September 2004
Special Report: Refining Developments
Two major refiners used a new project approach for their Clean Fuels Projects that ensured a quality, and timely, startup while minimizing expenses
Refiners must fine-tune crude unit process design and energy balance to process a heavy feedslate
Practical guidelines assist debottlenecking coker operations to increase unit capacity and provide more processing flexibility
Innovative technologies and catalysts are changing the role FCC is used to yield cleaner transportation fuels
Heat Transfer/Piping
This method gives more accurate nozzle loads for strain-sensitive equipment
Piping/Reliability
A high content of residual elements was the suspected cause
Refining Developments
Consider using improved cetane prediction equations that can enhance your bottom line
Risk Management
Here's how to judge the strengths and weaknesses of its technical and economic content
Columns
When buying software, you are typically NOT buying the software; instead, you are buying a license to run the software. A software license is a legal contract between the software owner (the ?licensor..
Transient forces such as water hammer from sudden valve closure can produce large pressure spikes in the piping system. This can cause severe damage to the piping and any attached equipment, such as p..
Over the past five years, US productivity has increased an average of 3.5% annually, topping at 5.5% in 2003. This productivity is primarily the result of cost cutting, including eliminating over 11% ..
After a decade of undeniable market liberalization, it's claimed that industry in Europe is entering a new era. It will be a time of reregulation and, if you're in the EU, it's coming to a legislature..
Trends and Resources
Catalytic hydrocracking process converts heavy materials The Genoil Hydroconversion Upgrader (GHU) is a new catalytic hydrocracking development that is claimed to improve the economics for upgrading..
Ten-year illuminator for gage glass New Jerguson Flat-Glass LED Illuminator backlighting unit for transparent level gages is said to provide brilliant process-level illumination and a maintenance-fr..
USFilter provided Navajo Refining Co.'s refinery in Artesia, New Mexico, with API oil/water separators, granular activated carbon adsorber systems, multi-media filters and packed bed softeners. This w..
Emerson Process Management, an Emerson business unit, has a $32 million contract with Petrobras to upgrade metering technology aboard nine floating production units. The automation project is to impro..
Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd. (FWEL), a Foster Wheeler Ltd. subsidiary, has a new alliance contract with Shell UK Oil Products Ltd. The agreement is for basic design, engineering, procurement and constru..
Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd. (FWEL), a Foster Wheeler Ltd. subsidiary, has a program management services contract with Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC). The agreement is for a new grassroots petroch..
Foster Wheeler Ltd. (England) has a project management consultancy contract with Hyundai Oilbank Co., Ltd. (HDO). The agreement is for a $200 million clean fuels upgrade project for the Hyundai Oilban..
The Middle East continues to be the center of activity in the world petroleum market, with developments in oil, gas and condensate production, continued growth in product demand, and a lasting program..
Third-quarter natural gas prices at Henry Hub are forecast to average $5.86 MMBtu. Management consulting and engineering firm R.W. Beck has updated its forecast by $0.50/MMBtu due to "the unexpected i..
Robust economic and infrastructure changes in Asian nations are being intensively scrutinized by industry analysts. More efficient means of transportation, high-speed transfer of capital funds, the re..
A new financing proposal from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government could make clean coal technology commercially viable in the US. The plan would bring together the federal government, public util..
Every year, the European Commission carries out an opinion poll among European Union business managers. The object is to seek their views on their own companies' performance in the innovation stakes. ..
For most manufacturers and knowledge providers, offshoring is a perplexing decision. You must cut costs to remain economically viable, but you're just not sure if moving offshore is right for you. You..
The safety systems and critical control system market, a $650-million sector in 2003, will grow to over $900 million in 2008 – a 7%/yr growth rate. A new global outlook from ARC Advisory Group (w..
Letters to the Editor
Profitability of process optimization Overall, I agree with the contents of the article "Assessing profitability of real-time optimization" (June 2004). However, two factors missing from the disc..
Misc
In Memory: Greg Hudman Gulf Publishing Company has suffered the tragic loss of Greg Hudman, our Director of Technology and Manufacturing, whose battle with pancreatic ..
Various designs and materials were investigated
Simplified flow and level measurement FCI's CD catalog release 8.0 is filled with thermal and coriolis mass-flow instrumentation product data and case studies based on it..
Consider new technologies that reduce gas make while minimizing product losses from catalytic cracking operations
Use management surveys to close the gap between LP theory and practical business decisions
- Technip Energies, Shell Catalysts & Technologies move towards an exclusive global alliance for carbon capture 11/14
- SOCAR, Baker Hughes partner on integrated gas recovery, H2S removal system at the Heydar Oil Refinery 11/14
- India shaping up as refining hub, to rely on fossil fuels until 2040 11/14
- Sinopec starts up 1.2-MMtpy ethylene complex in north China's Tianjin 11/14
- US refiner margins to stabilize next year as plant closures cut supply 11/14
- Germany blocks oil firms from using past emissions credits to support biofuel industry 11/14