Refining
Brazil’s Petrobras to launch voluntary layoff plan
The program will cost 4.4 billion reais and is open to all employees, according to a statement from Petrobras, which has been hard hit by low oil prices, refinery project problems and a massive price-fixing, bribery and political kickback scandal.
India’s refiners to help boost imports of Iranian oil to seven-year high
Indian refiners are looking to ramp up purchases after the sanctions targeting Tehran ended in January, industry sources familiar with the matter said.
Cheap gas slashes US coal-by-rail traffic, lowers demand for diesel
This is reducing the number of railcars moving across the tracks and the railroad companies' purchases of diesel, leaving diesel stocks at a seasonal record.
Visbreaking technology: Is it obsolete, or is there potential for upgrade?
Visbreaking technology is a well-known, simple thermal cracking process for residual oils.
In-depth and preemptive front-end planning yields positive project results
Despite the challenges that major projects can present (short deadlines, budget constraints and overruns, unforeseen problems onsite and tension throughout executive teams), they can also prove to be a win-win for both the owner and the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm.
Design a pressure safety valve at the centrifugal pump discharge
In most process plants, it is unusual to install a pressure safety valve (PSV) to centrifugal pump and compressor discharge, but some PSVs are needed and are installed to protect the system against miscellaneous scenarios that could create overpressure in the system.
Codes and Standards: How much fireproofing do we need?
This article is the first under the Codes and Standards series. The purpose of this series is to make readers aware of code requirements, the interpretations and the limitations as they stand today, and what engineers can do as an alternative engineering. This series is based on the actual implementation of what is narrated and the satisfactory experiences drawn.
Viewpoint: Pave the way to safer, more productive plants with the IIoT
The next generation of manufacturing will be driven by connectivity. It is happening today in modern plants: the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is enabling manufacturers to embed physical objects with the capacity to both communicate with and sense the world around them.
Industry Metrics
US product markets weakened despite strong domestic gasoline demand.
People
Marathon Petroleum Corp. has named Gary Heminger, the company's president and CEO, to succeed Thomas Usher as chairman of the board, in addition to his current duties.
- XRG to expand its global chemicals reach with takeover of Covestro 11/21
- U.S. FERC explores blanket authorizations for LNG projects 11/21
- thyssenkrupp Uhde selected by Dangote Fertilizer Ltd. to license four urea granulation units in Nigeria 11/21
- Indian and Chinese refineries are moving to comply with U.S. sanctions on Russia 11/21
- Dynamis Power Solutions awards Baker Hughes with significant order for gas turbine technology to support mobile power for oil and gas applications 11/21
- EIL signs MoU with Aramco Asia India Pvt. Ltd. for cooperation in various oil/gas activities 11/21
