Environment & Safety
Climate laws could mean higher refining costs
Curbing increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions remains a key requirement, and challenge, for global oil refiners and gas producers.
Arson blamed for 2013 Texas fertilizer plant blast
A call for tighter and more thorough regulations was issued following the deadly blast and ensuing fires.
Worker killed in accident at Komsomolsk refinery of Russia’s Rosneft
The worker was from a contractor firm working on the site, Rosneft said in a statement. The accident occurred during tests at a pipeline which was undergoing maintenance works.
ExxonMobil reports death of contractor in work at Beaumont refinery
The AltairStrickland worker was struck in the head and neck area by piping that was being removed from a heat exchanger, a local sheriff's office spokesperson said.
Saudi Aramco extends bid date for Ras Tanura clean fuels project
The Ras Tanura clean fuels project, which includes a naphtha hydrotreater, was to be part of a second phase of upgrades and was originally due to go on stream in 2016.
Failure prevention—The ultimate asset management strategy
The primary cause for losses and lost opportunities at refineries, chemical complexes, pipeline networks and gas processing facilities is equipment failures.
Lifting of US crude export ban will impact process safety management
Since the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s, the US government has restricted the export of crude oil to curb dependence on crude oil imports.
Engineering Case Histories: Case 90: Precautions when working near equipment
Most machines and pressure vessels are designed with safety in mind, but they can release large amounts of energy if not constructed, maintained or operated correctly.
Innovations
Planned shutdowns, turnarounds and outages (STOs) are often scheduled for preventive maintenance and new equipment installation that must be performed to keep a plant running and in regulatory compliance.
GE to provide wastewater treatment for Chinese coal-to-chemical plant
GE’s ZLD evaporator and crystallizer system will eliminate liquid discharge of waste and enable water reuse at the Shaanxi Future Energy Chemical Co. coal-to-chemical plant in China.
- Iran's Revolutionary Guards say they targeted petrochemical facilities in the Gulf 4/6
- Damietta Green Ammonia completes pre-FEED for $873-MM, 150,000-tpy green ammonia facility 4/6
- EIB and Eni sign €500-MM in financing for new biorefinery in Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi 4/6
- India's Reliance buys Venezuelan oil directly from PDVSA 4/6
- Japan to boost intermediate chemical imports amid tighter naphtha supply 4/6
- Five EU countries call for windfall tax on energy companies 4/6

