Current Issue: May 2022

This two-part article will cover the seven pathways to decarbonizing the oil and gas and petrochemical industries.

Reducing energy costs and creating more sustainable local energy sources are common challenges across many industry sectors.

Accurate catalyst evaluation is an important step in optimizing catalytic processes with respect to product yield, energy efficiency and overall product quality.

Many industrial processes can generate carbon dioxide from fossil fuels. Recently, these processes have contributed to an average annual release of more than 30 Btpy of carbon dioxide into the environment.

Oil and gas, petrochemical and chemical companies face the difficult challenge of maximizing profitability while achieving aggressive decarbonization objectives set for 2030 and beyond.

Due to the potential of hydrogen in the context of developing a decarbonized energy infrastructure, technologies for efficiently producing, transporting, storing and utilizing it have attracted significant investment.

From a historical perspective, the traditional approach to deal with “unknown magnitude of nozzle loads” can be summarized here.

A sensitivity analysis study evaluates uncertainties in a model’s output based on the changes in the input parameters of the model.

Hydroprocessing catalysts are an essential part of any refinery involved in the treatment/conversion of most petroleum fractions ranging from naphtha to residue.

During the 1960s, the global refining and petrochemical industries witnessed new processes and products that enhanced the daily lives of millions of people around the world.

Petrochemicals rise in prominence and new know-how in refining processes

Greenhouse gas emissions occur alongside an inflection point for global refined product consumption. Since the 1850s—when the first oil refineries were constructed—the world has changed dramatically as refined product demand has continued inexorably upward.

It is widely accepted that new management methods are needed to curb the frequent delays and cost overruns observed in engineering and construction projects.

Pressure-relief devices play a critical role in the hydrocarbon processing industry.

Distillation towers consume ~30% of the energy in a refinery or petrochemical facility. The reboiler is the stomach of the distillation tower that consumes the energy to separate the components.

The function of a boiler is simple. It boils water to produce steam, which, in turn, provides energy.

Among the dominant, far-reaching themes within the global refining and petrochemicals industries are the increase in biofeedstocks processing to produce biofuels and greener petrochemicals, the continued push towards clean fuels production, regulations and initiatives to adhere to net-zero emissions targets, and a surge in capital investments to build renewables and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) plants.

Compressors are widely used in the process industries to move fluids and gases within and outside the boundary of a process.

Plastic pollution’s environmental challenges, as well as new government legislation, are having a significant impact on the plastics industry.

The circular economy has already entered the public’s consciousness, and consumers are increasingly aware of the urgent need to recycle plastic, with the practice becoming more widespread than ever.

In January 2021, Gulf Energy Information—publisher of Hydrocarbon Processing and Gas Processing & LNG—launched H2Tech. This technical publication focuses on the latest technologies, trends, capital investments and know-how that are shaping the global hydrogen market.

The author’s company recently completed its data analysis for the 2020 Worldwide Fuels Refinery Performance Analysis (Fuels Study).

Chevron appoints Dr. Wanda M. Austin as Lead Independent Director