Environment & Safety
HP Viewpoint: Should there be an end to fermentation ethanol?
In 2005, the US Congress determined that fuels derived from renewable resources, such as biofuels, will play a major role in ensuring US energy independence.
HP Innovations
New valve offers zero leakagePentair Valves and Controls has expanded its Vanessa triple offset valves (TOVs) product line with the launch of the Series 30-RS.
CNPC shuts Niger refinery after mechanical failure
"The refinery has broken down. That's all I can say," Soraz spokesman Magagi Dada told private TV station RTT. The refinery was built as a joint venture between CNPC and the Niger government.
PBF to shut Delaware refinery FCC following fire
The primary wet gas compressor associated with the FCC at Delaware City and its backup were damaged in the fire last Friday, and officials spent the weekend trying to assess the extent.
Fire at Shell’s Singapore refining plant injures six
A fire broke out on Friday evening at Shell's Pulau Bukom refining and petrochemical complex in Singapore, leading to burn injuries for six contract workers. Three are in critical condition.
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?

- thyssenkrupp Uhde completes pre-FEED for HAMR Energy’s renewable fuels project in Australia 8/21
- Europe distillates-diesel profit margins firm 8/21
- U.S.: Indiana's bp refinery restarts after severe flooding 8/21
- Berlin weighs trusteeship extension for Rosneft's German assets 8/21
- Trump administration to rule on biofuel exemption requests, delay reallocation decision 8/21
- TotalEnergies' Donges refinery fire extinguished 8/21