December 2020

In the constant search for improvement, Methanex has developed a state-of-the-art project to improve plant operation at its methanol production facility in Punta Arenas, Chile (FIG. 1).

Since the 1940s, the present form of the Claus sulfur recovery unit (SRU) has been successfully applied in the refining and gas processing industries.

Often, when challenges are presented within tight time constraints, the industry can jump to a solution without proper analysis: “Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions."

The Canadian oil sands reserves in the area surrounding Fort McMurray, Alberta in Canada contain in excess of 165 Bbbl of recoverable bitumen.

It is globally recognized that ASME codes are widely used international codes for the construction of mechanical equipment operating in power, refining, petrochemical and nuclear facilities.

Managing project spares is a very challenging task—one that is very different from managing a large warehouse.

The global hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) continues to expand and modernize to efficiently meet growing demand for energy, transportation fuels and petrochemicals.

Since the advent of the combustion engine, gasoline and automobile manufacturers have utilized additives as a means of improving overall fuel characteristics.

The use of dividing wall columns (DWCs) has been a hot topic over the past decades, as DWCs can potentially bring huge savings in operational costs and capital investment.

The same characteristics that make hydrocarbons useful as fuels can also make refineries, and any other areas where processing or storage takes place, potentially dangerous.

Various types of valves are used in refineries, petrochemical plants, fertilizer plants and utilities.

Failure of a piping section at the outlet of pressure safety valves (PSVs) and control valves—where significant differential pressure exists (particularly in gas processing industries)—is a common problem in industries.

Who could have known that the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) would have been hit with such market volatility entering the new decade?

Reliability frameworks have been documented by organizations such the Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP).

The past year has been a time of great challenges, and of great opportunities, for people to adapt and overcome the current restrictions on in-person meetings.

Digital transformation is a strategy for improving performance by applying technologies for measurement, connectivity, data storage, analytics and visualization

The oil and gas industry experienced unprecedented disruption in 2020.

According to Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database, more than 290 new projects have been announced in 2020.

In the 21st century, one cannot escape the concept of data.

Honeywell has released Measurement IQ (MIQ) Optimize, an enterprise-wide solution for monitoring meters, gas chromatographs and other measurement assets. The

Excelerate Energy adds new executive leadership with the promotion of Alisa Newman Hood and the addition of Amy Thompson