Asia/Pacific
BASF to supply FCC catalysts for Shell refineries
This enhanced relationship agreement also includes collaborative activities designed to accelerate the introduction of new FCC catalyst technologies, according to company officials. BASF says the deal will ensure that Shell has the most advantageous FCC catalysts in its operations at all times.
Phillips 66 mulls sale of European, Asian refineries
Larry Ziemba, executive vice president for refining, project development and procurement, said that, for the right price the company would consider selling a 71,000 bpd refinery in Cork, Ireland, and its joint venture stakes in refineries in Malaysia and Germany. "They're really not strategic," Mr. Ziemba said.
Methanex to expand output at New Zealand plants
Methanex secured a new natural gas supply agreement, thereby enabling the restart of the methanol plant at its Waitara Valley site by late in the third quarter. That will add 500,000 tpy of production. In addition, Methanex will add capacity at the Motunui site by increasing distillation for another 200,000 tpy.
KBR to supply equipment, license technology for Indonesia ammonia project
PT is developing a plant with ammonia capacity of 2,000 tpd. It will be built by Toyo Engineering and designed using KBR’s reforming exchanger system and Purifier technology. KBR says its proprietary technology and equipment has demonstrated higher reliability and efficiency than conventional designs.
Jacobs to turn Shell Australia refinery into terminal
Under the terms of the contract, Jacobs is initially providing a basic design and engineering package to convert the Clyde refinery and associated satellite Gore Bay terminal into a competitive product import terminal. Work is being performed from Jacobs’ Australian hubs in Melbourne and Sydney.
Monitor and minimize corrosion in high-TAN crude processing
In addition to inhibitor dosing, intensive corrosion monitoring and analytical tests play a major role in equipment and piping health monitoring and in analyzing stream properties online.
Mitigate reactor failures due to graphitization
Graphitization occurs in carbon steel (CS) reactors in high-temperature service (> 455°C). As discussed in this case history, the shell of a methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) reactor became s..
Corrosion under insulation is a hidden problem
Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is one of the costliest avoidable problems facing the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) today. CUI afflicts refineries—specifically, the steel piping, storage..
Process safety management: Going beyond functional safety
Operating companies are increasing efforts to reduce the risk of catastrophic events such as the release of toxic, reactive or explosive chemicals that can damage the environment or plant assets.
Operator response to alarms is an important protection layer
Operator response to alarms is important layers of protection (LOP). When implemented with good design, engineering and maintenance practices, an alarm can help reduce the safety integrity level (SIL)..

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- Construction to begin on multi-billion-dollar polyethylene plant in Kazakhstan 9/2
- West hits ‘peak sanctions’ on Russia’s energy sector 9/2
- India allows production of ethanol from sugarcane juice, molasses 9/2
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