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

Environment & Safety

Czech police safely detonate World War 2 bomb at oil refinery

Czech bomb disposal experts on Friday detonated a World War 2 bomb found on the site of an oil refinery, causing no major visible damage to the Polish-owned plant that has halted operations since the discovery last week.

AFC leads financing for Africa's largest gas-to-methanol complex

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, is arranging a project development facility to support Africa’s largest gas-to-methanol plant, with the aim of significantly reducing CO2 emissions by offsetting flaring of natural gas and turning it instead into a valuable chemical for solvents, paints, plastics and car parts.

Shell to leverage proprietary structural performance management software for various facilities

Under this agreement, Shell will leverage Akselos’ Structural Performance Management (SPM) software to monitor the structural health of critical assets across the Shell portfolio in near real-time. Akselos’ SPM software will help enable Shell to optimize the lifecycle of critical assets safely and sustainably. 

Linde to invest $2 B in Canada to supply hydrogen to Dow's Alberta chemical complex

Industrial gases firm Linde said it would invest more than $2 B to build a clean hydrogen facility for supplying to Dow's Path2Zero production complex in Alberta, Canada.

ADNOC deploys pioneering AI-enabled process optimization technology

Following successful initial operations, ADNOC announced the deployment of an industry leading artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled process optimization technology--Neuron 5--across all ADNOC facilities across thousands of critical pieces of equipment essential for production, including compressors, valves and generators.

Validate skin temperature in refractory-lined pipes using manual calculation vs. FEA analysis

Black Cat Consulting & Engineering Services W.L.L.: Nelluri, V.

Accurately estimating skin temperature and understanding the impact of refractory lining on thermal performance are crucial aspects of piping system design, operation and maintenance. By recognizing the multifaceted role of refractory lining in enhancing operational efficiency, mitigating risks and extending the lifespan of industrial piping systems, industries can optimize their processes and ensure the reliability and safety of their infrastructure. 

Utilizing pilot plant operations for new chemical process technology development: A roadmap to scale up success and commercial plant safety

AVN Corp.: Clark, B.  |  Nunley, M.  |  Phillips, G.

To demonstrate a new chemical process technology (flowsheet, raw materials, product) or improve an existing one, pilot plants are designed and operated at a scale between laboratory benchtop and commercial scale—often with specific goals for operability, product quality, economics and process safety. Identifying where potential safety, technical risks or uncertainties may occur is always a key goal in evaluating a new process.

How important is connected pipework to PSVs?

Worley India Pvt. Ltd.: Prabhu, V.

The purpose of this article is to explain additional process considerations for pipework connected to PSVs, such as isolation valves, layout, orientation, forces and moments. 

Best practices for proper alarm management

JEM Advisors: Straker, B.  |  Hanson, T.  |  Kenyon, R.  |  McLeod, G.  |  Ladnier, G.  |  Sauvain, T.

Process alarms are critical safeguards put into place on operating units to enable operators to avoid incidents that impact a company’s safety, reliability and bottom line. It is absolutely essential to any safe facility operation that alarms are properly managed and utilized to address real and consequential operational issues before they become incidents. 

Utilize a hydrogen reactions lab to optimize renewable fuels processing

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.: Lebrecht, T.  |  Duhamel, D.

Leading technology developers in the refining space are utilizing various catalysts to enhance the adjusted reaction chemistry, but this does not directly address how to optimize hydrogen utilization for the hydrodeoxygenation and isomerization/cracking processing steps. To ensure the right equipment outlay and calibration for these hydrogenation applications, replicating the process in a lab setting can help identify efficiencies and yield improvements for a fraction of the cost that a refiner would incur attempting to achieve that optimization through modifications at commercial scale.