Refining
HP Reliability: Reader feedback: How one manager views Pareto’s 80/20 rule
In March, Hydrocarbon Processing obtained feedback on its February “Reliability” column.
HP Automation Strategies: New modular control architectures offer potential to increase end-user value
With few exceptions, control architecture in the process industries has changed little over the past 40 years.
HP Automation Safety: Conducting audits to confirm safety standard compliance
The ISA 84 (IEC 61511) standard on safety instrumented systems (SISs) in the process industries states that assessments and audits are required to determine that functional safety has been achieved and maintained.
HP Global: First phase of Middle East refinery projects nearly complete
The first phase of new refining capacity in the Middle East has already come onstream, with more than 1.1 MMbpcd of incremental capacity in Saudi Arabia (at SATORP and YASREF refineries) and the UAE (..
HP Engineering Case Histories: Case 86: Causes of auger feeder screw failures
What is an auger feed screw? Feed screws are used to transport granules and other products by pushing or pulling the product along.
HP Viewpoint: Should there be an end to fermentation ethanol?
In 2005, the US Congress determined that fuels derived from renewable resources, such as biofuels, will play a major role in ensuring US energy independence.
HP Business Trends
To satisfy its growing refined fuel demand, Latin America has relied heavily on imports from the US. Major refinery projects have been announced to curb this reliance, but the drop in crude oil prices has limited capacity expansions.
HP Industry Metrics
The US product market continued to reflect a surge in domestic gasoline demand, allowing gasoline cracking spreads to hit levels not seen in more than two years.
HP People
Golnar Motahari Pour has been named to succeed Gerard de Reuver as president of DSM Dyneema.
New projects decline, but backlog holds strong
Even after the recent downturn in oil and natural gas pricing, our analysis shows why downstream E&C companies can depend on a strong backlog to last through the decade.

- Refinery closures may lead to higher gasoline prices on the U.S. West Coast 7/9
- INNIO Group, Gföllner Group establish JV, offering power solutions to the U.S. market 7/9
- Using lightning to make ammonia out of thin air 7/9
- bp sells 300 Dutch petrol stations to Catom 7/9
- U.S. crude stockpiles increase, gasoline falls on July 4 driving demand 7/9
- Nigeria's Dangote refinery plans 1.6-MMbbl fuel storage tanks in Namibia 7/9