russia plans to increase the volume of oil it refined this year, despite Western sanctions and the ever-deteriorating business environment, according to an official spokesperson for Alexander Novak, Russia’s minister of energy.
HP Viewpoint: Interesting times to continue for refiners in 2016
A year ago in this publication, John England and Ashnu Mittal were prescient in their article titled “US shale revolution set to spill over into downstream.”
HP Industry Metrics
Global refinery margins fell due to the expectations of a mild winter and an oversupply environment.
HP Innovations
The FM-approved FireChek thermal shutoff valve with resettable memory shape alloy can now be used to automatically shut down a pneumatic control system when a nearby fire occurs, or when the ambient temperature reaches 135°F, 150°F or 165°F.
- ANDRITZ to supply refining technology for cellulosic ethanol pilot plant in the U.S. 3/22
- Brazilian city trials new biofuel aimed at replacing diesel entirely 3/22
- South Korea to review restructuring plan for largest petrochemical complex 3/22
- Shell says Pearl GTL facility's train two in Qatar requires around a year for full repair 3/22
- Iran attacks wipe out 17% of Qatar’s LNG capacity for up to five years 3/22
- The Shipping Corporation of India and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders sign contract for methanol dual fuel platform supply vessel 3/20

