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Americas

KMG Chemicals acquires US valve lubricants, sealants group Val-Tex

Located in Houston, Val-Tex is a preferred provider of cost-effective valve lubricants primarily to the oil and gas storage, pipeline and gas distribution markets.

Total lists capacity for new Texas ethane cracker

Construction on the cracker could start in June 2016, the company said, with operations starting three years later. The project would include seven ethane-cracking heaters.

Shell completes ethylene unit upgrade, expansion at Singapore complex

Royal Dutch Shell has completed a revamp of its Singapore ethane cracker. The olefins unit is part of Shell’s integrated refinery and petrochemical complex.

US plastic resins output surges over 2014 levels

US production of major plastic resins totaled 6.1 billion pounds during February 2015, an increase of 6.8 percent compared to the same month in 2014, according to statistics released by the ACC.

Top seven causes for lost olefin production

HSB Solomon Associates LLC: Cagnolatti, C. L.

Long-term trends in production losses, showing total loss production measured in seven biennial studies, are discussed in this article to determine if these losses are increasing or decreasing over time.

Use vapor distributors to improve fractionation column performance

Technip Stone & Webster Process Technology: Fewel, K. J.

Vapor distribution has often been neglected in fractionation columns. Although the importance of liquid distribution is well understood and has been a consideration in column design from the early sta..

Bolivia expands petrochemical capability with Bulo Bulo ammonia complex

Contributing Writer: Nogarin, M.

The Bulo Bulo ammonia-urea facility will be Bolivia’s first petrochemical venture. This new facility is expected to produce sufficient urea/ammonia supplies for domestic demand and will provide surplus product for export.

US petrochemical construction boom and refining margins cushion profits

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Blume, Adrienne

Domestic refiners and petrochemical producers will face changing supply and demand conditions, particularly as the sharp decrease in oil prices influences drilling decisions.

How Cr compounds discolor refractory brick walls of an ethylene cracking furnace

Saudi Basic Industries Corp.: Al-Meshari, A.
SABIC Technology Centre: Maity, M.  |  Al-Zahrani, E.

Unusual pink coloration was noticed on the entire refractory brick wall in the radiant section of an ethylene cracking furnace of a petrochemical plant. The problem was investigated by evaluating the ..

Update on the catalytic cracking process—Part 2

One of the prime challenges in the operation of a fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) is keeping the catalyst circulating. Compared to other challenges with FCC operations, correcting erratic catalys..