Browse Editions : 1999
Title Author Edition
Increasing resid conversion at Curacao refinery

P Pereira, L Zacarias, J Guitian, R B Solari, PDVSA-Intevep
D de Haseth, Isla Refinery, Curacao
E Houde, UOP
H Feintuch, Foster Wheeler

1999 / Q1

Commercial demonstration tests carried out with a recently introduced low investment technology, Aquaconversion, have shown it as a valuable tool in revamping thermal cracking facilities and boosting a refinery's product slate.
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Development of a refinery petrochemical master plan

W J Hillier, Maureen FGilber, W C Petterson, Kellogg Brown & Root

1999 / Q1

A master plan for a refinery/petrochemical complex justifies comprehensive study of all the variables, from market forecast to operating costs.  This article discusses the methodology and reports the results from a study case involving technology to maximise propylene.
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Design and operation of residue catalytic crackers.

Simon Tan and Prabhakar Satbhal, Shell Global Solutions.

1999 / Q1

The Shell residue FCC process has been applied to grassroots units in a variety of locations, from Europe to South-east Asia, resulting in higher operating profits for the respective refineries.  Three such operations are discussed here.
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Dearomatisation and conversion in hydroprocessing.

Ernst Kohler, Sud-Chemie AG
Dinah Huang, United Catalysts Inc

1999 / Q1

A novel sulphur-tolerant dearomatisation catalyst, ASAT, for LCO upgrading, is featured as a part of integrated hydroprocessing, covering desulphurisation, mild hydrocracking and hydrodewaxing.
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Steam active reforming process for dehydrogenation.

R O Dunn and L W Shoemaker, Phillips Petroleum Company.

1999 / Q1

The development and uses of the STAR process in the dehydrogenation of C3, C4 and C5 paraffins are outlined in this article, together with a presentation of capital and conversion costs for the production of MTBE and propylene.
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Advanced computer control at Melaka refinery.

Mohd Redzuan Mohd Sofian, Petronas Melaka Refinery

1999 / Q1

A description of the experience of a Malaysian refinery in implementing advanced process control and the product inferential system.  The author describes lessons learned and recommends some problem-solving methods.
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Techniques of multivariable controls and optimisation.

N SelvaGuru, Singapore Refining Company (SRC)

1999 / Q1

Increasing competition is putting refiners under pressure to achieve greater returns from each barrel of raw material.  Advanced process control and knowledge engineering techniques help towards this goal by automating some of the human skills and conventional controls involved in the process.
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Real-time optimisation for major refinery units.

Ian Godman, MDC Technology
Blaine Tookey, BP Oil

1999 / Q1

On the premise that a single model is needed to cover the range of plant functions, a performance monitoring and real-time optimisation system has been installed at BP Oil Alliance's refinery, and indications are that projected profit increases will be achieved with better and more consistent performance.
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Computer integrated systems for global engineering.

David Cockshoot, Kvaerner Process UK

1999 / Q1

Integrated, globally operable computer systems bring benefits to contractors, but even greater benefits to owner operators who retain the electronic deliverables and full atrribute data for use throughout the plant lifetime.
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Process control applications at a Middle East refinery.

John Delich and S S Dhaliwal, AspenTech (UK) Ltd.

1999 / Q1

Continuous development of a Middle East refinery's process control system  is discussed, together with the results of the application of a DMC plus multivariable constraint controller to the refinery's crude distillation unit and ARD unit fractionator.l
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Information technology - Agip case study.

Danilo Belletti, IBM Italy.

1999 / Q1

Improving management skills and streamlining the decision-making process has become a necessity for the industry, with information technology as the primary means.  This article describes the AgipPetroli strategy in this field.
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Reduction of benzene precursors in the reformer feed.

Michela Montesi, Filippo Trivella, Alessandro Brambilla, Contas Process Control.
Massimiliano Dell'Agnello and Luciano Paolicchi, AgipPetroli SpA

1999 / Q1

The authors report the results of a technology developed by Contas Process Control for estimating product composition, and its application to the naphtha splitting section at the Livorno refinery, Italy.
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Direct olefin hydration process.

Dominic W Ching, Equistar Chemicals.

1999 / Q1

A review of the improvement, operations and economic aspects of direct olefin hydration, considered to be environmentally and technically a sound commercial method for obtaining a consistently high-quality alcohol product.
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Reduction of LNG terminal costs

Arif Habibullah, Parsons Energy & Chemicals Group Inc.

1999 / Q1

The LNG  terminal is an important link in the liquefied natural gas chain, accounting for 20 per cent or more of the total project cost.  It also has potential for cost reduction.  The author discusses various strategies for cutting cost and their impact on terminal design.
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Plant power failure and its indirect effects: a case study.

Donald F Schneider, Status Engineering Inc

1999 / Q1

A total electrical failure at a major olefins plant was restored within half an hour, but it spawned a succession of health, safety and environmental problems that were to be felt for months.
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New reforming catalyst at Russian gas facility.

S Z Alekseev, L A Alekseeva, RAO Gasprom
V M Berdnikov, Astrakhangasprom
A Rouquier, A Pochitaloff, D I Garanin, Procatalyse
C Pradel, IFP

1999 / Q1

With advancing automobile engine design, a major Russian gas processing complex was faced with the need to produce unleaded, high octane gasolines, which meant replacing existing monometallic Russian catalyst with a new breed of catalyst.  This is an account of how the change was accomplished.
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Performance Optimisation of fixed bed processes

C E D Ouwerkerk, E S Bratland, A P Hagan, B L J P Kikkert, M C Zonnevylle, Shell Global Solutions.

1999 / Q2

An extensive range of hydroprocessing technologies has been developed through a combination of long-term R&D commitment and commercial experience.  The result is compact reactor internals that maximise reactor volume use, and superior gas/liquid distribution and quench performance.
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Raising mild hydrocracker profits without capital investment

Savas Soydaner, Hafedh Al-Qassab, Gregory M Lilburne, Adrian Stander, Bahrain Petroleum Company.

1999 / Q2

By systematically working on improvements to its operating methods, catalyst management and maintenance, a Middle East plant has increased unit converstion and profitability year-on-year with no capital investment.  The authors describe how it was done.
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Selective FCC naphtha desulphurisation.

K L Riley, J L Kaufman, S Zaczepinski, Exxon
A R Gentry, Kellogg Brown & Root Inc
P H Desai, Akzo Nobel Chemicals Inc

1999 / Q2

By combining specially designed catalyst  and process technology, the SCANfining process selectively removes sulphur from FCC naphthas while preserving olefins, so avoiding undesirable octane loss and H2 consumption.
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Coping with sulphur and water in naphtha isomerisation feeds.

Maureen F Gilbert, Carlos O Mora, Anshumali, F Mike Flloyd, Kellogg Brown & Root Inc
Miguel Peez Pasqual CEPSA
Ernst Kohler, Sud Chemie AG

1999 / Q2

An examination of the operational and economic benefits of an isomerisation process employing a superior water - and sulphur-tolerant catalyst - in particular, potential capital cost savings by eliminating feed and hydrogen drying and reducing feed desulphurisation.
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Improved FCCU feed and catalyst contact.

Sidney V Anderson, Saudi Aramco.

1999 / Q2

A series of modifications to the FCC unit at Jeddah refinery, Saudi Arabia, including an improved feed nozzle design, has resulted in better product selectivity and unit profitability. Further modifications are now under way.

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Role of asphaltenes cracking in bottoms conversion.

Toru Takatsuka, Shin-ichi Inoue, Yoshiaki Hori, Chiyoda Corporation.

1999 / Q2

The main factor in choosing upgrading processes for bottoms crude oil is often the refinery's current and anticipated product slate, say the authors of this article, but the most important consideration should be given to the part asphaltene cracking will play in the particular crude.
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The economics of integrating refining and petrochemicals.

Ralph Ragsdale, Bechtel Corporation
Gary L Ewy, Ewy Services Plus

1999 / Q2

Refining and petrochemical facilities in some countries are designed and constructed as separate entities, with no intention of integrating the plants. For future facilities, integration may be the preferred route.
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Evidence of MDEA degradation in tail gas treating plants.

James E Critchfield and James L Jenkins, Huntsman Corporation

1999 / Q2

Despite the belief that MDEA does not degrade in gas treating service, a five year investigation indicates that it is subject to degradation in tail gas treating units - shown by the accumulation of fragments in process solutions.  The authors present the results of analyses of over 500 process solution samples.
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Sulphur recovery operations: a discussion forum

Frank Bela, Bruce Kennedy, Bruce Scott, Lon Stern, Duke Tunnel, Ed Wagner, Mike Zacher, Amine Best Practices Group.

1999 / Q2

Members of the Amine Best Practices Group (ABPG) offer their advice and experiences to questioners having problems with amine unit operations.
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An exercise in large scale reactor replacement.

Evert P Kleynhans, Zbigniew F Matyja, A Paulo De Gavino Dias, Sasol Technology (Pty) Ltd

1999 / Q2

The question was how best to design and fabricate - and then transport over 500km of roads - seven pressure vessels totalling 6600 tonnes, and finally erect them in a live operating plant.
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Operational life improvements in modern hydroprocessing reactors.

Leslie P Antalffy and Michael B Knowles, Fluor Daniel Inc
Takayasu Tahara, Japan Steel Works Ltd
Pran N Chaku, ABB Lummus Global Inc.

1999 / Q2

This article outlines some of the major problems that can occur during the service life of hydroprocessing reactors resulting from existing manufacturing flaws and through the high temperature and pressure hydrogen environment.
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Spent caustic treatment by wet air oxydation

Tomonobu Uchida, Nippon Petrochemicals Co Ltd
Dinesh Udpa, Toyo USA
Masaaki Sakurai, Toyo Engineering Corporation

1999 / Q2

The authors describe how the search for a safe process to treat spent caustic waste from ethylene plants has been tackled, and the benefits that resulted from designing two stand-alone wet air oxydation units at plants in the USA.
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Human factors engineering in petrochemical projects: Part II

Martin E J van Uden and Harrie J T Rensink, Shell Int.

1999 / Q2

Among the subjects in this second article on the place of human factors in project planning, the project business is analaysed - discussing how ergonomic principles should be integrated - and the framework of a warranted quality system, including management monitoring tools and system auditing.
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Increasing efficiency of a fluid catalytic cracking unit.

Andrea Amoroso, Agip Petroli SpA

1999 / Q3

A combination of improved feed atomisation via new elevated nozzles, control software and latest catalyst technology has resulted in increased feedrate, better gasoline yeields and enhancement of octane at Sannazzaro.
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Maximising FCC propylene production

Charles L Hemler and Lawrence L Upson, UOP

1999 / Q3

To meet the world demand for light olefins, the authors present the case for designing a fluidised light olefin catalytic cracker.  Its capabilities include a yield pattern producing large quantities of propylene, together with big C4 yields and a significant amount of aromatic gasoline.
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Adsorption process for removal of nitrogen and sulphur.

Robert L Irvine and Dominic M Varraveto, Blac, & Veatch Pritchard Inc.

1999 / Q3

The Irvad process is claimed as a breakthrough for removing heteroatoms from liquid carbon streams up to 240'C endpoint, using a solid adsorbent to contact liquid countercurrently in a multi-stage, fluidised adsorber.  The adsorbent is regenerated in a reactivator, using heated reactivation gas.
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Upgrading gasoils by mild hydrocracking.

Q Chen, Paul van den Oosterkamp, Simon Barendregt, Technip Benelux.

1999 / Q3

MHUG - Medium-Pressure Hydro Upgrading - is a single stage mild hydrocracking process which uses two proprietory Ni-W catalysts.  More than 40 units applying the catalysts have been built and operated successfully.
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A proposal for an economic and environmental gasoline.

Roberto Amadei, Refining Consultant.

1999 / Q3

The author describes how adopting identified C6- and C7+ hydrocarbon concentrations in the reforming and isomerisation feeds can increase profits and transform gasoline into a new, more environmentally friendly grade.
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Technologies to achieve 2000 diesel specifications.

Joanne Langston, Lyondell-Citgo Refining Company (LCR)
Liz Allen and Dilip Dave, Criterion Catalyst Co Ltd

1999 / Q3

A discussion of the options for modifying existing hydroprocessing units to cost effectively produce higher quality, restrictively specified diesel fuels that will meet the demands for reduced sulphur levels in the new millennium.
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Hydrogen flux monitoring devices in wet H2S service.

Michael S Cayard and Russell D Kane, InterCorr International Inc
Carlos J B Joia and Luiz A Correa, Petrobras/CENPES

1999 / Q3

This article discusses a methodology for extending the use of hydrogen flux monitoring equipment to assess quantitively the severity of hydrogen charging and relate the response directly to the material's resistance or susceptibility to wet H2S cracking.
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Low cost process for refinery residue conversion.

Hans Weiss and Jorg Schmalfeld, Lurgi Umwelt GmbH

1999 / Q3

An outline of the technology of residue oil converstion, dealing with the mild coking of residue oils by the LR process.  The authors also describe the process principle, its characteristics and a number of test results.
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Revamping a crude converstion unit to VSS riser technology.

Jorgen Pedersen, Statoil Mongstad

1999 / Q3

An account of the problems encountered - and lessons learned - during a major upgrade of a reduced crude conversion unit, and the efforts of an alliance of specialists that finally brought about a successful revamp.
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Improviing profitability of an FCC

Richard J Higgins, Hans A Dirkse, Ron A van Wijk, Shell International Oil Products BV

1999 / Q3

A review of the hardware modifications that can be applied to FCC units to increase their profitability.  The authors also go through the planning and decision-making process for what to apply at a scheduled turnaround.
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Keeping down the cost of revamp investment.

Gary R Martin, Process Consulting Services Inc
Bryon E Cheatham, Fina Oil & Chemical

1999 / Q3

A comparison of the standard versus practical approach to the revamping of a crude unit.  In this article the focus is on optimising the use of existing equipment, changing the process flow scheme to minimise flash zone pressure and thereby maximising the yield.
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Opportunities for optimising utilities in major refineries.

Ian Dewar, MDC Technology

1999 / Q3

The author deals with the nature of optimisation problems, along with an explanation of applications, such as performance monitoring and equipment selection, which are used to come up with a solution.
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Achieving an accident-free turnaround.

Jim Cripps, AMEC Process and Energy Ltd.

1999 / Q3

The emphasis in the planning of a plant overhaul was that everybody should feel personally responsible for safety on the project: the result has been more than a million manhours without one serious accident.
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Petrochemical building blocks from heavy oils.

Warren S Letzsch, Stone & Webster Engineering.

1999 / Q3

An outline of the progress made on some alternative processes for making propylene and other petrochemical building blocks from heavier feedstocks.
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Catalysts for cost effective hydrogen production.

Leif Storgaard and Hans Christian Nielsen, Haldor Topsoe A/S

1999 / Q3

Processes now used in the new generation of hydrogen plants make a wide choice of catalysts necessary in order to meet the requirements of particular systems.  This article describes the capabilities of some of these catalysts.
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Performance of specialty amines in gas processing.

Dieter Plaumann, Erik Stewart, Randy Kuroda, The Dow Chemical Company.

1999 / Q3

A detailed description of successful gas treating applications carried out at three plants that had widely differing processing and treating requirements.
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Improving commercial hydrocracking performance

Stuart Frazer and Warren Shirley, The New Zealand Refining Company Ltd.

1999 / Q4

A description of the commercial success that came from implementing a strategy to improve hydrocracking unit performance, including the methods used for controlling polynuclear aromatics and their effect on performance
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Advances in biocatalytic desulphurisation

Elaine A Lange and Michael A Pacheco, Energy BioSystems Corporation.

1999 / Q4

Significant advances have been made towards practical applications of biodesulphurisation technology through reduction in process costs and development of chemical co-products from waste sulphur materials.  Recent work in process and product development are reviewed here.
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The drive for refinery energy efficiency

Steve M Brown, Linnhoff March Ltd

1999 / Q4

Total Site analysis, apart from improving a refinery's energy effeciency, also brings capital avoidance in site expansion, process unit debottlenecking and other benefits.  This article describes how it was applied to a real life problem.
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Optimising resid FCC unit catalyst design.

Stephen J Yanik, Paul O'Connor, Anton H Pichel, Akzo Nobel Catalysts
Makoto Nakamura, Nippon Ketjen Company Ltd.

1999 / Q4

A review of the advantages of applying the latest residue FCC unit catalyst design technologies.  The authors also discuss improvements in small-scale catalyst evaluation techniques for predicting the commercial benefits.
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A cheaper way of alkylating propylene and amylenes

J Randall Peterson, David C Graves, Ken Kranz, David M Buckler, Stratco Inc

1999 / Q4

The authors describe how propylene and amylenes can be alkylated using much less sulphuric acid catalyst.  When a propylene-rich feed is alkylated at high acid strengths, or amylene-rich feed is alkylated at low strengths, acid consumption is similar to that of butylenes.
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Computational fluid dynamics: understanding unit operations

Derek A Colman, BP Amoco Chemicals

1999 / Q4

An account of six cases in which CFD - computational fluid dynamics - was used not only to aid in understanding and solving existing process problems but also to assist in the design of new process operations.
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Advances in a catalyst cooler technology

Tiny Y Chan and Dalip S Soni, ABB Lummus Global Inc
Zhang Fuyi, Luoyang Petrochemical Engineering Corporation/Sinopec

1999 / Q4

New concepts have been brought to a well proven catalyst cooler technology.  In this article reliability and flexibility of operation is assessed, and commercial experience of the technology in over 20 FCC units is discussed.
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Thermal conversion in power integrated refinery schemes

Frans A M Schrijvers, Peter J W M van den Bosch, Brugt A Douwes, Shell International Oil Products BV

1999 / Q4

New and economically attractive options for an established technology like visbreaking are opening up as a result of the growing relationship between the industrial sectors of refining and electricity generation, say the authors.
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Shell and tube heat exchanger applications

Cecil C Gentry, Matthew C Gentry, Geoffrey E Scanlon, Phillips Petroleum Company

1999 / Q4

Although they were originally designed to deal with tube vibration and the equipment failures that this could cause, the use of Rodbaffles has spread to a wide range of applications in the petrochemical and other industries.
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Transient analysis of a utility steam system.

Brian D Bumgarner, Scott Ray, Surajit Dasgupta, John R Cassata, Kellogg Brown & Root

1999 / Q4

Dynamic simulation in the analysis of complex interactive systems has proved valuable in determining what effects variations in the dynamic characteristics of a package boiler would have on overall system performance.
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Effective coke inhibition in pyrolysis furnaces

S E Babash and T N Mukhina, VNIIOS Institute, Moscow

1999 / Q4

Description of a technology with the potential for continuous operation of ethylene pyrolysis furnaces without periodic shutdown for coke removal.  In this article the authors present their work in two parts: 1. Conceptual aspects of coke formation, and 2. Practical application in a Russian ethylene plant.
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Applying advanced process controls to fired heaters

Lee E Turpin and William J Korchinski, Aspen Technology Inc

1999 / Q4

Some of the key issues involved in automation of heater firing are highlighted in this article, which aims to help operators improve firebox management.  Case studies are presented, along with common mistakes that cost money.
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Multiple utilities optimisation to improve process economics.

H K Shethna, H Singh, Y Makwana, F J L Castillo, Hyprotech Ltd
U V Shenoy, Indian Institute of Technology.

1999 / Q4

An outline of the methodology for computing optimal load targets as an important factor in arriving at overall optimal cost targets when external utilities are needed to meet a process plant's heating and colling requirements.
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Olefin oligomerisation with homogeneous catalysis

Helene Olivier-Bourbigou, Jean-Alain Chodorge, Philippe Travers, IFP

1999 / Q4

Although homogeneous catalysis is not as widely used in hydrocarbon processing as heterogeneous catalysis there are industrial applications where the former, in liquid phase, has many advantages, including relatively high selectivity and product purity, low investment and mild operating conditions.
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Simulating coke formation in gas quenchers

M Sadrameli, H Ebadi, J Towfighi, Tarbiat Modarres University.
A Sharifi, Arak Petrochemical Complex

1999 / Q4

A major requirement in ethylene production is the ability to predect exchanger parameters, particularly coke thickness inside exchanger tubes.  This article presents the results of a computer simulation of a naphtha pyrolysis quench cooler, or transfer line exchanger (TLX), at Arak Petrochemical Complex, Iran.
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