Engineering & Design
Total, Lukoil select Foster Wheeler for Netherlands hydrocracker upgrade work
The objective of the project is to maximize the throughput of the distillate hydrocracker by debottlenecking the unit’s reaction and fractionation sections of the distillate hydrocracker, the companies said. Foster Wheeler’s scope of work is expected to be completed by June 2014.
Orascom picks KBR to design Iowa ammonia plant
The plant will be the first world-scale ammonia plant built in the US in nearly 25 years. The plant will be designed using KBR’s Purifier technology, which has demonstrated higher reliability than conventional designs and offers the lowest proven energy consumption in the industry, according to project officials.
CB&I commissions delayed coking unit on Essar Oil Vadinar expansion in India
The Vadinar refinery increased its capacity to 20 million tpy or 405,000 bpd, up from 10.5 million tpy and 200,000 bpd previously. The expansion allows Vadinar to process a much greater proportion of lower cost, heavy and ultra-heavy crude oils. Vadinar is the second largest, single-location refinery in India.
Foster Wheeler to supply steam reformer to Russia refinery of Gazprom
Foster Wheeler's reformer is characterized by a specific firing arrangement and sloped-wall radiant section design that enable long catalyst tube life and deliver the flexibility to maximize the reformer's operating flexibility. The company's work scope is expected to be completed in November 2013.
Foster Wheeler wins engineering on monoethylene glycol project of Qatar, Shell
The MEG facility will be part of a new petrochemicals complex in Ras Laffan Industrial City being developed by a joint venture of Qatar Petroleum and Shell. The two-train MEG facility, based on Shell’s OMEGA technology, is planned to produce 1.5 million tpy of MEG. The expected startup date was not disclosed.
Sinopec forms new engineering company in Beijing for refining, petrochemicals
Sinopec Group, the parent of China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., or Sinopec, says the unit has the capacity to handle over 20 large engineering, procurement and construction projects simultaneously.
Maximize diesel production in an FCC-centered refinery, Part 1
For refineries with an FCC unit as the main conversion vehicle, the debate is how existing refinery assets can best be used to economically increase diesel production.
Redefining reforming catalyst performance: High selectivity and stability
Highly developed CCR catalysts are more robust to ensure extended service over 7–9 years.
Upgrade heavy oil more cost-efficiently
A new technology can economically upgrade and significantly improve the properties of heavy oil by reducing viscosity, increasing gravity and removing contaminants.
CO2 capture from SMRs: A demonstration project
Technical and economic results from this project will be key in determining the most effective path to commercialization.

- CNOOC completes construction on $2.9-B, 1.8-MMtpy refinery-petrochemicals integrated complex in east China 8/22
- bp's Whiting refinery (U.S.) continues to flare days after severe thunderstorm 8/22
- Bachmann introduces latest version M-Target for Simulink 8/22
- U.S. to rule on biofuel waivers, but big oil refiners may need to wait 8/22
- Chinese independent refiner Hongrun buys Canadian, Brazilian crude 8/22
- thyssenkrupp Uhde completes pre-FEED for HAMR Energy’s renewable fuels project in Australia 8/21