Middle East
BASF joins collaboration to develop bio-acrylic acid
BASF, Cargill and Novozymes recently signed an agreement to develop bio-based technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable feedstocks. The annual global market volume of acrylic acid is around 4.5 million tons, with a value of $11 billion at the end of 2011.
Saudi Aramco computer network attacked by virus, operations unaffected
The disruption is suspected to be the result of a virus that had infected personal workstations without affecting the primary servers and components of Saudi Aramco's network, the company said on Thursday. Saudi Aramco produced an average of 9.1 million bpd of oil last year.
Materia extends global catalysts distribution pact with Sigma-Aldrich
Materia’s olefin metathesis catalyst technology enables chemical compounds to be synthesized with greater efficiency, under less stringent reaction conditions, and with reduced byproducts and hazardous waste, according to the company. Financial details were not disclosed.
Invista acquires Europe, Mideast licensing rights to PTA, PET technologies
In 2000, the ownership of intellectual property and licensing rights for the region transferred to a regional joint venture company established by INVISTA’s and La Seda’s predecessors. Until Wednesday, licensing had required collaboration between the two companies.
Fire forces Kuwait's Equate to close ethylene glycol unit for six weeks
Equate, a joint venture mainly owned by Kuwait's state-run Petrochemical Industries Co. and US-based Dow Chemical, said in a statement that the fire-affected unit has a total capacity of 550,000 tpy. “Production operations of other units are unaffected and ongoing,” the statement said.
Modernize your compressor lube- and seal-oil systems
Each pipe or control line should be traced to its origin, the design intent must be well understood, and all owner-purchaser questions answered by the vendor-manufacturer.
Utility piping: Why over-engineering is inefficient
Grooved mechanical piping can offer improved constructability, speedy expansion, retrofit and turnaround, and also reduce safety risks. It is a quality pipe-joining method.
Consider new developments for variable-speed electric motors
New challenges, recent developments, the latest mechanical issues and main reliability factors for large variable-speed electric motor drivers in HPI plants are presented here.
Improve performance monitoring of your turbomachinery
This case study documents the performance variables to consider and apply when monitoring and tracking the efficiency deterioration for a steam turbine using DSs in a PI process book.
Case history: Improve refrigeration compressor performance
This case examines the mechanical distress and performance deterioration of a critical refrigeration compressor that was installed at a world-scale petrochemicals complex.
- AVTL to develop ammonia terminal in Pipavav, India 6/20
- Chevron seeks buyers for 50% stake in Singapore refinery 6/20
- Asian refiners seek more Mideast oil after spot premiums jump on Israel-Iran conflict 6/20
- Mexican authorities discover clandestine mini-refinery in crackdown of illegal hydrocarbon trade 6/20
- Italy's Eni eyes new unit to manage oil refineries 6/20
- Inatech's Techoil implemented by Flint Hills Resources for a modern, integrated future 6/20
