Environment & Safety
Compressor malfunction sparks brief fire at PBF’s Delaware City refinery
A compressor malfunction resulted in flaring and a small fire, leading to the unplanned shutdown of the FCC unit. PBF is continuing to operate its unaffected units at reduced rates.
Consider Zone 0 vertical pumps for slop pits
Over the past several decades, a leading overseas HPI corporation experienced a disturbing number of explosions in its belowground hydrocarbon sump pits.
Wetted surface area calculations for fire-relief sizing in ASME pressure vessels
Although individual operating facilities take many steps to protect plants from fire, pressure vessels within a fire zone must be protected by a pressure safety valve (PSV). Proper calculation of the vessel’s wetted surface area is a crucial step in properly sizing a PSV.
HP Reliability: Ten sure steps to substandard reliability performance
Equipment reliability can be enhanced or jeopardized by many different actions, inactions, commissions and omissions. Reliability may be a hollow term to many. Still, first and foremost, a reliable plant is a safe plant.
HP Viewpoint: Must devices be certified for use in safety instrumented systems?
For decades, process industries have used different forms of safety control based on what was available in the market. The simple answer to the question of whether SIS devices need to be certified is, "No," but operators and the industry as a whole continue to ask for certification anyway. Why is this?
Praxair to recover CO2 at PBF refinery in Delaware
Praxair will build, own and operate a 450-tpd carbon dioxide purification and liquefaction plant at the refinery, run by PBF Energy in Delaware City, Delaware.
European refiner revamps delayed coker to meet Euro 5 specifications
This case study chronicles how the European refiner Rompetrol Rafinare SA upgraded its Petromidia refinery in Navodari, Romania, includingthe revamping the delayed coker unit (DCU) to address existing operating problems.
China’s ‘energy revolution’ strives for sustainable growth
China's energy demand, particularly for petroleum and other liquids, is rapidly increasing as its industrial and transportation infrastructures expand.
A data-driven, experience-based approach to workforce optimization
There are alternatives for implementing successful and sustainable staffing changes. Staffing changes for the purpose of improving profitability should be viewed as an optimization process rather than a reduction process.
Automate environmental monitoring at petrochemical plants with LIMS
Environmental regulations can add to the cost of doing business in the petrochemical industry, so making compliance more efficient and less expensive is a bottom-line priority.

- 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