Middle East
Largest ethane cracker: Borouge’s Ruwais manufacturing complex
The latest expansion project includes an ethane cracker (EU3), two PE and two PP plants, and a low-density PE (LDPE) unit.
Largest hydrocracker in China
Refiners are leveraging hydrocracking to respond to momentum in global dieselization, with crude prices forcing refiners to process distressed crudes and difficult feedstock.
HP Reliability: Rethink your auditing of lubrication practices
All hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) facilities use machinery, and every one of these machines requires lubrication of some type. Modern, profitability-minded plants thoughtfully manage their lub..
HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 69: Heat-up rate and rubs on a steam turbine
This column has suggested using simple analytical models to troubleshoot equipment. However, in some cases, a more detailed solution may be required. The following case histories examine the heat up o..
HP Water Management: Avoid failures in water projects: Part 2
Last month, we discussed the need for project engineers to talk to process engineers about the water systems as a capital project takes shape. This month’s column discusses additional ways to bri..
HP Brief
Air Liquide starts up SMR in La Porte, TexasAir Liquide recently celebrated the formal startup of a new steam methane reformer (SMR) in La Porte, Texas. The 120 million scfd of gaseous hydrogen (H2) p..
HP Associations: HPI mulls technical innovations at IRPC in Milan, Italy
The third annual International Refining and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC) opened its doors in mid-June, bringing record crowds to Milan, Italy, as leading downstream players shared and debated new h..
HP Construction: Middle East
Alfa Laval has won an order from a Korean engineering company to supply heat exchangers for a natural gas project in Saudi Arabia. The order value is approximately SEK 80 million, and delivery is sche..
HPI major events and trends, 1920s to present
1920s: THE FORMATION OF THE MODERN HPIDuring this period, a new industry was evolving focused on the refining of crude oil into fuels and other products. New demand for crude oil-based products, such ..
US imports of Saudi crude highest since July 2008
US imports of crude oil from Saudi Arabia climbed 45.7% from a year earlier in April to the highest level since July 2008, according to US government data. The rise in US imports from Saudi Arabia came as total crude oil imports from all sources declined in the month amid higher domestic production.

- CNOOC completes construction on $2.9-B, 1.8-MMtpy 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
- Ukrainian attack suspends Russian oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia 8/22