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

January 2021

Archive

Special Focus: Sustainability

Ras Tanura: The creation of a clean-fuels complex
Saudi Aramco: Halvaci, M.  |  Subaie, E. A.  |  Fudhail, N. A.
Axens: Pierre, C.  |  Rousseau, E.

The primary objective of the Ras Tanura Refinery Clean Fuels Project is to enable the Ras Tanura refinery—the largest refinery in Saudi Arabia—to produce transportation fuels that will be compliant with future specifications.

FCC NOx reduction methods: Complying with regulations without capital investment
Placid Refining Co.: Hobbins, P.
Johnson Matthey: Blair, H.  |  Hochheiser, T.

As fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) nitrogen oxides (NO<sub>x</sub>) emissions regulations become increasingly strict, refiners are driven to find the most economic compliance option.

Cyclic distillation: A novel enhanced technology for processing hydrocarbons and derivatives
University of Manchester: Kiss, A. A.
Maleta Cyclic Distillation LLC: Maleta, V. N.
National University of Food Technologies: Shevchenko, A.  |  Bedryk, O.

Distillation is the most widespread separation method in history.

Hydrocarbons face toughest challenge yet
DNV GL Oil and Gas: Ketelaars, F.

Over the next 30 yr, the globe’s energy ecosystem—where fossil fuels dominate and renewables play catch-up—will evolve exponentially, as efforts intensify to curb carbon emissions and mitigate the detrimental impact of climate change.

Process Optimization

Search for advanced technique of desalter control—TON control for interface level
Nayara Energy Ltd.: Mandal, K. K.

While it may seem like a simple vessel, the desalter is a critical section in a crude distillation unit.

Optimize processes with a spreadsheet
Contributing Editor: Colannino, J.

Hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI)/continuous process improvement (CPI) processes are often characterized by complicated kinetics and simultaneous heat and mass transfer.

Heat Transfer

Selection and comparison of thermic fluids in a fired heater
Worley Group Inc.: Karre, A. V.
Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University: Valsaraj, K. T.

Hot oil, also called thermic fluid, is a heat transfer fluid (HTF) used in oil refineries and chemical plants.

Stop oxidation and scale growth with high-emissivity coating
Integrated Global Services: Poth, J.

Oxidation of external tube surfaces is responsible for metal loss at around 0.25 mm/yr, which limits tube life.

Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery

Resolving a chronic water injection pump high vibration through a shaft-lifting technique
Saudi Aramco: Alharbi, W. A.  |  Ghazal, A.  |  Turcan, D.

This article explores the investigation into the chronic high vibration issues of a particular water injection pump.

Modular reed valve technology for reciprocating compressors
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Hydrocarbon processing plants use reciprocating compressors for process gases in a certain flow and differential pressure range, and double-acting cylinder-piston arrangements are almost always involved.

Process Control, Instrumentation and Automation

How to support condition monitoring with wireless instrumentation networks
Emerson: Cureton, A.

When <i>Wireless</i>HART first hit the market in 2008, most of the native devices using it were process measurement instruments.

Maintenance and Reliability

Improving asset utilization by closing the corrosion window
SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions: Zurlo, J. A.

Driving profitable refinery operations often requires owner-operators to balance production flexibility and product optimization with asset availability and equipment reliability.

Reasons for vibration issues in boilers and furnaces
XRG Technologies: Webster, T.

A conversation with a long-time colleague at an industry trade show inspired me to think about one of the most confounding problems that occur in boilers and furnaces: vibration.

Columns

Editorial Comment: Will 2021 be a rebound year?
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Needless to say, 2020 was an unprecedented year.

Reliability: Viewing every maintenance intervention as an upgrade opportunity
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

When a long-time maintenance supervisor was promoted to the head of his refinery’s reliability department, he wanted to make “Precision Maintenance is Our Passion” his banner and headline.

Safety: Do companies have the right tools to make proactive safety decisions?
Sphera: Brewer, C.

A process safety management/operational risk management survey conducted by Sphera in 2020 polled respondents on the following items.

Risk: Escaping the “cyclone market” in downstream energy
ProSight: Puro, D. H.

To say that the downstream energy sector is facing a time of unprecedented challenge would be the understatement of the decade.

Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery: Use the correct lube oil grade to avoid equipment failures
Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals & Fertilizers Ltd.: Rathore, A. J. S.

Lubrication is imperative to the performance of rotating equipment.

Corrosion: Address damage caused by galvanic corrosion
Contributing Writer: Anwer, A.  |  Qureshi, N.

At petrochemical and refining facilities, it is common for U-clamps over piping runs to become corroded, sometimes to the extent where they are completely thinned out.

Industry Perspectives
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

With the increasing prominence of hydrogen technologies circulating into the global market, Gulf Energy Information—publisher of <i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> and <i>Gas Processing & LNG</i>—has launched our latest publication: <i>H2Tech</i>.

Business Trends: Case EPC-2020: Increasing competitiveness and profits

Prior to the hardships faced during the global pandemic, the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) industry was already facing several challenges.

Global Project Data
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

<i>Hydrocarbon Processing’s</i> Construction Boxscore Database is tracking nearly 1,400 projects around the world.

Construction
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

TechnipFMC has begun construction on Assiut National Oil Processing Co.’s new hydrocracking complex in Egypt.

Innovations
Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Rhodes, Mike

H2scan has released its latest product in the HY-OPTIMA™ line of sensors.

People

Senior appointment in China strengthens FutureOn’s global footprint