Equipment
Engineering Case Histories: Case 112: Remote failure analysis consulting
An article on “Remote training of personnel”1 is interesting and appropriate at this time of COVID-19. It outlines the difficulties in presenting remote training courses and suggests methods that can help.
Improved measurement of water content in natural gas
Consumers likely imagine natural gas as a stream of pure methane. Those who are closer to the energy industry know that methane is the major component, but there can easily be dozens of other substances making up a sizeable portion of the total volume.
Reliability: Pushing the limit can have unexpected consequences
A prominent manufacturer rediscovered the old axiom, “pushing the limit can have unexpected consequences,” after experiencing many bearing failures in its 40-hp air blowers. These lifetime-lubricated (sealed) bearings had been properly installed on 20-mm shafts, and it can be assumed that premium greases were being used.
Editorial Comment: Maintenance and reliability—A cornerstone of safe and efficient plant operation
Refineries and petrochemical plants are comprised of a series of crucial processes to produce transportation fuels, products and chemicals demanded by the global market. These processes consist of capital-intensive units that must be maintained to provide reliable performance. Failure to adequately maintain these assets can have a detrimental effect to not only operations and profit, but also to worker safety.
Cleaning distillation column and heat exchangers through cutter stock circulation
The Tüpraş İzmit refinery’s largest crude distillation unit (CDU) is designed with a preflash column prior to the atmospheric distillation column.
An investigation into pressure vessel fatigue cracking caused by a tack weld
Pressure vessels and piping constitute the maximum percentage of static equipment in any oil and gas facility.
Executive Viewpoint: Technology to drive decarbonization of the oil and gas industry
<i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i> (HP) was pleased to speak with Thorbjoern Fors (TF), EVP of Industrial Applications, Siemens Energy, to discuss the decarbonization of the oil and gas industry and the technologies that are helping companies meet their sustainability goals.
Reliability: Taking ownership of problems
Taking ownership of issues during a critical or troubling time is just as important as assuming responsibility during times of opportunity and benefit.
Alarm management: A pillar of process safety management
The following describes how an adequate implementation of alarm management is a fundamental part in process safety management (PSM).
TOTAL refineries improve overhead systems corrosion and salting with amine-neutralizing technology
Weak organic amines are commonly used in crude unit overhead systems to prevent acidic corrosion from chlorides and other acidic contaminants via a neutralization reaction.
- Carbon capture tops agenda at GPAE Conference 2025 6/17
- INEOS to cease phenol production at German site, cites high European energy costs and CO2 tax policy 6/17
- Petrobras signs $892 MM in contracts to complete RNEST Train 2 refinery expansion 6/17
- China's May refinery throughput at 9-month low on plant overhauls (1) 6/17
- bp completes turnaround work at 250,000-bpd refinery in Washington (U.S.) 6/17
- Japan's Eneos restarts 77,000-bpd Kawasaki CDU after unplanned shutdown 6/17
