Aromatics
HP Petrochemicals: Coal re-emerges as a primary petrochemical feedstock
Coal-to-chemicals routes are now an important and viable option for producers in China and beyond. Those that look upon them as atavistic dinosaurs do so at their peril.
HP Viewpoint: Ethylene production growth drives new global industry standards
Operators that understand global market drivers and the latest technologies will provide the best solutions to improve their profitability and comply with the latest HSE rules.
Keep liquid analysis invisible in refineries
The hidden heroes of hydrocarbon processing plants are the liquid analyzers, especially the pH and conductivity loops. Unlike their flashier cousins in gas analysis, these analyzers operate behind the..
Convert heavy oil residue into synthetic fuel
Over the past several decades, oil extractors and refiners have been maximizing the production of easy-to-drill, high-quality light sweet oil, mostly concentrated on the Arabian Peninsula. With “..
Catalyst demand to increase over the next five years
The global demand for petroleum refining, chemical synthesis and polymerization catalysts will rise 5.8 %/yr to $19.5 billion in 2016, as listed in Table 1. The growth is directly related to increasin..
Russian refiners use oxygenates to preserve octane
A case study was conducted regarding the physical and chemical properties of key gasoline oxygenates, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME) and other blending components.
Improve the isomerization of alkanes by catalytic distillation
The isomerization of light gasoline fractions is crucial to producing high-octane fuels and to reducing the benzene content in gasoline. One of the most promising options for isomerization is catalytic distillation.
Project management: Construction of modern-day hydrogen capacity in the Middle East
Refining heavier and high-sulfur crude oils consumes high volumes of hydrogen (H2). Most refineries have exhausted process-based H2 supplies and must use on-purpose sources. This article follows the d..
HP Editorial Comment: What’s next for the energy industry?
Year-end always leads to insightful predictions for the upcoming 12 months and possibly some longer-term insights. In writing this editorial at the end of December, HP reviewed several 2014 outlooks t..
HP News
US, Norway seek to improve CO2 capture The US and Norway have announced their commitment to support the global carbon capture and storage (CCS) test center network. In a joint release, the two co..

- Britain will not bail out bioethanol industry hit by Trump trade deal 8/15
- Russian energy facilities targeted recently in drone attacks 8/15
- Shell: Norco, Louisiana (U.S.) refinery gasoline unit work to start on Friday 8/15
- Sanctions-hit Indian refiner Nayara in talks with govt to sustain operations 8/15
- The API challenges Trump plan to cut biofuel import credits 8/15
- IAG selects record 29 startups for accelerator program 8/15