Maintenance & Reliability
Automation Strategies: Drive maximum asset capability with operational technologies
Owner-operators across the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) strive to gain maximum business value from their process plant assets. Here, automation assets and other operational technology (OT) typically play a major role.
Reliability: Troubleshoot hot bearings in hot pumps
The reliability engineering unit supervisor (REUS) working at a 400-Mbpd refinery wrote that he was greatly concerned about a bearing temperature excursion. He realized that certain rules of thumb had been handed down to his maintenance employees, and that not all of these conveyed the same numbers and guidance.
Buyer beware: Are diamond-coated seal faces the solution to dry running?
A scientific study was undertaken to evaluate the performance, under dry running conditions, of two types of diamond coatings applied to silicon carbide faces of mechanical seals.
Innovations
Power generation and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) specialty rental company, Aggreko Plc., and sulfuric acid alkylation technology licensor, DuPont, have collaborated to provide Aggreko temperature control, including chiller systems, to STRATCO sulfuric acid alkylation customers.
Aramco JV to shut ethane cracker for 21 days
Saudi Arabia's Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co. will shut its ethane cracker for 21 days effective from November 14 for maintenance.
Hellenic Petroleum plans Elefsina refinery turnaround in 2Q of 2017
Hellenic Petroleum plans maintenance work at its 100 Mbpd Elefsina refinery in 2Q next year.
ExxonMobil launches Mobil Serv Lubricant Analysis in Middle East oil and gas sector
ExxonMobil has launched Mobil Serv Lubricant Analysis, a next generation used oil analysis service, which replaces ExxonMobil’s Signum Oil Analysis.
China firm seeks state financing for $5.5-B Caribbean oil project
Commodity trader Guangdong Zhenrong Energy Co. is in talks to secure funding for a $5.5-B plan to upgrade a Caribbean oil refinery and build a natural gas terminal, giving China a foothold in a strategic oil hub.
Shell Deer Park, Texas gasoline unit to restart
Royal Dutch Shell’s 285 Mbpd JV Deer Park, Texas, refinery plans to restart the gasoline unit after repairing thin piping found last week at the end of a planned overhaul.
Refining: High-impact challenges in today’s global refining market
To stay competitive and thrive in today’s uncertain and volatile energy market that is characterized by major shifts in supply and demand dynamics, refiners must find ways to increase operational efficiencies, maximize productivity and produce refined products at lower costs.
- 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
