Loss Prevention
Good distributor design for high-velocity feed debottlenecks a crude preflash tower
Bazan Group’s crude unit No. 3—not designed by any of the authors’ companies—was bottlenecked by the preflash tower.
Vapor velocity guidelines for horizontal flare knockout drums
Flare knockout (KO) drums are important components of effluent handling systems.
Restaging/rerating of centrifugal compressors: Fundamentals, practices and challenges
The primary requirement for rerating or revamping an existing centrifugal compressor is to match the new operating requirements, such as increased or decreased flow, increased or decreased head, or a combination of both. Rerating or revamping is necessary where the existing compressor or compressor train is incapable of meeting the new operating requirement efficiently.
Quantum leap in chemical plant safety and reliability through mobile technology
The human factor has played a significant role in chemical plant accidents and production loss incidents over the past 60 yr.
Ensuring safety in dynamic chemical manufacturing environments
As with all industries, chemical manufacturing is evolving in response to technical innovations, new customer requirements and increased global competition.
Executive Viewpoint: It was the best of times
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…”. Fortunately, this opening line from A Tale of Two Cities does not often present itself as an appropriate analogy to the oil and gas industry. Yet, here we are.
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.
Business Trends: The economics of reliability—An interim report on the global refining industry
What is reliability? Most people think reliability is simply a measure of failure, or lack of failure. If something runs for a longer period without failing, then it is more reliable than something that runs for less time. However, reliability is a measure of how often something performs when you want it to.
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.
- Verso Energy awards FEED contract to Rely for the DEZiR eSAF project 11/17
- Asian gasoline margin spikes to highest since August 2023 11/14
- Lukoil-Moldova grants free use of airport fuel terminal to government amid U.S. sanctions 11/14
- Croatia rejects Russian vacuum gasoil cargo after U.S. sanctions 11/14
- Bulgaria wins UK sanctions reprieve on refinery, petrol stations 11/14
- China's Sinochem shuts one crude unit at Quanzhou after fire 11/14
