Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Project Management

RFCCU revamp to improve main fractionator gascon column performance and minimize propylene losses to refinery offgas

ADNOC Refining: V. Rajaretnam  |  V. S. Thamizhan  |  A. M. Al-Suwaidi
Sulzer Italy SrL: G. Mosca
Sulzer India Pvt. Ltd.: U. Bhagwat
Sulzer Chemtech Middle East W.L.L.: Kale, V.

This article will discuss the critical parameters that could potentially affect the performance of a residue fluid catalytic cracking plant’s main fractionator and gas concentration (gascon) section columns. It will also elaborate on how the systematic troubleshooting methodology helped to solve the problems and improve column performance. 

Guidance for developing first-of-a-kind projects and processes

Burns & McDonnell: O'Mara, T.  |  Ploetz, C.

By aligning the right skills and employing best practices for knowledge transfer and project risk assessment, a project development team can anticipate common issues, find fatal flaws quickly and generate vital insights as early as possible, leading to a successful project. 

China's Shandong Yulong Petrochemicals to invest > $16 B to incorporate petrochemicals production at Yantai refinery

China's Shandong Yulong Petrochemical plans to invest $117.86 billion yuan ($16.42 billion) to produce chemicals at its refinery complex in Yantai, according to a government notice detailing the provisional plan.

Johnson Matthey’s tech enables successful start-up of the world’s largest single-train methanol plant

Johnson Matthey announced that the three methanol production trains of Inner Mongolia Baofeng Coal-based New Materials Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group, were successfully commissioned in November 2024, February 2025 and March 2025, respectively.

Baker Hughes to acquire Chart Industries for $13.6 B

Baker Hughes said it would buy Chart Industries in a $13.6 billion all-cash deal, including debt, outbidding rival Flowserve to expand in the LNG, data centers and decarbonization segments.

UTEP researchers boost microalgae biofuel yields with nanotechnology

Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso (U.S.) have demonstrated how nanotechnology can significantly improve biofuel production from microalgae, offering a sustainable path forward.

NASA tests new liquid hydrogen fuel tank for crewed Artemis missions

As teams get ready for the first crewed Artemis mission, which will take a crew of four around the Moon and back in 10 days, engineers with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program tested the new liquid hydrogen sphere, which holds one of the cryogenic propellants used to power the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, at Launch Complex 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Mizzou researchers engineer plants for optimal biofuel production

To meet the increasing global demand for biofuels, scientists are already modifying plant genes to boost the amount of plant oil being produced. That’s because inside the plant, a complex network of metabolic pathways turns sunlight, carbon dioxide (or atmospheric carbon), water and nutrients into vital compounds including oil, the foundational ingredient of biofuel.

Shell restarts hydrodesulphurization unit at Pernis oil refinery after unplanned outage

Shell has restarted a hydrodesulphurization unit at its 400,000 barrel per day Pernis oil refinery in Rotterdam after an unplanned outage on July 19.

Orlen's Unipetrol will start commissioning ethylene unit after power outage experienced earlier in July

The company expects full resumption of operations in the petrochemical part of the complex and simultaneous increase of production in the refinery section to standard levels by the beginning of next week.