Process Optimization
Overcome the imbalance between diesel and gasoline production
A number of strategies can be applied to increase the overall product selectivity to middle distillates.
Improve refining of tight oil via enhanced fluid catalytic cracking catalysts
Crude oils from tight formations are relatively light, low in concarbon, and contain different contaminants. They have high naphtha and distillate yields, lower vacuum gasoil (VGO) content and almost ..
Can the downstream achieve growth and sustainability?
The global hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) is transforming beyond typical technical and management forms. This industry is making progress, and it is achieving more sustainability practices. Suc..
Improve monitoring and troubleshooting of reciprocating compressors
The terms surveillance and monitoring for reciprocating compressors can be used interchangeably. With few exceptions, the monitoring and/or surveillance tasks are assigned to the unit operators. They ..
Consider olefin offgas as feed for ammonia production
Ammonia production using hydrogen (H2)-rich offgases is an established method, but it is practiced only in a handful of plants. The dynamics of new feedstocks in the petrochemicals industry coupled wi..
HP Global: Review of the Middle East refinery industry
The refining business in the Middle East (ME) is very different. The average utilization rates in the ME generally run at maximum and regularly exceed 90%. Also, unlike other regions, refining margins..
HP Project Management: Pipeline expansion uses rerating to debottleneck services
The Colonial Pipeline connects refineries primarily on the US Gulf Coast with customer service markets across the southern and eastern US. In 2010, Colonial’s 5,500-mi pipeline was transporting a..
HP Reliability: Consider suspended-access scaffolding
You may always have left scaffolding and access-to-work questions to an outside contractor to make the final decisions. But plant safety and timely work completion are everybody’s business. As a ..
HP Viewpoint: Refining industry developments—Growing opportunity and uncertainty
The U.S. has seen a dramatic change in energy production in just a relatively short period. Crude oil output has increased by about 55% in the last five years, according to data from the Energy Inform..
HP Industry Perspectives: New development for drop-in fuels
Future fuels must have a unique “drop-in” capability. They must also be compatible with present vehicle engines and fungible within the distribution system. Finding alternatives to corn-base..
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