Information Systems
HP Automation Strategies: A new era emerging for incident prediction and avoidance solutions
“Inevitably, what you don’t know will ruin your day.” This often-voiced piece of wisdom is particularly true in the hydrocarbon processing industries, where operations staffs are being ..
HP Project Management: Better strategies avoid project delays—Part 1
Even when using 3D CAD, advanced project management systems and fast-track concepts, projects now take longer than they did two decades ago. Schedule overruns occur as frequently, despite the applicat..
Achieve excellence and sustainability in your next turnaround
To consistently achieve pacesetter results on plant shutdowns and turnarounds, it is imperative that companies have a systematic turnaround management process (TMP).
Continuous corrosion monitoring enhances operational decisions
Operators with permanently-installed continuous corrosion monitoring systems have better understanding of the corrosion and erosion rates occurring within their facility.
HP Automation Strategies: Intelligent pumps offer potential for significant energy savings
Increasing energy costs over the last few decades have put more pressure on companies across all industries to find more efficient ways to utilize energy. Reducing energy consumption reduces both inpu..
HP Project Management: Use key elements for successful mega-plant startups
As new projects are more complex and larger in capacity, the successful startup of the mega-plant is crucial. Unfortunately, mega-projects are vulnerable to significant overruns in schedules and budge..
HP Automation Safety: What are safety engineering ethics?
In many professional engineer (PE) programs, continuing education is required. In some US states, this education includes specific requirements for engineering ethics training. The author recently att..
HP Innovations
Bitumen blowing unit converts residues to asphaltPoerner Ingenieurgesellschaft’s Biturox oxidation process (Fig. 1) converts suitable feedstock blends to road and industrial asphalt/bitumen. Feed..
HP Industry Metrics
According to the US Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy Outlook February 2014, forecast global petroleum and other liquids supply will increase by 1.7 million bpd (MMbpd) in 201..
Inspect steam reformers and catalyst tubes with infrared thermography
Infrared thermography is a useful inspection tool to help locate problems in steam reformers while the units are online and fired. There are three main areas in a reformer that can be efficiently insp..
- 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
- UPM Biochemicals receives triple sustainability certification for the Leuna biorefinery 6/17
- Repsol's petrochemical complex shut down after power supply failure 6/17
