Information Systems
HP Reliability: Expect adversity, but plan for success
Consider that a major oil refinery was planning a substantial modernization project in 2008. Energy efficiency gains and the ability to process a more readily available crude slate were key motivating..
HP Integration Strategies: Virtualization goes mainstream
Virtualization, a computing approach that decouples hardware and software, is rapidly gaining traction in the traditionally conservative automation and control industry. With its roots in the informat..
HP Impact: US targets Iran’s petrochemical industry
The US Treasury Department, acting in concert with the US Department of State, recently took action to target Iran’s petrochemical industry (Fig. 2). As Iran’s oil revenues continue to fall ..
Can process automation increase energy efficiency?
Energy efficiency doesn’t imply producing less to reduce energy consumptions, but rather improving plant productivity and effectiveness, allowing plants to produce the same amount of product with fewer resources.
HP Automation Safety: Maintenance capability: Does it matter in the long term?
I remember working in a test department, where a particular technician, known as Mike, seemed to destroy a significant percentage of the equipment he worked on. Since he reported to me, I tried extra ..
HP Innovations
Corrosion coating adds to petrochemical safetyPetrochemical plants are expected to remain safely and efficiently operational for decades, with little downtime and unplanned maintenance. To protect equ..
Seal safety may require going beyond typical standards
Top industry professionals believe users must reach beyond typical standards in applying safer mechanical seals when hazardous and toxic chemicals are involved.
Consider both actual and virtual spare parts inventory
Globally, hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) facilities operate hundreds of thousands of fluid machinery assets. The various service-specific internal components of these assets are supported by ma..
HP Reliability: Manage your time constructively
We often view ourselves as very efficient reliability implementers. Yet, as professional engineers, we take action to save time, accomplish more and reduce stress by applying better time-management sk..
HP Integration Strategies: Asset information management improves life cycle benefits for equipment
Traditionally, the various production management and asset management systems in the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) and other heavy industries resided in silos with separate management, archite..

- 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