March 2004

Improve control through a better understanding of its operation

Performing a CSVA identifies vulnerabilities and needed security measures

Here's how they play together to improve plant and enterprise operations

Users report substantial operating, capital and maintenance costs savings

Refiners use models to optimize operations, but are these models totally accurate?

Most clean fuel programs will reuse existing equipment. A thorough review of pressure ratings can optimize design opportunities

The right outside resource combines industry and application expertise, high-performance equipment, and engineering and fabrication know-how

The hydrocarbon processing industry uses multivariable controllers extensively as the workhorses to push constraints and maximize returns from process units. One very time-consuming and expensive phas..

In the September 2003 issue of HP ("Letters to the Editor,") we had promised to provide reminders of "things being done" by users that consistently achieve high pump reliability. The point was made th..

Although the benefits of wireless technologies are clear to everyone, there has been little consensus among users and suppliers on how to properly apply wireless technologies in the process industries..

The situation in the European energy industry continues to show some fluidity, with several companies having their financial ratings reappraised. The news comes as Shell faces international concern ov..

Universal pipe gasket seals all process piping W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., claims to have developed a breakthrough in gasketing products for chemical process piping. New GORE Universal Pipe Gaske..

Chelates joint venture Akzo Nobel and BASF are forming a 50/50 joint venture (JV) to produce chelates in North America. The agreement, subject to closing, is scheduled to be effective first-quarter ..

Remote equipment-monitoring and control New remote equipment-monitoring and control application package, eCUBE, runs on STARDOM network-based control systems. STARDOM is claimed to offer reliability..

ConocoPhillipslicensed its reduced volatility alkylation process (ReVAP) technology to Valero Energy Corp. It will be used at Valero's 140,000 bpd refinery in Wilmington, California. The license will ..

SKFand Petróleo Brasileiro S/A (Petrobras) have a four-year contract by which SKF Reliability Systems will provide a predictive maintenance (PdM) program for keeping very deep oil wells on offsho..

Aker Kvaerner Engineering and Technology(AK E&T) has a contract to perform engineering services for Gassco AS. The agreement's duration is three years with a possible extension of up to four additiona..

Uhde GmbH, Dortmund, Germany, has contracts for two fertilizer complexes located in Egypt. The agreements are with the Egyptian Fertilizer Co. (EFC) and Alexandria Fertilizer Co. (AlexFert) for turnke..

Fluor Corp., Aliso Viejo, California, has an agreement with Sinopec Ningbo Engineering Co. (SNEC), a China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (Sinopec Corp.) subsidiary, to provide operations and maintenanc..

Valve automation solutions Metso Automation's new six-page, full-color brochure details Jamesbury valve automation solutions. By replacing manually actuated on/off valves wi..

  LNG demand stirs market investments Liquefied natural g..

Issues of data migration, operations and maintenance integration, and data hand-off continue to vex even the most forward-thinking corporations. To combat some of these problems, owner/ operators are ..

The US average retail price of regular-grade gasoline increased by 3.5 cents/gal in mid-January. The nationwide average retail price (including taxes) for a gallon of regular-grade gasoline was $1.60,..

For US-based refiners, 2003 is providing better than expected margins in the third and fourth quarters. Several factors have contributed to these healthy gains over 2002 numbers. A continuing robust r..

Japan's energy plan, announced in fourth quarter 2003, emphasizes that the nation will further diversify energy sources for greater supply security, while the core will continue to rely on nuclear ene..

In a move to combat global corruption within their own industry, 19 leading international engineering and construction companies (ECCs) have developed a set of business principles for countering bribe..

China is witnessing massive investments in new projects and plant upgrades in almost all process industry segments. The country is emerging as a destination of choice for global manufacturers. The d..

The Interstate Air Quality rule just proposed by EPA will ensure a big market for flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems. Demand for these systems will rise to $7 billion/yr in the US by 2007, predict..