Environment & Safety
Consider new refinery compliance standards now being set through litigation actions
In addition to established environmental laws, the U.S. EPA uses enforcement settlements to devise more stringent performance for manufacturing facilities, especially refineries
HP Insight: Planning models for joint venture refineries function as a contract
In a joint venture (JV) refinery, the shareholders supply crudes of their choice and share the operating cost of processing those crudes into final products. In return, the shareholder..
HP Automation Safety: Are fire and gas systems SISs?
ISA 84.01 or IEC 61511 standards make no specific mention of "fire and gas (F&G)" systems. However, many are asking the question: Are F&G systems classified as safety systems? Why woul..
Hazard identification and management – an overview
Processing hydrocarbons is a risky business. Yet, HPI companies daily use systems that manage potentially hazardous chemicals with the utmost safety and produce high-value products
What is an SIF?
Edward M. Marsza, Contributing Editor One of the biggest problems in implementing safety instrumented systems (SISs) is poor definition of the safety instrumented function (SIF). More t..
Minimize flaring with flare gas recovery
To reduce facility-wide air emission, a refinery retrofitted the flare system and reuses waste gas as fuel gas
Is regulatory compliance a burden or an opportunity?
Using a proactive approach can reap significant benefits
HP Automation Safety: Periodic inspection and test – requirements and benefits
As companies gain experience implementing the ISA 84.01 and IEC 61511 standards, several have gotten toward the end of the safety life cycle with real projects. The final phase of the s..
The safe automation gap – Part 2
SIS design, operation and maintenance are critical tools to bridge this division
Cost-effective emissions reductions through leak detection, repair
Study discovers a potential for at least $205,000 in annual savings

- AFPM response to U.S. EPA actions on RFS small refinery waiver backlog 8/25
- Indonesia urges EU to remove biodiesel import curbs after WTO ruling 8/25
- Canada's Alberta eyes investment in Japan's refining to boost oil exports 8/25
- U.S. EPA approves biofuel waivers for small refiners, stirring concerns over demand 8/25
- Update: Russian oil supplies to Slovakia may resume as soon as today 8/25
- Liquid Sun launches eSAF production pilot with ABB, Finnair, Fortum and Finavia 8/25