Americas
History of the HPI: The 1950s: Capacity expansion, HDPE/PP, polycarbonate, computers and rocket science
The 1950s marked an evolution in the use of oil by nations around the world.
Investigation and diagnosis of startup foaming issues at a new tail gas treater
In May 2021, Phillips 66 started up a new methyl diethanolamine (MDEA)-based tail gas unit at its Belle Chasse, Louisiana, refinery.
The EPC executive’s challenge and opportunity: Navigating the sustainability shift in capital projects
According to an industry report published by McKinsey and Co., accelerating the decarbonization of the U.S. economy to achieve net-zero targets by 2050 will require approximately $275 T of cumulative capital spending over the next 30 yr.1
Business Trends: The economics of reliability: Global chemicals
Chemical manufacturers worldwide are navigating an inflection point. Following the pandemic-fueled demand crash of 2020, a strong but stilted recovery unfolded in 2021.
Industry Perspectives: 1Q project announcements this year down vs. 1Q 2021
New capital project announcements are down 27% in 1Q 2022 vs. 1Q 2021.
Global Project Data
Gulf Energy Information’s Global Energy Infrastructure database is tracking nearly 1,100 projects around the world, totaling more than $1.8 T in active capital project investments.
Sustainability: Staying ahead of environmental, social and governance goals
Investing in firms that champion environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues (TABLE 1) has been discussed for decades but is now moving to the forefront of corporate initiatives.
History of the HPI: The 1940s: Global conflict, FCC, 100 octane, synthetic rubber—Wartime necessitates advancing technologies
<i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> continues its look at the history of the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI).
Industry Pioneers: Polymer science, catalytic cracking, petrochemicals and EPC
Waldo Semon was an American chemist whose detour with assigned laboratory research at B. F. Goodrich led to the development of vinyl—the second best-selling plastic in the world.
Industry Pioneers: Polymer science, catalytic cracking and chemical advances
The Austrian-born chemist, Hermann Francis Mark, is well-known for his contributions to the development of polymer science, which he devoted more than 60 yr of his life to.
- UPM unlocks new bio-based markets as Leuna biorefinery produces its first commercial product 12/19
- Stamicarbon awarded technology licensing contract for new urea plant in Eastern China 12/19
- Ford takes $19.5-B writedown on EV business 12/19
- Babcock & Wilcox awarded $40-MM contract for advanced wet gas scrubbing technology at Canadian petroleum refinery 12/19
- Aarti Industries secures methanol and toluene feedstock supply through multiple long-term contracts 12/19
- bp picks first outsider CEO Meg O'Neill after abrupt Auchincloss exit 12/19
