Whitepapers

Catalytic reforming, a staple of petroleum refining since 1949, and Continuous Catalyst Regeneration (CCR) Platforming™ units, are the preferred choice for upgrading naphtha since commercialization in 1971. Today, refiners look for catalyst innovations that improve CCR Platforming unit performance. This paper outlines differentials of UOP high-density catalysts, examines pilot plant tests, and features how Fuji Oil received greater flexibility for a future capacity debottlenecking solution with UOP's R-364 platforming catalyst.

The downstream markets in Europe and Asia have stark differences. Europe—especially Western Europe—has a mature refining and petrochemical production network. Many plants were constructed dozens of years ago. However, the region is making concerted efforts to boost sustainability, including mandating clean-fuels production and increasing energy efficiency, while mitigating plant emissions and waste. The region is building additional production capacity, but project numbers vary significantly between Western Europe and Eastern Europe, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This whitepaper details major downstream oil and gas initiatives in Europe, along with capital expenditures in downstream project construction.

The two most important criteria driving the selection of dividing wall columns (DWCs) over a conventional two-column system are energy savings and lower capital cost, while delivering the same product quality as the two-column system. Other benefits include smaller plot area and shorter payback periods. The energy saving benefits are even more pronounced in regions where utility costs are significantly high, like India and Southeast Asia, or in plants where existing utility systems like steam and cooling water are already running close to peak capacity, resulting in little margin for new users. 

Risk analysis is generally performed in the later stages of design to prove that the plant will deliver what it’s supposed to. However, some clever practitioners are now employing it much earlier to speed up decision-making and lock in superior design choices when they really matter -  at the beginning of the project. In this paper, learn how Aspen Fidelis Reliability uses a systems approach that allows you to quantify the true value or cost of different design decisions, planned maintenance intervals, or supply chain constraints.

With sulfur removal costs in the millions and climbing, refineries can increase overall savings by producing final product closer to the sulfur specification maximum. One way to accomplish this is by reducing variability in sulfur measurements – download our whitepaper to learn more.

Heat exchangers are both a vital process component of every refinery and petrochemical plant and a potential limiting factor in a plant’s operations and profitability. Heat exchangers can foul, leak, or corrode. And whether they occur suddenly or develop slowly over time, these problems may force a plant to:

•Reduce plant/unit rates;
•Miss out on potential profit opportunities;
•Exceed permitted environmental limits with the prospect of significant fines.

With the push for renewable fuel sources on the rise in regions like Europe, petroleum professionals are looking to utilize technology that allows for quick, on-site measurement of biofuels. With analyzers such as Sindie and Clora, users can analyze critical elements while being method compliant with ISO 20884.

Increased gas supply from shale and tight gas has decreased US demand for imports, resulting in Canadian plans for two dozen LNG export terminal projects to replace gas sales to USA. Unfortunately, the region has seen very little capacity built to date.

Download this whitepaper to learn more about the present state of the LNG sector in Canada; which projects are under development/in process/planned; the likelihood of completion of any of these projects; and what is the outlook for the future?