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Oct-2020
Responses to a question in the Q3 2020 issue of PTQ
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Delayed coker revamp for a capacity increase
Mar-2021
Revamping to a three-drum coker arrangement delivered improved product yields, higher throughput, and greater feedstock flexibility.
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Feb-2021
Responses to a question in the Q1 2021 issues Q&A Feature
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Automated level measurement cuts desalter upsets (TIA)
Aug-2020
The path from crude oil to high quality, usable products involves complex technical production and processing procedures in refineries, whereby several ...
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An introduction to fouling in fired heaters: part 1
Apr-2022
Fouling is the accumulation and formation of unwanted materials on the surfaces of processing equipment.
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Multi-phase project enables switch to heavier crude (TIA)
Aug-2021
In recent years, deasphalted oil (DAO) hydrocracking has emerged as a highly attractive investment option, principally because it provides the opportunity ...
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An introduction to fouling in fired heaters — Part 2: exterior fouling
Apr-2022
An important fouling mechanism on the fireside is corrosion fouling, especially for oil fired equipment.
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Evaluating purchased feedstocks for hydrocrackers and hydrotreaters
Sep-2023
Over the years in my career, I came to respect traders who could locate, negotiate, and purchase cheap feedstocks. The good traders seemed like sharks ...
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HDXRF vs ICP for nickel and vanadium in crude oil
Sep-2020
Technology introduced over the last decade, such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, has led to new sources of light tight oil (LTO). LTO ...
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K Model: The future of blending (RI 2023)
Nov-2023
In a refinery operation, the profitability margin is increased when heavy crude fractions are blended with light crude without affecting processabilit ...
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Light tight oil crude comparison
Mar-2015
The production method for Eagle Ford and Bakken is via fracturing of the tight or shale formations in two different North America regions. Crude from the ...
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Dealing with depleting sour gas reserves Part 2
Oct-2015
Gas plants in western Canada will have to evaluate their sulphur recovery units for future turndown operation as sour gas production falls.
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Simulation of the Benfield HiPure process of natural gas sweetening for LNG production
Apr-2013
Achieving specifications given by customers, including pipeline-operating companies, LNG storage facilities, and gas-processing plants requires the removal ...
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Processing heavy 
ends: part I
Jul-2008
The synergy of solvent deasphalting and FCC can provide economic access to heavy ends. Pilot plant data on bottom-of-the-barrel processing options are ...
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Hydrogen - the key refinery enabler
Aug-2012
In the 21st century, the term “scraping the bottom of the barrel” has become quite literal to the refining industry and hydrogen comes to the fore ...
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Development of a naphthenic acid corrosion model
Jul-2019
A model has been developed to predict and help prevent corrosion when processing high TAN crudes.
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FCC catalysts for resid processing
Apr-2009
The diversifying feedstock scenario for FCCU operations has resulted in significant growth in the resid feed sector
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Nektor-ULCC case study at 
Total Antwerp
Apr-2010
Successful application of the Nektor-ULCC FCC catalyst in the Total Antwerp FCC 1 unit
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Partial upgrading of heavy oil reserves
Oct-2010
Partial upgrading using solvent deasphalting addresses multiple issues associated with the recovery of stranded heavy oils
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K Model: The future of blending (RI 2023)
Nov-2023
In a refinery operation, the profitability margin is increased when heavy crude fractions are blended with light crude without affecting processabilit ...
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Oct-2005
Process modelling and equipment know-how are needed to design deep-cut vacuum units that operate reliably at high temperature and low pressure
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An atmospheric crude tower revamp
Jul-2005
Overall gas oil yield was maintained with heavier crudes due to a crude tower revamp. The revamp allowed for a crude heater outlet temperature reducti ...
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Apr-2005
The detrimental effect of nickel and vanadium in forming contaminant coke and hydrogen can be reduced via appropriate passivation technology
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Managing vanadium from high metals crude oils
Sep-2003
Improvements in process and equipment design with regard to crude unit and delayed coker distillation column performance can reduce metals content
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Mitigating corrosion from naphthenic acid streams
Jan-2003
The authors describe how crude and side-cut analysis, laboratory and field data lead to strategies for managing high severity operating conditions needed ...
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Advances in residue upgrading technology
Apr-2002
A combination of mature technology and innovative catalyst design and process improvements provide the flexibility to upgrade heavier feeds
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Improved conceptual process design avoids revamp scope growth
Mar-2002
For grassroots design, defining project scope is a straightforward exercise. Grassroots projects can follow optimum execution procedures for engineering ...
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Risks of accumulated sulphur in sulphur recovery unit
Aug-1998
Follow-up data to an October 1997 article proves with refinery experience that caustic neutralisation does not improve system operations
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Troubleshooting vacuum unit revamps
Jul-1998
While vacuum unit revamps increase gasoil yield, management is pushing the intervals between turnarounds to four or five years
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Analysis method for determining bound and free alkanolamines in HSS contaminated solutions
Jul-1990
A conductometric titration method has been developed to determine the true available alkanolamine in solutions used for H2S and CO2 removal from refinery ...