Browse Editions : 2016
Title Author Edition
The outlook for transport fuels: Part 1

Gautam Kalghatgi, Saudi Aramco

Chris Gosling and Mary Jo Wier, UOP

2016 / Q1

As demand evolves, as specifications change, and as new fuel opportunities arise, what are the implications for refiners up to mid-century?
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Tube rupture in a natural gas heater

Harry Z Ha and Patrick Stang, Fluor Canada Ltd

2016 / Q1

Dynamic simulation supports the use of a pressure safety valve over a rupture disk in the event of a tube rupture
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Improving heat transfer in reboilers and condensers

Norman Lieberman, Process Improvement Engineering

2016 / Q1

Guidelines and experience on how to deal with a loss of condensing or reboiling capacity
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The challenges of crude blending

Thomas Garrett, Ahly Rattanakhambay, Neal Robbins, Matthew Wunder and Thomas Yeung, Hydrocarbon Publishing Company

2016 / Q1

Declining crude prices encourage more spot purchases that save costs, but mixing different grades can create headaches for refiners
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Monitoring and simulation resolves overhead corrosion

Philip Thornthwaite, Nalco Champion

Jake Davies, Permasense

2016 / Q1

Online corrosion monitoring in tandem with simulation modelling identified the root cause of corrosion in a crude unit overhead
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Mitigating iron foulants in refinery processes

Umakant Joshi and Austin Schneider, Crystaphase

2016 / Q1

Purification systems are designed to remove iron based particles without detriment to a catalyst bed's permeability
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Removing contaminants from crude oil

Jamie McDaniels and Wole Olowu, Athlon Solutions LLC

2016 / Q1

Natural and introduced contaminants limit crude desalting effectiveness, increasing fouling and corrosion risks in downstream units
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Integrating wastewater reuse with seawater desalination

William Celenza and John Herring, KBR

2016 / Q1

The ability to turn wastewater and seawater into high quality process water is key to the expansion of downstream oil and gas in water short areas
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Dealing with column fouling

Mark Pilling, Sulzer Chemtech USA

2016 / Q1

An understanding of process basics and fouling mechanisms enables increased run length in problem columns
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Designing a divided wall column

Sasa Polovina, Srecko Herceg and Ana Granic Sarac, INA

2016 / Q1

A refiner plans the application of divided wall column technology for greater energy efficiency in the distillation of multi-component reformate
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A refinery's journey to energy efficiency

Zafer Karatas and Sena Turkoglu, Tupras Batman Refinery

2016 / Q1

Identifying a series of areas for improvement transformed the energy performance of a refinery with a 60-year old history
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Energy savings in a coker's water system

Wang Zhigang, Jia Yin, Lixiao Chang and Song Kang, Sinopec Luoyang Company

2016 / Q1

Revamping a delayed coking unit's water system enabled significant energy savings
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Energy conservation in a crude unit

Yoshinori Kanno, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation

Guiqing Xu, Softard Industries

Ian Baxter, Cat Tech International

2016 / Q1

Online cleaning of a CDU/VDU heat exchanger network saved on time, energy and environmental impact
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The impact of tower internals on column performance

Michael Schultes, Raschig GmbH

2016 / Q1

Full scale testing and analysis of operation demonstrate the importance of tower internals on the performance of mass transfer packings
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Latin America shale oil: promise or pipedream?

Jefrey Zurlo, GE Water & Process Technologies

2016 / Shale

The challenges faced by Latin American refiners in processing fast emerging sources of shale oil in a low price environment
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Novel processing ideas for a condensate refinery

Donald Eizenga, David Shecterle and Frank Zhu, UOP, a Honeywell Company

2016 / Shale

Synergised unit flow schemes for a condensate refinery aim for high value refined products
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Monitoring against process problems

Tim Olsen, Emerson Process Management

2016 / Shale

Careful monitoring for preheat exchanger fouling and H2S release during unloading is vital when tight oil blends are processed
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China's shale gas

Lee Fagg, Nexant

2016 / Shale

The outlook and opportunities for petrochemicals based on China's development of shale gas
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Impact of light tight oils on distillate hydrotreater operation

Robert Ohmes and Matt Lehr, KBC Advanced Technologies

2016 / Shale

Addressing the range of challenges brought to diesel and jet production by light tight oil processing
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Guarding against contaminants

Michael Schmidt, Haldor Topsoe A/S

Henrik Rasmussen, Haldor Topsoe Inc

2016 / Catalysis

Analysing spent hydroprocessing catalyst underpins the development of guard bed catalysts to counter contaminants
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Increasing FCC propylene yield

Rudolf Latka, Vladimir Oleriny and Norbert Kovak, Slovnaft

Tom Ventham, Johnson Matthey Process Technologies

2016 / Catalysis

A test run with ZSM-5 additive demonstrated to a refinery that it could significantly raise production of propylene in the FCC
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Kinetic engine drives catalyst development

Andrea Battiston, Albemarle Corporation

2016 / Catalysis

Development of a NiMo catalyst for medium-to-high and high pressure middle distillates hydrotreating
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Revamping for ULSD production

Mike Rogers, Criterion Catalysts & Technologies

Kirit Sanghavi, Alon USA Refining

2016 / Catalysis

A sandwich catalyst system has given the additional activity needed to process difficult feed in a hydrotreater
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Look beyond the catalyst

Austin Schneider, Crystaphase

2016 / Catalysis

Purification and dispersion strategies applied to hydroprocessing catalyst can improve reactor performance
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Calcium containing feedstock processing

Chinthala Praveen Kumar, Sukumar Mandal, Gopal Ravichandran, Srikanta Dinda, Amit V Gohel, Ashwani Yadav and Asit Kumar Das, Reliance Industries Ltd

2016 / Catalysis

Development of a FCC catalyst/additive combination with high tolerance to calcium contamination from lower cost feedstock
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The outlook for transport fuels: Part 2

Gautam Kalghatgi, Saudi Aramco

Chris Gosling and Mary Jo Wier, UOP

2016 / Q2

As demand evolves, as specifications change, and as new fuel opportunities arise, what are the implications for refiners up to mid-century?
More

Energy saving chemical treatments in the crude distillation unit

Andrea Fina, Chimec

2016 / Q2

Chemical treatments allied to real-time energy monitoring deliver significant savings in CDU operations
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The challenges of crude blending

Thomas Garrett, Patrick Christensen, William Vokovich and Thomas Yeung, Hydrocarbon Publishing Company

2016 / Q2

The second part of a two-part article details the importance of crude selection and blending strategies to prosper in a low cost yet volatile market.
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Loss into gain in high capacity trays Part 1: excursion

Henry Kister, Fluor

Neasan O'Shea (ret'd) and Dan Cronin, Phillips 66 Whitegate refinery

2016 / Q2

Systematic troubleshooting diagnosed and solved two complex and independent problems that limited the capacity of an atmospheric crude distillation tower
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Improved stripper efficiency raises upgrader production

Mike Goulding and Fred Zhang, Suncor

Michael Krela, Koch-Glitsch

2016 / Q2

Revamping a heavy oil upgrader's steam stripping tower increased tray efficiency and achieved record throughput
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Enhancing fractionator efficiency

Soun Ho Lee, GTC Technology

2016 / Q2

Properly designed vapour and liquid distribution devices enable more effective distillation column efficiency
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Increased margin from updated internals and catalyst

Fawzi Al-Somali, Saudi Aramco Shell Refinery Co

Edwin Maas, Shell Global Solutions International BV

Theo Visser, Criterion Catalysts & Technologies

2016 / Q2

A low cost hydrocracker revamp delivered extra value to a refinery by increasing diesel yield, cycle length and safety
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How dynamic pressure can affect vacuum column readings

Grant Niccum and Steve White, Process Consulting Services

2016 / Q2

Computational fluid dynamics confirmed field measurements to explain a vacuum unit's poor quality HVGO and was used to redesign the tower internals
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Energy savings in preheat trains with preflash

Chris Bealing, Juan Gomez-Prado and jim Sheldon, KBC Process Technology

2016 / Q2

An eastern European refinery combined pinch technology and process simulation to achieve the most cost effective energy savings
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Addressing corrosion challenges in refineries

Kjell Wold, Emerson Process Management

2016 / Q2

Integrated corrosion management enables full control of refinery assets and opportunity crude processing without increased corrosion threats
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Integrating capital work into turnarounds

Gordon Lawrence, Asset Performance Networks

2016 / Q2

If a turnaround is to be successful, project work must be well integrated with the turnaround's scope of work
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Retooling APC for improved results

Randy Conley, Total Port Arthur refinery

Zak Friedman, Petrocontrol

2016 / Q2

Raising refinery-wide awareness of the role of advanced process control delivers maximum benefit from a reinvigorated APC
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Removing contaminant fines from process water

Barry Perlmutter, BHS-Sonthofen

2016 / Q2

Careful analysis and a creative approach are required for the optimum application of filtration technology
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Maximising propylene in the FCC unit

Michael Lutz, Harald Zeman, Thomas Krenn, Alexander Mittelmayr and Ignacio Beltran, OMV

Emmanuel Smaragdis, Matthias Scherer and Christophe Chau, Grace

2016 / Q2

Comparative trials with FCC catalyst formulations identified a winner on olefins selectivity and other factors
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Remote sensing for process optimisation

Gregory Shahnovsky, Ariel Kigel and Ronny McMurray, Modcon-Systems

2016 / Q2

Remote sensing technology delivers process properties in hazardous areas in real time and in agreement with laboratory results
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Acid gas treatment upgade for Qatargas

Gauthier Perdu, Laurent Normand and Geraldine Laborie, Prosernat

Omar Alhatou, Qatargas

2016 / Gas

Upgrading acid gas treatment at the world's largest LNG facility safeguards the plant's design capacity and its ability to process increasingly sour feeds
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The role of tail gas treating unit quench towers

Ralph Weiland, Clayton Jones and Nathan Hatcher, Optimized Gas Treating Inc

2016 / Gas

A quench tower cools gas entering a tail gas amine unit but also protects the amine against SO2 breakthrough
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Integrated design for gas processing 2016 / Gas

An integrated approach to designing process line-up delivers a range of economic, process and environmental benefits
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Nitrogen removal for chemicals production

Jorge Arizmendi-Sanchez and Adrian Finn, Costain

2016 / Gas

Increasing nitrogen levels in gas fields drive an increased need for efficient cryogenic nitrogen removal plants
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Tackling tighter emissions rules

Frank Scheel, Jacobs Comprimo Sulfur Solutions

2016 / Gas

A review of the options to raise sulphur emissions performance to meet China's tightening regulations
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Multiphase flow analysis in slug catcher design

S Sathish Kumaran, Dattesh Kondekear and M K E Prasad, Technip India

Cedric Leber, Technip Paris

2016 / Gas

Computational fluid dynamic simulation extends the range and flexibility of designing slug catchers
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Predictions for APC in refinery gas plant

Zak Friedman, Petrocontrol

2016 / Gas

Inferential models enable the development of advanced process control for a FCC gas plant
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Developments in hydrotreating catalyst

Michael T Schmidt, Haldor Topsoe

2016 / Q3

How a second generation hydrotreating catalyst was developed for high pressure ultra-low sulphur diesel units and hydrocracker pretreaters
More

Loss into gain in high-capacity trays Part 2: reverse vapour cross flow chanelling

Henry Kister, Fluor

Neasan O'shea (Ret'd) and Dan Cronin, Phillips 66 Whitegate refinery

2016 / Q3

Systematic troubleshooting diagnosed two complex problems that limited the capacity of an atmospheric crude distillation tower
More

The future of automation

Rohan McAdam and Paul McLaughlin, Honeywell Process Solutions

2016 / Q3

The Industrial Internet of Things promises to be the biggest influence on plant automation systems since the advent of distributed control systems
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Connected data improves refinery operations

Jefrey Zurlo, GE Water & Process Technologies

2016 / Q3

Connecting data with a common knowledge management platform improves visibility, response, and analysis to benefit refinery operations
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Handling delayed coker disturbances with APC

Dinesh Jaguste, Yokogawa India

2016 / Q3

An advanced process control system provides automatic detection of disturbances during drum switch in a delayed coker to raise performance levels
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Automation of tank farm systems

Jijnasa Panigrahi and Arun Kumar S, Helium Consulting

2016 / Q3

Automation helps to streamline operations as well as supply and demand planning, sales orders and inventory in tank management
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Corrosion resistance in tropical environments

Barinder Ghai, Sandvik Mateials Technology

2016 / Q3

Tests at NASA demonstrate how super-duplex tubes provide corrosion resistance at lower cost in a challenging environment
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Troubleshooting standpipe aeration

Rahul Patil, Ajay Gupta and Asit Das, Reliance Industries Limited

2016 / Q3

Standpipe aeration plays a critical role in smooth catalyst circultion in the riser and reactor of a FCC unit.  A refiner details guidelines for effective aeration.
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Refrigeration compressor anti-surge control

Medhat Zaghloul and Wayne Jacobson, Compressor Controls Corporation

2016 / Q3

A refrigeration compressor requires the same high-performance and fast-acting surge control technology as other gas compression circuits
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Reciprocating compressors in a hydrogen plant

Benjamin Williams, Ariel Corporation

Laurent Richaume, Air Liquide Engineering & Construction

2016 / Q3

A hydrogen producer chose moderate speed reciprocating compressors for its natural gas feed and hydrogen product services
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SRU simulation: getting the properties right

Anand Govindarajan, Nathan A Hatcher, Claytone E Jones and G Simon Weiland, Optimised Gas Treating Inc

2016 / Q3

Reliable, predictive simulation software for SRUs requires recognition of many of the unique properties and behaviours of sulphur
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High efficiency zero export steam reforming

Holger Schlichting, Dieter Ulber, Sebastien Cadalen, Sebastien Doublet and Laurent Prost, Air Liquide

2016 / Q3

Development of a new hydrogen production technology based on steam methane reforming
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Dealing with desalter cleaning challenges

Justin Weatherford and Marcello Ferrara, ITW

2016 / Q3

How to overcome lengthy and potentially dangerous challenges when cleaning a crude unit desalter
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Automated column start-ups

Martin Sneesby, APESS

2016 / Q3

Automation at start-up, supported by dynamic simulation, is desirable if it can be accomplished with a modest amount of engineering effort
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Improved distillation efficiency

Manish Bhargava, Roomi Kalita and Joseph Gentry, GTC Technology

Norihito Suzuki, TonenGeneral Group

2016 / Q4

Dividing wall column technology applied to a xylenes separation project delivered superior energy efficiency compared to a two-column arrangement
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Benchmarking and optimising maintenance for turnarounds

Shawn Hansen and Brett Schroeder, Asset Performance Networks

2016 / Q4

A methodology can be used to benchmark scope and provide early and reliable forecasts of labour hours and costs during a turnaround
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Operating vacuum distillation ejector systems

Jim Lines, Graham Corporation

2016 / Q4

Best practices and opportunities to deliver reliable ejector system performance and reduce performance risk
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Reducing hydrocarbons in SWS acid gas

Ben Spooner, Sulphur Experts

David Engel, Nexo Solutions

2016 / Q4

Measures to minimise the level of hydrocarbons in sour water and thereby protect the efficiency of the sulphur plant
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VOC recovery in crude oil loading

Grant Johnson and Mike Dodd, Costain

2016 / Q4

Facilities to reduce VOC emissions during loading are providing major environmental benefits driven by emissions standards and legislation
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Ammonia destruction in the reaction furnace

Simon Weiland, Nathan Hatcher, Clayton Jones and Ralph Weiland, Optimized Gas Treating Inc

2016 / Q4

A study based on reaction fundamentals aids a comparison of the advantages of one-zone and two-zone SRU reaction furnace design in ammonia destruction
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Regenerable tail gas treatment

Martin Lebel, Shell Cansolv

Manuel Jacques, Technip

2016 / Q4

Cost assessment of tail gas treating technologies that recycle H2S or SO2 to the Claus unit
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Upgrading sulphur removal performance

Yves Herssens and William Lam, MECS

2016 / Q4

Reverse jet scrubbing enabled a refinery to bypass its upstream tail gas unit while still meeting sulphur removal targets
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Data analytics for hydrocarbon processing

John McCall, The Data Lab

2016 / Q4

Advanced data handling techniques are transforming operations in the refining industry at an increasing pace
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Pressure surge during crude unloading

Dattesh Kondekar, Prateek Agarwal and Maruthi Ethakota, Technip

2016 / Q4

How to avoid pressure surge problems when dissimilar ship to shore offloading operations are interconnected
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Simulating crude units with preflash

Juan Gomez-Prado, Ralph Goodrich and Don Hoppens, KBC Process Technology

2016 / Q4

Process simulation offers a cost effective way of testing ideas to improve yield and energy performance
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FCC catalyst for maximum propylene

Rafael Gonzalez Sanchez and Christophe Chau, Grace Catalysts Technologies

Javier Llano Nogales, Berta Aramburu Lopez-Aranguren and Rafael Domingo Larrazmora, CEPSA

2016 / Q4

A case study for boosting unit profitability through FCC catalyst selection for propylene maximisation
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Controlling LPG/propylene quality

Chayan Bhalla and Satyendra Balot, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited

2016 / Q4

Online analysers can minimise costly upsets in FCC LPG/propylene quality and realise savings in caustic wash operations
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Designing storage tanks

Scott Mayeux and Jana Miller, Intergraph

2016 / Q4

Software based on the latest international codes enables straightforward design of storage tanks in a range of load conditions
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SIL and functional safety in rotating equipment

Oliver Franz, Prognost Systems

2016 / Q4

Unravelling the terminology and meaning of safety integrity level and functional safety in rotating equipment
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Isokinetic nozzles for steam sampling

Astha Mahendru, Meghna Bahl and Partha Mondal, Fluor Daniel

2016 / Q4

The proper design of a sampling system is critical for a sample that is representative of the stream to be measured
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Being lean in ethylene

Luc Chantepy, AspenTech

2016 / Q4

Operational excellence in ethylene production requires integrated design and control solutions to optimise plant for improving yield, efficiency and energy performance
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Revamp cat feed hydrotreaters for flexible yields

David Schwalje, Larry Wisdom and Mike Craig, Axens North America

2016 / Revamps

Revamping a cat feed hydrotreater to a flexible mild hydrocracker can be the most attractive economic option for adjusting the gasoline to diesel ratio
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Achieving turnaround success

Jerry Wanichko, T A Cook Consultants

2016 / Revamps

Large maintenance overhaul projects are complex, expensive processes, often with unpredictable challenges that call for best practice techniques
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Revamping crude towers for quality and yield

Leonard Souza, Rafael Wagner, Claudio Rocha and Henry Giron, Petroleo Brasileiro SA

Antonio Cortines, Sulzer Chemtech

2016 / Revamps

A successful revamp of distillation towers for increased diesel quality and yield depended on reliable design and accurate assembly
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FCC unit revamps at minimum cost

Gary R Martin, ReCon Management Services Inc

2016 / Revamps

Selective modifications for FCC unit revamps can deliver the best return on investment
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Turnarounds deliver process improvements

Mark Pilling, Sulzer USA

2016 / Revamps

An extended unit shutdown is relatively rare and an opportunity to take every advantage to improve performance
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Troubleshooting vacuum systems

Norman Lieberman, Process Improvement Engineering

2016 / Revamps

Case histories of refinery vacuum tower problems solved are gleaned from five decades of experience
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