Safety
Engineering Case Histories: Case 95—How to avoid becoming overwhelmed in a failure situation
When you are involved with a major failure and find yourself staring at pieces of debris scattered all over the area, it can be easy to become overwhelmed.
Editorial Comment: Corrosion prevention starts at fabrication
Preventing corrosion begins with the choice of materials and methods used to fabricate the equipment, piping, valves and instruments that will be exposed to varying process conditions and weather. At present, designers and fabricators can select from a multitude of modern materials and methods. Once in service, effective asset integrity programs will use smart condition monitoring and, where needed, a treatment regime to sustain the useful working life of all components. In the Special Focus section of this issue, we provide several articles that illustrate good practices in vessel fabrication, corrosivity analysis and corrosion prevention treatment.
Reliability: The risks of deferred compressor maintenance
At a recent conference attended by failure investigation professionals in San Antonio, Texas, a participant spoke about an explosion and fire event on a multistage horizontally opposed compressor in oxygen (O2) service. He had scant data, but he knew the machine did not have cylinder lubrication.
Never waste a shutdown to improve process safety and uptime
Process safety cannot be ensured solely by design, as it relies on the effective operability of safety and control components. Effective operability is influenced by factors that include the condition of components and operational practices.
Power outage halts output at Mexico's Tula crude refinery
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -- Mexico's second-biggest oil refinery was hit by a power outage that halted production, state oil company Pemex said on Saturday.
ADNOC shuts half capacity at Ruwais refinery after fire
SINGAPORE/DUBAI (Reuters) -- Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has shut half the capacity at its 800,000 barrels-per-day Ruwais refinery after a fire there last week, three industry sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.
Accident kills worker at Pemex refinery, output not affected
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -- An accident at the Ciudad Madero refinery of Mexican state-owned oil firm Pemex killed one worker on Thursday, but the incident will not affect production, a company spokesperson said.
Improve plant work processes with enhanced alarm response programs
One of the unfortunate realities of automation in process industries is the stubborn inability to improve on the weakest link of the chain: human beings.
Innovations
Lubricants play a key role in equipment performance and reliability. ExxonMobil has redesigned used lubricant analysis service to be quicker, easier and more useful.
Viewpoint: Leadership commitment for safety and sustainability
Management commitment is an essential ingredient for building a healthy organizational safety culture. To achieve this objective, management must provide adequate resources, along with unstinted support and direction.
- Borouge to supply advanced polyolefin solutions for next-generation vehicles 11/18
- Exxon to close Scottish chemicals plant in 2026 amid market uncertainty 11/18
- BGN announces strategic MoU with XCF Global to produce and supply SAF 11/17
- KazMunayGas and Uzbekneftegaz partner to build 50,000-tpy linear alkylbenzene plant 11/17
- Chevron joins race to explore potential purchase of Lukoil assets, including refineries 11/17
- Abra Group and Sumitomo sign MoU to advance affordable SAF in Brazil 11/17
