Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Refining

Indian refiners turn to use dirty fuel to produce power, gas

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) — Indian oil refiners are drawing up plans to use petroleum coke for power generation and to produce syngas after the government banned use of the heavily polluting fuel in and around New Delhi.

SABIC to open office in Iraq as relations improve

DUBAI (Reuters) — Petrochemical giant Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) plans to open an office in Iraq soon, Saudi Arabia's energy minister said during a visit to Iraq's southern oil city of Basra, as relations between Riyadh and Baghdad thaw.

Shell Midstream Partners to acquire additional assets from Shell

HOUSTON — Shell Midstream Partners, L.P. entered into a purchase and sale agreement to acquire from wholly owned subsidiaries of Shell a 100% interest in five products terminals and partial interest in two Gulf of Mexico corridor pipelines and in two strategic onshore pipelines for $825 MM.

Indian oil refiners issue tanker tenders aimed at boosting domestic shipping

NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE (Reuters) — Two of India's state-owned oil refiners have issued tenders seeking to charter tankers for at least five years while giving preference to Indian companies, tender documents reviewed by Reuters showed, which would boost domestic shipping firms battered by slumping tanker rates.

Refining: What is blending?

Refinery Automation Institute, LLC: Curcio, E.

Not a day passes without publications, the blogosphere and pundits wringing their hands over the concept of fuel blending. In today’s low-priced crude oil market, the fuel blending business gives blenders a competitive edge that grows every day, attracting new customers and potential new producers intrigued by the possibility of making “easy” money.

Dark oil: Loophole lets Russian refiners dodge duties

(Reuters) — Two Russian refiners are avoiding export duty on fuel oil and vacuum gas oil by renaming them as an oil product that is exempt from the charge, according to a Reuters analysis of customs and refining data, and four industry sources.

Innovations

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Andrew, Bob

In the demanding environment of a Claus reaction furnace, flame detection sensors must distinguish whether a flame is still burning against a hot refractory lining background.

Global Project Data

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

<i>Hydrocarbon Processing</i>’s Construction Boxscore Database is tracking more than 1,700 active downstream projects around the world.

Industry Perspectives: New downstream project announcements drop 14% in 2017

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

According to Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database, more than 770 new projects have been announced over the past 3 yr.

Africa: The rise in Africa’s oil storage infrastructure investments

Contributing Editor: Oirere, S.

The drop in crude oil prices, a growing transportation sector and an underperforming crude processing industry have created a strong demand for additional storage facilities in Africa, which is the preferred method of meeting fuel consumption requirements.