Economics
The road to successful plant modernization
Any personnel working in a refinery or heavy petrochemical plant with “vintage” automation equipment are painfully aware of the effects a distributed control system (DCS) from the 1990s, 1980s or even earlier can have on operations.
Amine pumps upgraded for improved operations and reliability
A gas processing plant in Malaysia eliminated a source of expensive failures in its acid gas removal unit (AGRU).
Industry Metrics
US margins recorded losses as crack spreads declined for all products except fuel oil, despite lower refinery crude intakes.
Refining: Chinese refining industry eyes production cuts, consolidation
The Chinese refining industry is on the verge of massive production cuts and consolidation. A new tax rule aimed at curbing alleged tax evasion by independents and the end of an era of liberalization in the industry are driving the downsizing.
Hydrocarbon Processing Awards
<i>Hydrocarbon Processing,</i> the downstream processing sector’s leading technical publication, has announced the winners for its second annual awards.
Technical considerations for the Heydar Aliyev refinery revamp
The following case study describes the early development phases of SOCAR’s ongoing major revamp project at the Heydar Aliyev Refinery (HAR) in Baku, Azerbaijan, and its interface with the associated Azerikimya (AZK) steam cracking complex near Sumgait. References are made to the related SOCAR polymer project in Sumgayit, as well.
People
Elliott Group has appointed Mark Babyak as VP of its cryodynamic products business, formerly the cryodynamics division of Ebara Intl. Corp.
Industry Metrics
With the exception of fuel oil, US product markets showed losses against pressure from across the barrel and high crude oil prices.
Business Trends: A strategic energy solution
Refining is the process of separating crude oil into different hydrocarbon groups through distillation.
Industry Perspectives: The latest advancements in refining/petrochemical technologies on display
From September 25–26, Hydrocarbon Processing will bring its International Refining and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC) back to the US.

- BASF and Yara end joint project for low-carbon ammonia at U.S. Gulf Coast 8/26
- U.S. jet fuel consumption growth slows after air travel recovers from pandemic slowdown 8/26
- ExxonMobil announces Group III base stocks production 8/26
- Saudi Arabia and India were biggest buyers of Russian fuel oil, VGO in July 8/26
- Russia raises August oil export plan after drone strikes continue to disrupt refineries 8/26
- Foundation Alloy debuts Molyclast—A new standard in high-performance refractory alloys 8/26