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Environment & Safety

Petrobras halts output at Getulio Vargas refinery

Brazil's state-controlled oil company Petróleo Brasileiro SA said that output at its Getulio Vargas refinery had been halted, because of storm damage to a cracking unit.

Four injured in fire at Iran petrochemical plant

A fire broke out at Iran's Mobin Petrochemical refinery complex in the southern port of Assaluyeh, leaving four people injured.

Petrobras refinery mishaps hurt Brazil fuel output

Serial failures at a Petrobras refinery have hobbled about 10% of Brazil's crude-processing capacity, raising safety and efficiency concerns at the financially troubled state-led oil company.

Viewpoint: The politicalization of the SEC—A dangerous precedent

American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM): Thompson, C.

The benefits of fossil fuels are undeniable.

Engineering Case Histories: Case 92: The danger of pneumatic testing complacency

Consulting Engineer: Sofronas, A.

With proper safety, planning and implementation, pneumatic testing of piping and vessels has been performed successfully for many years.

Prospective costs of the EPA’s proposed RMP chemical accident prevention requirements

Vinson & Elkins LLP: Wilkinson, G.  |  Pullins, T.  |  Snow, C.

On March 14, 2016, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published proposed revisions to its Risk Management Plan (RMP) facility safety program in the US Federal Register.

Review of the CSB report on the 2010 Tesoro refinery fire

PetroTech Consultants: McGovern, S. J.

On April 2, 2010, a catastrophic fire occurred within the naphtha hydrotreating unit in the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, Washington. The final CSB report, including recommendations, was issued in May 2014, more than four years after the incident that resulted in the tragic loss of seven lives. This work critically reviews the CSB analysis of this incident and several of its resulting recommendations.

Design operations-and-maintenance-friendly pressure vessels—Part 2

The Augustus Group: Murti, D. G.

In Part 1 of this article, the assistance provided by standardizations to gain improved vessel performance—vessel outer diameter (OD), component metallurgies, manways and saddles—was discussed.

Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Andrew, Bob

Petron Bataan Refinery (PBR) is the largest integrated crude oil refinery and petrochemicals complex in the Philippines.

Canada regulator suspends TransCanada pipeline approval hearing

Canada's National Energy Board suspended Montreal hearings on TransCanada Corp.'s proposed Energy East pipeline after protests disrupted the first day of the process.