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

Safety

HP Integration Strategies: Asset information management improves life cycle benefits for equipment

ARC Advisory Group: Rio, R.

Traditionally, the various production management and asset management systems in the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) and other heavy industries resided in silos with separate management, archite..

HP Viewpoint: Consider integral-gear compressors in CO2 services

Gasification Co.: De Maria, R. L.

In 1998, the author began researching suitable technology for compressing 95 MMSCFD of “bone dry” (–100°F dew point) carbon dioxide (CO2) from 16.7 psia to 2,710 psia. The compress..

HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 72: Interaction between disciplines when troubleshooting

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

When troubleshooting, we can become fixated on the discipline that we are most familiar—in the author’s case, mechanical engineering. Investigating the failure of a machine may have a group ..

HP Innovations: Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Blume, Adrienne

Membrane element improves gas processingUOP's new Separex Flux+ membrane element is designed to increase natural gas processing capacity, compared with existing technology, allowing producers to captu..

Overflow systems are the last line of defense

Engrowth Training: Toghraei, M.

The overflow system is the last line of defense against the excessive container filling. An overflow system consists of an overflow nozzle with internal and/or external piping and, in some cases, a si..

North American olefin producers riding the shale gas wave

With the prospect of abundant low-cost ethane, several producers have announced intentions to build new ethylene capacity.

High-pressure polyethylene: Reemergence as a specialty chemical or not?

Nexant: Farrell, L.  |  Virosco, J.

The analysis results indicate that, while investment capital for new plants favors LLDPE, plant profitability—which is a function of product slate (revenue) and cost—is, in many cases, higher for LDPE plants.

HPI Focus: New vs. debottlenecking projects

Fluor: Turner, J.
SNC-Lavalin, Hydrocarbons & Chemicals: Luck, G.
MVS Consulting LLC: Van Sickels, M. J.

As most owners do not have adequately skilled engineering teams to study these scenarios, engaging an experienced, qualified engineering contractor to support the conceptual study is often warranted.

Improve coker efficiency with reliable valve automation

Calabrian Corp.: Deters, B.
Emerson Process Management: Wolkart, R.

The case history discusses conditions occurring in delayed coker operations at two refineries in Louisiana, the impacts on valve performance, and a solution that offers extended life, better reliability and other benefits.

Take a quicker approach to staggered blowdown

WorleyParsons: Khan, M. S.

The design of a reliable blowdown system for a large sour gas-processing facility is one of the most important aspects of plant design. Safe design is vital for facility operation. With the developmen..