Engineering & Design
Design operations-and-maintenance-friendly skid-mounted units
Skid-mounted units are omnipresent in the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI), as facilities are scattered in remote locations, and site construction is time-consuming and expensive. Skid units are equally popular in downstream refineries and the chemical processing industry (CPI).
Performance testing: The key to successful revamps
Process unit revamps often do not result in a refiner achieving its desired objectives. This is typically not the result of mechanical defects with process equipment.
CB&I awarded alkylation, hydrocracking contracts for China refinery
THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- CB&I announced it has been awarded two contracts for a grassroots refinery in China. The scope of work includes the license and engineering design of an alkylation unit and two Chevron Lummus Global (CLG) diesel hydrocracking units along with catalyst supply.
Linde Engineering North America appoints new president, CEO
HOUSTON, Texas -- Linde Engineering North America (LENA) has appointed Jason Cooper as President and CEO.
LyondellBasell completes Corpus Christi complex expansion
HOUSTON, and LONDON -- LyondellBasell, one of the world's largest plastics, chemical and refining companies, announced completion of the 800 million pounds-per-year ethylene expansion project at the company's Corpus Christi, Texas, site.
SNC-Lavalin awarded five-year extension to GES+ contract with Saudi Aramco
MONTREAL -- SNC-Lavalin is pleased to announce that SNC-Lavalin Fayez Engineering (SLFE), an engineering consultancy partnership between SNC-Lavalin and Dr. Zuhair Fayez, has been awarded a five-year extension to its existing General Engineering Services Plus (GES+) contract with Saudi Aramco, with three one-year options to extend.
Viewpoint: Reshaping the industry toward innovation, certainty and efficiency
It is no secret that capital costs of major projects have skyrocketed over the past decade. A July 2015 industry report noted that the average megaproject’s cost increase is 80% of its original value, with an average schedule slippage of 20 months.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 94: Why mentors are important for industry
When I started working in industry 50 years ago, it was management’s job to have a senior engineer watch over my work. Much of the quality of my analytical work and technical discipline were formed early in my career with help from these engineers.
Reliability: Reliability and the EPC contractor
In this column, I have often elaborated on critical information related to reliability thinking. However, reliability thinking is continually subverted by approaches that concentrate excessively on project cost and completion.
Key design considerations for vacuum process condensers
The crude oil refining and petrochemical industries make extensive use of condensers that operate under vacuum (i.e., below atmospheric pressure). Distillation is the most common process using these condensers, either as a process precondenser ahead of an ejector system, or as an intercondenser within an ejector system.
- SkyNRG starts construction on its first SAF plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands 2/13
- India's Reliance wins U.S. license for Venezuelan oil 2/13
- Singapore light distillates stocks hit over 3-yr high on robust imports 2/13
- Three contractors injured at ExxonMobil facility in Beaumont, Texas (U.S.) 2/13
- China's epic renewables boom lifts it into rare clean capacity club 2/13
- TotalEnergies booked loss in France due to refining activities, CEO says 2/13

