Browse Editions : 2012
Title Author Edition
Catalysts for maximising middle distillates

Ruben Miravalles, Tamara Galindo, Repsol

2012 / Q1

Collaboration in catalyst development and application, from laboratory scale to commercial operation, enabled a refiner to achieve production objectives.

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Using cold boiler feed water for energy recovery

Alisan Dogan, Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corporation

2012 / Q1

Feeding membrane deaerated cold boiler feed water to appropriate units will enable waste heat to replace substantial steam duty in a refinery

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Cost estimating for turnarounds

Gordon Lawrence, Asset Performance Networks

2012 / Q1

Cost estimates for refinery turnarounds can lack accuracy, but lessons learned from capital project estimating could improve matters

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Abatement of hydrogen sulphide in asphalt

Jennifer Draper and Joseph Stark, Baker Hughes

2012 / Q1

Risks of exposure at asphalt loading platforms require reliable monitoring of H2S levels and a programme of abatement using effective chemical scavengers.

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Oxygen enrichment in desulphurisation

Shivan Ahamparam and Stephen Harrison, Linde

2012 / Q1

Oxygen enrichment technology is a viable and cost-effective solution for significantly increasing sulphur treatment capacity.

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Green retarder technology for the styrene industry

Lisheng Xu, Javier Florencio, Vincent Lewis and Christopher Morrison, Nalco

Ana Guzman, Carmen Monfort and Ana Olivares, Repsol Quimica Tarragona

2012 / Q1

Increased environmental and safety awareness in the styrene industry has led to the development of more acceptable alternatives to toxic nitrophenolic retarders

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Energy recovery with compact heat exchangers

Marcos Matsufugi, Alfa Laval

2012 / Q1

Compact heat exchangers are used for heat recovery applications where high efficiency is vital, space or weight constraints apply, or exotic materials are required

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Low rare earth catalysts for FCC operations

Yen Yung and Ken Bruno, Albemarle Corporation

2012 / Q1

Features including high zeolite and matrix stability and high accessibility architecture characterise a family of low rare earth FCC catalysts

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Catalyst additives reduce rare earth costs

Ray Fletcher, Intercat

2012 / Q1

Catalyst additive technologies help to control rare earth costs in fresh FCC catalyst additions and in SOx capture

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Consolidation of refinery control rooms

Eric Jan Kwekkeboom, Yokogawa Europe & Africa

2012 / Q1

Migration of a refinery's DCS provided an opportunity to reconfigure and consolidate the control rooms and operations management system

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Integrated monitoring for optimising crude distillation

Gregory Shahnovsky, Tal Cohen and Ronny McMurray, Modcon-Systems Ltd

2012 / Q1

On-line process analysers in crude distillation units prevent lost throughput caused by non-conforming process conditions and crude oil switching

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Crude oil vapour pressure testing

Hannes Pichler and Klaus Hense, Grabner Instruments, a subsidiary of Ametek

2012 / Q1

Vapour pressure testing is an important safety check in the transport, storage and blending of crude oil

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Optimised hydrogen production by steam reforming: part I

Sanke Rajyalakshmi, Kedar Patwardhan and P V Balaramakrishna, Larsen and Toubro

2012 / Q1

Modelling optimisation of process and design parameters for minimising natural gas consumption in hydrogen production by steam reforming

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Improved catalytic reforming

Anthony Poparad, Beatrix Ellis, Bryan Glover and Stephen Metro, UOP LLC, A Honeywell Company

2012 / Q1

Catalyst solutions help to improve the profitability and reliability of reforming units

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New crude oil basket for hydrogen savings

Rajeev Kumar, Prashant Parihar and Ravi K Voolapalli, Corporate R&D Centre, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, India

2012 / Q1

The processing requirements of opportunity crudes are considered for the operations of the Indian refineries

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Evaluation of a low rare earth resid FCC catalyst

 Sabeeth Srikantharajah and Colin Baillie, Grace Catalysts Technologies

Bernhard Zahnbrecher and Wieland Wache, Bayernoil

2012 / Catalysis

A zero rare earth catalyst blended with a rare earth-based catalyst enabled a refinery to reduce its FCC catalyst rare earth requirement by 80%

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Refinery fuel gas in steam reforming hydrogen plants

Peter Broadhurst and Graham Hinton, Johnson Matthey Catalysts

2012 / Catalysis

Fuel gas is an attractive feedstock for hydrogen production, but appropriate catalysts and temperature control are needed to address high olefin levels.

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Estimating silicon accumulation in coker naphtha hydrotreaters

Thienan Tran, Patrick Gripka and Larry Kraus, Criterion Catalysts & Technologies

2012 / Catalysis

Improved sampling and analysis of silicon in the feed enable a significant gain in the cycle life of coker naphtha hydrotreater catalysts

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FCC catalyst coolers in maximum propylene mode

 Rahul Pillai and Phillip Niccum, KBR

2012 / Catalysis

Catalyst cooling technology for continuous heat removal from the regenerator in maximum propylene operations can avoid damage to FCC catalyst and equipment

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Decrease catalyst costs by reneneration, analysis and sorting

Pierre Dufresne, Eurecat

Francois Locatelli, Eurecat France

2012 / Catalysis

Use of regenerated catalyst can be maximised by careful sampling and analysis of spent catalyst to construct a reactor contamination profile

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Optimisation of integrated aromatic complexes

Axel Duker, Sud-Chemeie AG

2012 / Catalysis

A novel class of purification catalysts provides improved selectivity in aromatic complex service

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Troubleshooting a FCC unit

 Chiranjeevi Thota, Shalini Gupta, Dattatraya Tammanna Gokak, Ravi Kumar Voolapalli, P V C Rao and Viswanathan Poyyamani Swaminathan, Bharat Petroleum Corporation

2012 / Catalysis

The source of a fouling problem in a FCC CO boiler was identified by systematic analysis of fresh catalysts, additives and equilibrium catalysts

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A new approach to treating shale gases

 Ralph Weiland and Nathan Hatcher, Optimized Gas Treating

2012 / Gas

Shale gas can be challenging to treat, but mass transfer rate-based simulation and appropriate tower internals can make it no harder to treat than other natural gases

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Heat exchange reforming in gas synthesis

 Henrik Surrow Larsen, Haldor Topsoe

2012 / Gas

An exchange reformer design offers a very high reforming temperature and the option to reduce primary reformer size

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Micromachined gas chromatography for gas plants

 Les Alberts, Seala Services

2012 / Gas

Onsite gas chromatography is available to troubleshoot, optimise, debottleneck and help identify energy savings in natural gas plants

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GTL adds value to gs production

 Neville Hargreaves, Oxford Catalysts Group

2012 / Gas

Distributed GTL plants could provide economic monetisation of shale gas, associated gas and stranded gas.

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Using physical solvent in multiple applications

 Jack McJannett, Dow Chemical Canada

2012 / Gas

A physical solvent's properties and versatility in a variety of flow schemes for energy-efficient gas treating in a range of applications are discussed

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Solutions for the treatment of highly sour gases

 Francois Lallemand and Gauthier Perdu, Prosernat

Cristina Maretto and Claire Weiss, Total E&P

Julia Magne-Drisch and Anne-Claire Lucquin, IFP Energies Nouvelles

2012 / Gas

Process technologies for the cost-effective treatment of natural gas with high and ultra-high acid gas content

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Combating the threat of mercury

 Michael Hayes and Katrin Akerlindh, Linde Gases

2012 / Gas

Emerging legally binding action on mercury emissions highlights the importance of monitoring and quantifying emissions from gas operations

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Optimizing pumparound reflux for zero-cost energy savings

 Ahmet Bebek and Sule Seda Ay, Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corporation

2012 / Q2

By increasing pumparound ratios in principal units, refinery engineers were able to recover energy for process heating and reduce stack emissions

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Crude preheat fouling control helps reduce CO2 emissions

 Andre Vanhove and Alain Pothuaud, GE Water & Process Technologies

2012 / Q2

Modelling key performance indicators quantifies the impact of fouling in the hot preheat train and helps to identify the benefits of a planned treatment programme

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A novel investiation approach linking to risk assessment

 Robin Pitblado and Mark Fisher, Det Norske Veritas

2012 / Q2

A novel incident investigation approach provides information on both management system and risk barrier failures.

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Improved heat recovery from a hydrotreater

 Peter Ellerby, Cal Gavin

2012 / Q2

A Russian refinery aimed to reduce the load on a hydrotreater's fired heater by increasing the performance of the feed/effluent exchanger

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Column preheat improvement to debottleneck furnace operation

 Said Al Zahrani, Samit Roy and Edwin Bright, Saudi Aramco

2012 / Q2

Simulation helped to identify and mitigate the root cause of a furnace bottleneck to maximise the removal of light ends in the feed to a preflash column

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Useful tips for fired heater optimisation

 Nikki Bishop and Barbara Hamilton, Emerson Process Management

2012 / Q2

Model predictive control that is native to the regulatory control processor provides high-speed, redundant and robust control for process fired heaters

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High-Purity propylene from refinery LPG

Ed Palmer, Ian Glasgow, Sachin Nijhawan, Debra Clark and Lambert Guzman, Mustang Engineering

2012 / Q2

A case study and financial analysis show that investment opportunities for refiners exist with the expected future high price of propylene

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Assessing the impact of carbon pricing on refinery profitability

Joris Mertens, KBC Process Technology

2012 / Q2

The carbon cost to the European refining industry arising from EU policy will depend on the carbon price and on the refinery's carbon footprint

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Carbon capture options for refiners

Suzanne Ferguson and Mike Stockle, Foster Wheeler

2012 / Q2

An outline methodology identifies the most appropriate way to achieve a refinery's carbon capture goal

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High-performance trays alone do not guarantee performance improvements

Sounho Lee, GTC Technology US

Libor Hojsik, GTC Technology Europe

Myunghyun Kim and Daeyoung Jung, Hyundai Oil Bank

2012 / Q2

A high-performance tray does not itself determine the effectiveness of the whole column.  Other distillation equipment plays a vital role in a successful column revamp.

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Combination mechanical slurry conditioning and filtration

 Barry Perlmutter, BHS-Filtration

2012 / Q2

 A novel definition of combination filtration provides process engineers with a framework for analysing operating bottlenecks

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Optimise hydrocracker operations for maximum distillates

 Prashant Parihar, Ravi K Voolapalli, Rajeev Kumar, Srinivasulu Kaalva, Biswanath Saha and P S Viswanathan, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, India

2012 / Q2

Estimation of an accurate operating window for a hydrocracker enables refiners to minimise yields of light ends and maximise diesel production 

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Optimised reactor internals for a hydroprocessing unit

 Tai-Sheng Chou, H2Adance

2012 / Q2

Optimised distributor and quench box design can improve catalyst performance and unit reliability

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Accurate quality checks in catalyst regeneration

Atul Dave, Consultant

2012 / Q2

A method based on density measurement delivers fast and repeatable analysis of chlorination agents used in catalyst regeneration

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Process and catalysis factors to maximise propylene output

Takuya Amano, Jack Wilcox and Carel Pouwels, Albemarle Corporation

Takakazu Matsuura, Taiyo Oil Co

2012 / Q3

Catalyst selection and process design enable a new RFCC unit to maximise propylene production from a range of feeds
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Challenges and opportunities of 10 ppm sulphur gasoline: part 1

Delphone Largeteau, Jay Ross, Marc Laborde and Larry Wisdom, Axens

2012 / Q3

Prospect of a worldwide standard for ULSG and the challenges of increased heavy crude supplies demand careful considerationa and selection of refinery configuration
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Natural gas fuels the integration of refining and petrochemicals

Tanmay Taraphdar, Praveen Yadav and M K E Prasad, Technip KT India

2012 / Q3

Maximising the use of natural gas in a refinery-petrochemicals complex offers higher margins and lower carbon emissions
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Offline tools for on-site control implementation

Ken Allsford, Bhaskar Iyer and Aric Tomlins, Advanced Solutions, Honeywell International

2012 / Q3

Application of productivity tools and work process changes can expedite advanced control projects and reduce effort in refining applications
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APC2: aligning people with control

Raymond Coker, BP Texas City refinery

2012 / Q3

A lead practitioner explains how refinery-wide involvement of people underpins a major advanced process control programme
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Alarm floods and plant incidents

Dustin Beebe, Steve Ferrer and Darwin Logerot, ProSys Inc

2012 / Q3

Alarm floods and their contribution to industrial incidents can be controlled succesfully through all process states
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Minimise corrosion while maximising distillate

Brandon Payne, GE Water & Process Technologies

2012 / Q3

Reducing atmospheric fractionator overhead temperatures to maximise middle distillate production requires a full understanding of resulting corrosion mechanisms
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Reliable design of sour water strippers

Nathan Hatcher and Ralph Weiland, Optimized Gas Treating

2012 / Q3

A simulation model aims to raise confidence in the reliability of sour water stripper design
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Monitoring and treatment to maximise light cycle oil

Greg Savage, Nalco

2012 / Q3

Fouling control, simulation software and tower scanning can improve operations and reliability when maximising middle distillate and propylene production
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Monitoring and diagnostics for reciprocating compressors

Jost-A Anderhub, Prognost Systems

2012 / Q3

A guide to the purpose and terminology of monitoring systems than ensure effective operation of reciprocating compressors
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Catalyst stripper improves FCC unit performance

Rama Rao Mari and Dalip Soni, Lummus Technology, a CB&I Company

2012 / Q3

Stripper internals with improved mass transfer characteristics improve the performance of an FCC unit
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Gasifying coke to produce hydrogen in refineries

Tek Sutikno and Kevin Turini, Fluor Enterprises

2012 / Q3

Coke gasification to produce hydrogen for hydroprocessing is more capital intensive than steam methan reforming, but not so vulnerable to natural gas price variations
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High-quality products from heavy sour crudes

Maria Aldescu, KBC Advanced Technologies

2012 / Q3

Application of current and emerging technologies will determine the potential of poor-quality crudes as sources of high-quality products
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Removing fines from gas scrubbing liquids

Barry Perlmutter, BHS- Filtration

2012 / Q3

Think cake candle filter technology can be applied to a range of refining and gas processing applications to remove fines from circulating scrubbing liquids
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Designing a crude unit heat exchanger network

Tony Barletta and Steve White, Process Consulting Services

Krishnan Chunangad, Lummus Technology Heat Transfer

2012 / Sour/Heavy

Preheat train design for heavy Canadian crudes can be very challenging, requiring an approach not normally required with other crudes
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Vacuum unit performance

Scot Golden, Tony Barletta and Steve White, Process Consulting Services

2012 / Sour/Heavy

Inaccurate feed characterisation and process modelling errors are major contributors to poor performance in a vacuum unit as refiners switch to heavier crude types
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Designing the CDU/VDU for opportunity crudes

Scott Golden, Tony Barletta and Steve White, Process Consulting Services

2012 / Sour/Heavy

New units for processing heavy crudes should not be designed using conventional practices or run length will be short, and product yields and quality poor
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Desalting heavy Canadian crudes

Tom Collins, Forum Energy Technologies

Tony Barletta, Process Consulting Services

2012 / Sour/Heavy

Effective desalting requires large desalters and attention to all variables associated with good desalter performance.
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Challenges of heavy crude processing

Maria Aldescu, KBC Advanced Technologies

2012 / Sour/Heavy

A review of upgrading options and refinery configurations to process heavy crudes profitably
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Challenges and opportunities of 10 ppm sulphur gasoline: part 2

Delphine Largeteau, Jay Ross, Marc Laborde and Larry Wisdom, Axens

2012 / Q4

Economic evaluation of processing options for ultra-low sulphur gasoline compares severe pretreatment with a combination of pre- and post-treat solutions
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Dynamic simulation: a tool for engineering problems

Dipanjan Bhattacharya, Haribabu Chittibabu, Jesse Mumm and Jaleel Valappil, Bechtel

2012 / Q4

Dynamic simulation can be used to solve engineering problems that require an in-depth understanding of transient processes
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Exploiting opportunities with challenging crudes

India Nagi-Hanspal, Mahesh Subramaniyam, Parag Shah, Sergio Moretti and James Noland, DorfKetal Chemicals

2012 / Q4

Chemical treatment techniques solve many of the processing problems encountered in refining opportunity crudes
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Valuable liquids from refinery gases

Zaheer Malik and John Slack, Linde Process Plants

2012 / Q4

With appropriate treatment schemes, refinery off-gases can be valuable sources of olefins and hydrogen
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Thermal Oxidiser waste heat recovery

Ryan Tate, Zeeco Inc

2012 / Q4

Capturing the heat energy used for waste gas destruction enables processing plants to enhance their efficiency and minimise operating costs.
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Simulating and monitoring H2 plant operations

Gene Yeh, Saudi Aramco

Prabhas Mandal, Abdulali Siddiqui and Fahad Alhemidda, Saudi Aramco Riyah Refinery

2012 / Q4

A computer program was developed to enable a refinery to monitor its hydrogen production daily to foresee potential operating problems.
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RFCC units set new standard for propylene production

Patrick Walker and Raymond Peterman, UOP LLC, a Honeywell Company

2012 / Q4

RFCC units are being commissioned and operated to convert hydrotreated and straight-run resid to high levels of propylene
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Value of monitoring exchanger networks

Laura Copeland, Nalco Company

2012 / Q4

A rigorous exchanger simulation model can be used to calculate the true cost of fouling in crude preheat networks
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FCC catalysts and additives for cost and emissions control

Kenneth Hindle and Maria Luisa Sargenti, Grace Catalysts Technologies

Juan Vargas, Coryton Refinery

2012 / Q4

A rare earth-free catalyst enabled a refinery to reduce its FCC catalyst costs and a non-platinum combustion promoter helped control NOx emissions
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Stripping sour water: the effect of heat stable salts

Ralph Weiland and Nathan Hatcher, Optimized Gas Treating Inc

2012 / Q4

Mass transfer rate-based simulation models sour water stripping and assesses the distribution of ammonia in conventional amine treating systems
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Production of biolubricant base stock

Shalini Gupta, Rajeev Kumar, Sudha Tyagi and Peddy V C Rao, Bharat Petroleum Corporation

2012 / Q4

Using microwave technology in biolubricants production enhances product yields and reduces reaction time.
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Mitigation of heat exchanger fouling

Bruce Wright, Baker Hughes Incorporated

Todd Hochheiser, Valero Energy Corporation

2012 / Q4

Detailed analysis of potential contributors identifies the root cause of fouling in naphtha hydrotreater feed-effluent exchangers
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Innovations in wastewater treatment

Darren Gurney, Linde Gases Division

2012 / Q4

Industrial gases provide a wide range of options for treating wastewater from petrochemical processes
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Optimising sweep gas flow in a flare header

Satish Mathur, Bechtel India

2012 / Q4

How to calculate the minimum flow of flare header sweep gas needed to maintain safe conditions
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Updating plant information

Clive Wilby and Gary Farrow, AVEVA

2012 / Revamps

Bringing the structures of existing refineries into the digital information age transforms the processes of upgrading and operating
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Hydroprocessing to maximise refinery profitability

David Brossard, Natalia Koldachenko, Theo Maesen, Dan Torchia and H Alex Yoon, Chevron Lummus Global

2012 / Revamps

Low-cost changes in catalyst systems can significantly enhance operational flexibility and increase returns on investment
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Fast-track FCC installation

Whitney Strickland and Chad Beckemeyer, AltairStrickland

2012 / Revamps

Upgrading a 1990s millisecond catalytic cracking unit to a 2012 FCC unit took just 60 days at St Charles refinery
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Revamp of Slovnaft's hydrocracking unit

Ole Frej Alkilde, Haldor Topsoe

Filip Stancl, Slovnaft

2012 / Revamps

A revamp to maximise middle distillate production and increase unit reliability and safety
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Performance audits for burners and flares

Jesse Chambers, Jim Smith and Keith Wade, Zeeco Inc

2012 / Revamps

Performance audits and pre-retrofit checks identify issues and help specify the correct equipment for process heater and flare revamps
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Platformer debutaniser revamp and optimisation

Rakan Bilaus, Sajeesh Padmanabhan and Neelay Bhattacharya, Saudi Aramco

2012 / Revamps

Recommendations following a study of high reformate RVP delivered a range of benefits including a significant increase in gasoline production
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Planning for Revamps

Alexey Rodikov, NIS - Gazprom Neft

2012 / Revamps

Serbia's petroleum refinery describes its plans for a continuing programme of plant revamps and updates
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