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

November 1998

Archive

Computer Technology

Expert systems aid plant operations managers
INOVx Solutions: Ayral, T.
Key Control Inc.: Glidewell, M. C.  |  Stahl, D. E.

Actual plant examples show how this technology can solve problems and improve operations

Instrumentation/Control

Neural networks help optimize solvent extraction
ExxonMobil: Riddle, A. L.
Pavilion Technologies, Inc.: Bhat, N. V.
Lamar Univeristy: Hopper, J. R.

Benefits from this application were worth about $7 million per year

Project Management

Installing training system provides pattern for global expansion
exida LLC: Cusimano, J.

Participation in a technical writing process helps employees to learn and perform their job effectively by independently writing facility training and operating documentation

Reliability/Safety

Prevent overpressure failures on heat exchangers
The M. W. Kellog Co.: Cassata, J. R.  |  Dasgupta, S.  |  Feng, Z. J.  |  Samways, R.

Dynamic modeling predicts pressure wave effects and consequences during a tube rupture

Columns

HP Control: ISA Expo '98: Fieldbus finally arrives
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Kane, L.

The ISA Expo '98 conference and exhibit was held Oct. 19–23 in Houston. Each year, some technology seems to dominate the event. In '97 the buzz words were "asset management." Although many new as..

HP Reliability: Use impact-echo techniques to determine foundation soundness
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Major machinery foundations suffer from occasional cracks and other defects that detract from achieving industry's reliability goals. In a recent case, a petrochemical company in the Midwestern U.S. o..

HPInternet: Chemical prices on the Internet
Competitive Analysis Technologies: Crowley, B.

I am often asked about finding current chemical prices on the Internet. I often respond that what is there isn't current. Like buying a car, the advertised price is rarely what you actually pay. There..

HP Insight: Technology update
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Romanow, Stephany

ISA held its international exhibition and conference in Houston, Oct. 19–22, 1998. As with most international technical forums, four days was too short to cover the entire show. But why should pr..

HPIn SHE: Ten questions on SHE
ility Engineering: Whetton, Chris

Recently, I stayed in a hotel where, besides the traditional mint on the pillow, several magazines were provided for guests' entertainment. One magazine had a title similar to: Viking! The New Magazin..

HPIn Competitiveness: 'To Our Stockholders'
Cost Control Systems, LLC: Lamb, R. G.

Have you read your company's most recent annual report? Pay special attention to the section typically titled "To Our Stockholders" and signed by the chairman. Better yet, access the Web sites of your..

HP Innovations: HPInnovations

Coriolis flowmeter has custody-transfer rating Schlumberger's Coriolis mass flowmeter received National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) approval for custody-transfer applications. This volumetric app..

HPInformer: HPInformer, North America edition
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Stephens, F. P.

Aspen Technology, Inc. (AspenTech), Cambridge, Massachusetts, a leading provider of Smart Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management software and services for the process industries, and SRI Consulting..

HPInformer: HPInformer, International edition
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Stephens, F. P.

BP Chemicals, Shanks & McEwan (Northern), Valpak, and SCORE Environment have agreed to formalize their respective roles in a œ 300,000 study to examine the feasibility of building a polymer crack..

New Developments: NEW Developments

Easy to install, cost-saving steam trap New steam trap series RHOMBUSline has been specially designed for the varying needs of modern steam systems in warehousing, installation and maintenance work...

HP Construction: HPIn Construction
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Stephens, F. P.

ABB Lummus awarded delayed coking plant by Coastal ABB Lummus Global has been awarded a lump-sum turnkey contract by subsidiaries of Coastal Corp. for its new San Nicolas, Aruba, delayed coking plan..

Free Literature: FREE literature

Fractionation trays New multi-page brochure from ACS Industries describes the design and manufacture of conventional trays (sieve, valve and bubble-cap) as well as high capacity trays. It contains m..

HP In Brief: HPIn Brief
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

Overall instruments market will grow 4.1%/year from 1998–2003, according to a study from Business Communications Co., Norwalk, Connecticut. Highest growth rate of any category will be in UV and v..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Outlook for global HPI 'surprisingly strong'
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

Despite the maturing of the petrochemical industry, world and regional outlooks for petrochemicals are "surprisingly strong," says a new report from SRI Consulting, Menlo Park, Calif. This assessment ..

HP Impact: HPImpact: New electricity market: benefits to refiners
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

Oil and gas producers have an important stake in electric industry restructuring. As consumers, oil producers must seize the initiative to control their electricity costs. This will entail both unders..

HP Impact: HPImpact: PP, gasoline use forecast to 2002
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

Two recent market analyses from The Freedonia Group, Cleveland, Ohio, forecast world demand for polypropylene and the U.S. outlook for gasoline. Polypropylene. World demand for polypropylene (PP) i..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Ceramic coatings to be $987 million market
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

The market for high-performance ceramic coatings services is expected to reach $987 million by 2002, an increase from $710 million in 1997. That's an average annual growth rate of 6.8%. So says resear..

HP Impact: HPImpact: NPRA speaks out on Refinery MACT II
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) recently testified on the costliness of EPA's Refinery MACT II proposal. "The cost-effectiveness of the EPA's proposed controls to reduce inorg..

HP Impact: HPImpact: Miscellany of note from the API
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Weirauch, Wendy

A new partnership has been established between the U.S. petroleum and chemical industries, the EPA and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The initiative aims to voluntarily provide the public with ..

Misc

Mega-merger
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nakamura, D. N.

The title of the June 1998 "HP In Processing" was "Deal-making heats up in 1998," and although refiners were busy with consolidations, joint ventures, mergers, etc., I had no idea what was in store fo..