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Improved stripper efficiency raises upgrader production
Jun-2016
Revamping a heavy oil upgrader’s steam stripping tower increased tray efficiency and achieved record throughput.
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Wastewater treatment for challenging crudes
Jan-2018
A new organic polymer treatment has enabled refiners to more effectively process a variety of opportunity crudes
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Maximise yields of high-quality diesel
Jun-2012
Global growth in distillate demand has driven refiners to investigate ways to increase middle distillate yields. Figure 1 shows the diesel-gasoline spot ...
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Problems in processing discounted crudes Part 2: crude and vacuum columns
May-2019
Project costs must be considered to fully understand whether or not an opportunity crude really does deliver on savings.
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Higher margin from the bottom of the barrel
Jul-2017
Treating slurry oil in an electrostatic precipitator helps refiners increase production and profits and reduce environmental impact when processing heavier ...
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Estimating bitumen viscosity for revamps
Oct-2014
Accurate viscosity data for dilbit and its heavy residues define the scope of revamps required to process the feed in crude and vacuum units
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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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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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Dealing with depleting sour gas reserves: Part 1
Jul-2015
Depletion of sour gas production in western Canada means that gas plants will have to evaluate their sulphur recovery units for future turndown operat ...
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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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Enhanced bottoms cracking and process flexibility with Midas FCC catalyst
Jan-2013
This premium bottoms cracking FCC catalyst family is formulated with advanced zeolite stabilisation technology plus matrix metals passivation technology, ...
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New crude oil basket for hydrogen 
savings
Jan-2012
The processing requirements of opportunity crudes are considered for the operations of the Indian refineries
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Oil-to-chemicals: new approaches
Jul-2020
A review of developments and trends in the expanding business of oil-to-chemicals.
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Building robust hydroprocessing operations
Jun-2017
Advances in catalyst technology enable refiners to maximise profitability by processing opportunity crudes and running heavier feeds.
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Maximise distillate yield to meet growing market demand
Jun-2012
Despite a mild winter thus far, industry analysts forecast ULSD demand growth in the second half of 2012. This is in part due to global demand growth for ...
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Crude fingerprinting and predictive analytics
Jul-2017
Predictive modelling technology has been developed to predict the behavioural characteristics of crude oils and their blends
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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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Processing heavy 
ends: part II
Oct-2008
Improvements in the SDA technology incorporated into ROSE units, together with expanding options for asphaltene product utilisation, have led to an increased ...
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Heavy feed characterisation: a molecular approach
Jun-2018
Characterising heavy feeds on a molecular basis, together with kinetic studies, accurately predicts the reactivity of a wide range of vacuum residues.
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Additives for real-time FCC catalyst optimisation
Jul-2009
The ability to optimise the circulating inventory composition remains an elusive independent variable. A solution to this often overlooked variable is ...
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Enhancing bottoms cracking and 
process flexibility
Oct-2014
Catalyst designed with advanced zeolite stabilisation technology provides selective conversion of heavy FCC feed molecules
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Addressing the sour gas challenge
Dec-2019
Recent developments in corrosion resistant alloys help operators to overcome the challenges of hydrogen sulphide induced cracking in pipelines and key ...
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Oil sands-derived feed processing
Jul-2013
Processing crudes derived from oil sands requires a good understanding of the facility, and of the sources and processing requirements of the available ...
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Tar sands oil upgrading technology
Apr-2008
Technology for processing heavy crudes and bitumen-derived materials such as synthetic crude oil are examined, along with the challenges they present to ...
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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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Heavy feed characterisation: a molecular approach
Jun-2018
Characterising heavy feeds on a molecular basis, together with kinetic studies, accurately predicts the reactivity of a wide range of vacuum residues.
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Tar sands oil upgrading technology
Apr-2008
Technology for processing heavy crudes and bitumen-derived materials such as synthetic crude oil are examined, along with the challenges they present to ...
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Impact of bitumen feeds 
on the FCCU: part II
Oct-2008
Refinery configuration optimisation through LP modelling identifies attractive investments for processing Western Canadian Select. These investments involve ...
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Zero and low rare earth FCC catalysts
Oct-2011
Blends of rare earth-free and rare earth-based catalysts for resid feed FCC applications have maintained and even improved performance
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Canadian crude processing challenges
Jan-2008
Vacuum unit design influences liquid volume yields, run length, product 
yield and product quality when processing bitumen crude oils
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High-quality products from heavy sour crudes
Jul-2012
Application of current and emerging technologies will determine the potential of poor-quality crudes as sources of high-quality products
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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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Crude oil selection: optimisation by weight or by volume?
Apr-2010
The LP model should optimise crude and products in their trading units for accurate assessment of crude oil worth and maximisation of gains from product ...
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Strategies for improved naphtha processing
Oct-2013
To take advantage of dilbit from Alberta and light oils from shale formations, refiners must develop a strategy for processing additional naphthas and ...
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Feb-2007
Why there is no excuse for operating a dirty amine system. The benefits of reclaiming amine systems are trumpeted by many and doubted by others.
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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 ...
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Reducing refinery SOx emissions
Jul-2006
Through an extensive study and 18-month trial, a Canadian refinery chose SOx reduction additive technology to reduce its SOx emissions
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Oil/water interface control for desalters
Oct-2007
Profiling instrument provides vertical real-time phase density measurement in desalter vessels. Benefits include reduced process upsets from interface ...
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New crude oil basket for hydrogen 
savings
Jan-2012
The processing requirements of opportunity crudes are considered for the operations of the Indian refineries
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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
-
Apr-2006
When designing vacuum units for processing heavy Canadian crudes, reliability costs can be high if the feedstock’s thermal instability is not fully ...
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Profiting with FCC feedstock diversity
Jul-2006
Gasoline sulphur-reduction catalysts and additives can provide additional options and flexibility while maximising refinery profitability
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Jan-2009
The steady progress made in the oil sands industry up to Q3 2008 will eventually resume. For now, an examination of the favourable market conditions and ...
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New roles for FCCU: carbon capture unit and coke gasifier
Jan-2009
Environmental and energy security concerns may evoke new roles for the FCCU in addition to the production of liquid fuels and light olefins. Gasification ...
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Surviving the global economic and legislative tsunamis
Jul-2009
Changes and challenges are sweeping the refining industry into a new era. Primary processing units will remain essential, but their roles will change ...
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Bitumen processing: crude unit revamps
Jul-2011
The ability to process bitumen offers a competitive advantage, but revamps of crude and vacuum units to process bitumen require significant changes
to ...
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Research and development of novel heavy oil catalytic cracking catalyst RCC-1
Jan-2015
With an increasing supply of heavier feedstock for the catalytic cracking unit, the FCC catalyst is required to possess a higher activity and more unobstructed ...
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Dealing with depleting sour gas reserves: Part 1
Jul-2015
Depletion of sour gas production in western Canada means that gas plants will have to evaluate their sulphur recovery units for future turndown operat ...
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Decontamination of a crude/vacuum unit (TIA)
Apr-2016
A major oil company wanted to make a final validation of ITW Online Cleaning and ITW Improved Degassing/Decontamination technologies to use them strategically ...
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Revamping a bitumen heating system
Jul-2019
A redesigned oil based heating system for bitumen storage and sales saves energy and eliminates customer complaints.
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Assessment of crude oil blends
Oct-2011
A refiner’s assessment of the compatibility of opportunity crudes in blends aims to avoid the processing problems introduced by lower-quality feedst ...
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Zero and low rare earth FCC catalysts
Oct-2011
Blends of rare earth-free and rare earth-based catalysts for resid feed FCC applications have maintained and even improved performance
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Bitumen processing: crude unit revamps
Jul-2011
The ability to process bitumen offers a competitive advantage, but revamps of crude and vacuum units to process bitumen require significant changes
to ...
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Diverting low-sulphur heavy stocks for fuel oil production
Apr-2011
Studies enabled a refinery to divert low-value product stocks into higher-value products and preserve crude throughput levels
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Apr-2011
Gasification technologies deliver steam, hydrogen and power from low-value refining residues and petcoke
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Unconventional crude oil selection and compatibility
Mar-2011
Crude selection and compatibility considerations are a critical part of a successful refinery operation. Constantly changing quality conventional and unconventional ...
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Processing high TAN crude: part II
Jan-2011
Huizhou, which is the first refinery for processing 100% high TAN crude, started up in 2009. This article describes the challenges of an opportunity crude ...
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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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Optimising the FCC regenerator for reduced emissions
Oct-2010
Increasing scrutiny of FCC stack emissions calls for special attention to be paid to the regenerator’s combustion zone
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Residue conversion options to meet marine fuel regulations
Jul-2010
Slurry hydrocracking to match demand for lower-sulphur marine fuel oils and to maintain distillate production targets
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Anode-grade coke from traditional crudes
Apr-2010
A combination of solvent deasphalting and delayed coking is an option to minimise fuel oil production and produce anode-grade coke
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Crude oil selection: optimisation by weight or by volume?
Apr-2010
The LP model should optimise crude and products in their trading units for accurate assessment of crude oil worth and maximisation of gains from product ...
-
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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Reducing sulphur oxide emissions from the FCC unit
Feb-2010
Application of a SOx-reduction additive enabled a refiner to meet a pressing requirement to reduce emissions from its FCCU
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Processing high TAN crude: part I
Jan-2010
Huizhou, which is the first refinery for processing 100% high TAN crude, started up in 2009. This article describes the challenges of an opportunity crude ...
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Unique qualities of Canadian bitumen and synthetic crudes
Jan-2010
As production of Canadian bitumen and synthetic crude oil expands, North American refinery feed slates enter new territory in terms of crude oil quali ...
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Upgrading residues for high levels of distillate production
Oct-2009
A slurry hydrocracking reactor technology demonstrates a high level of conversion of vacuum residues to distillate and gasoline
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Has the time for partial upgrading of heavy oil and bitumen arrived?
Oct-2009
Partial or field upgrading of heavy oil produces transportable synthetic crude oil and eliminates the need for diluents for transportation to refiners
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FCC flue gas scrubber alternatives: part II
Oct-2009
The merits of combining additives and barrier filters as a cost-effective alternative to meeting SOx, NOx and particulate matter emissions targets
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Surviving the global economic and legislative tsunamis
Jul-2009
Changes and challenges are sweeping the refining industry into a new era. Primary processing units will remain essential, but their roles will change ...
-
FCC flue gas scrubber alternatives: part I
Jul-2009
The merits of combining additives and barrier filters as a cost-effective and highly efficient way of meeting SOx, NOx and particulate matter emissions ...
-
Additives for real-time FCC catalyst optimisation
Jul-2009
The ability to optimise the circulating inventory composition remains an elusive independent variable. A solution to this often overlooked variable is ...
-
FCC catalysts for resid processing
Apr-2009
The diversifying feedstock scenario for FCCU operations has resulted in significant growth in the resid feed sector
-
Jan-2009
The steady progress made in the oil sands industry up to Q3 2008 will eventually resume. For now, an examination of the favourable market conditions and ...
-
New roles for FCCU: carbon capture unit and coke gasifier
Jan-2009
Environmental and energy security concerns may evoke new roles for the FCCU in addition to the production of liquid fuels and light olefins. Gasification ...