Construction
Improve compressor reliability with advanced chemical treatments
Although many olefin plants are making big investments in hardware and metallurgy to improve compressor performance and to extend run lengths, the reliability, efficiency and throughput capacity of the CGC are still key influences on plant profitability.
Triple-offset valves offer advantages in emergency services
Liquid hydrocarbon storage facilities have used triple-offset valves (TOVs) in traditional tank farm applications for decades. Due to more stringent health, safety and environment (HSE) requirements, ..
Case history: Troubleshooting a leaking valve in a hydrogen unit
A Middle East refinery installed a hydrogen plant that was designed to produce 20,000 Nm3/hr of pure hydrogen (H2) to support a diesel hydrotreater. The unit was commissioned in 2006. This H2 plant wa..
Use information management tools to support best practices and increase reliability
The recently published ISO 55000 series of standards aims to promote best practices in asset management. Other goals of this standard include: achieving tangible benefits through the effective managem..
Case history: Modernization of Russia’s refining industry—Part 2
Russia’s refining industry is set to make major changes to improve profitability and produce cleaner transportation fuels. Such changes will enable the refining industry to export cleaner fuels t..
HP Project Management: What skills will project managers need in the next decade?—Part 2
The role of the PM is evolving as new HPI projects are constructed across the world and enlist engineers and service companies scattered in different countries and regions. As discussed in Part 1, new..
HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 80: Sudden temperature change in a centrifugal compressor
A process upset occurred that caused the gas temperature of a centrifugal compressor to increase from the design condition of Tstart = 300°F to Tinf = 600°F in t = 0.25 hours. Some engineers..
HP Boxscore Construction Analysis: The CIS—four countries, $50 billion in downstream investments
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are laying the foundation to attract foreign investment to develop their vast hydrocarbon reserves, as well as to develop their downstream processing infrastructure to meet rising demand and export opportunities.
HP News
Refining capacity in the US increases slightly At the beginning of 2014 in the US, there were 139 operating refineries and three idle refineries with total atmospheric crude oil distillation capacity ..
EU refining industry struggles to remain competitive in 2014
For European refiners, the economic situation remains clouded. The 2008 global recession sent this region into a financial downward spiral. Conditions are improving, but they still lag behind other de..

- AVTL to develop ammonia terminal in Pipavav, India 6/20
- Chevron seeks buyers for 50% stake in Singapore refinery 6/20
- Asian refiners seek more Mideast oil after spot premiums jump on Israel-Iran conflict 6/20
- Mexican authorities discover clandestine mini-refinery in crackdown of illegal hydrocarbon trade 6/20
- Italy's Eni eyes new unit to manage oil refineries 6/20
- Inatech's Techoil implemented by Flint Hills Resources for a modern, integrated future 6/20