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Improving turnarounds and operations with online cleaning
Sep-2020
Case histories illustrate the financial and operational gains achieved by replacing mechanical cleaning with online, closed-loop operations. The conventional ...
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Baseline scans prove critical in diagnosing any potential future column problems
Sep-2020
A baseline scan establishes a reference point, a historical marker for column performance
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Advances in damage modelling (TIA)
Feb-2021
High temperature hydrogen attack (HTHA) is a serious damage mechanism that can affect hydroprocessing, catalytic reforming, and hydrogen production units ...
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Nature of errors in machinery diagnostics
Jan-2020
A reliability theory has been developing for almost 70 years, and all the time scientists, engineers and practitioners attempt to point out an instance ...
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Improve the value of plant based project portfolios
Dec-2019
To improve the value of projects, owners need to focus on the right measures of success.
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Piping and instrument diagrams: Part 2 Causes and management of change
Apr-2021
It is difficult to categorise or group the many reasons for routine or late changes to a P&ID. Some causes are listed here.
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Detecting leaking PSVs helps a refiner avoid potential emission fines and penalties
Sep-2020
A Tracerco Diagnostics™ Leak study identifies leaks resulting in massive savings from environmental fines, without any interruption to production.
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Increase production rates with Tracerco’s FrothView and Tru-Scan technologies
Sep-2020
How Tru-Scan™ and FrothView™ results help increase production, and remove the debutanizer tower, which seemed to be the bottleneck for the unit.
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Why doesn’t a great maintenance process equal great results? - Part 1
Apr-2021
Becht has made an interesting observation after working in several facilities: some of the best results come from organisations with poor maintenance work ...
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Tru-Scan™ identifies abnormal process conditions and helps optimise vessel efficiencies
Sep-2020
Tru-Scans™ provide valuable data aiding operations in achieving 115% of unit capacity
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Tru-Grid™ scans detect solids build-up to assist in determining the appropriate maintenance path
Sep-2020
PackView™ liquid retention scale included on Tru-Grid™ Scan results provide customers the amount of build-up, relative density and growth patterns ...
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Optimising information from thickness data
Apr-2021
Thickness measurement data generated through the routine inspection program represents the largest source of data generated in the mechanical integrity ...
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Why doesn’t a great maintenance process equal great results? - Part 2
Apr-2021
In Part 1 we observed that some of the best results come from organisations with poor maintenance work processes and some organisations with a great work ...
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Continuum damage FEA implementation in HTHA model
Feb-2023
Using the power of finite element analysis to accurately capture high-temperature hydrogen attack damage through the use of a custom creep user subrou ...
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Dec-2022
Risk-based Inspection (RBI) has been around the refining and petrochemical industry for many years.
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How to keep your risk-based inspection program functioning efficiently (RI 2023)
Nov-2023
As owner-users continue to rely on existing risk-based inspection (RBI) programs, the question of how to keep an RBI program functioning and compliant ...
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Maintenance and reliability for rotating equipment closing the loop
May-2024
Maintenance of rotating equipment is a vast subject that could fill volumes.
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Advancing industries through materials technology
Oct-2022
At the end of August 2022, following shareholder approval of a proposal presented by the Sandvik AB board of directors, Sandvik Materials Technology officially ...
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Effect of redundancy/voting in SIL calculation
May-2024
Developing safeguard strategies in the early stages of refinery and petrochemical project system design helps achieve optimal protection and prevent false ...
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Thwarting fluid-system leaks, saving energy, reducing leaks
Mar-2008
Fluid leakage costs industry millions of dollars every year. For example, a few small leaks in a facility using air at 100 pounds per square inch gauge ...
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Making the right investment choice
Jul-2008
Gasoline or diesel? US market forces skew the product slate towards diesel, but each refiner’s target market and required configuration are unique
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Romanian refiner adopts electronic learning to raise efficiency
Oct-2009
Following Romania’s accession to the EU, a local refiner reassessed its approach to training to ensure a supply of skilled operators
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Achieving excellence in process safety management
Jan-2010
The management of major accident hazards in refineries must recognise that all areas of the business have vital roles to play to ensure process safety ...
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Independent verification of refineries
Jan-2011
Independent verification should focus on areas of greatest risk and so contribute to risk reduction measures
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A novel investigation approach linking to risk assessment
Apr-2012
A novel incident investigation approach provides information on both management system and risk barrier failures
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Refinery operations gain from advances in digital automation
Jan-2013
Advances in digital automation can better enable the next generation of refinery workers to operate more efficiently, reliably and safely
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Optimise control systems with preventive maintenance
Aug-2014
Ensuring equipment integrity by conducting thorough maintenance provides multiple benefits for your operation, from maximising machine uptime and minimising ...
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On-stream refractory measurement
Oct-2015
Precise assessment of refractory condition can avoid unwelcome discoveries during unit turnarounds
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The outlook for transport fuels: Part 2
Jun-2016
As demand evolves, as specifications change, and as new fuel opportunities arise, what are the implications for refiners up to mid-century?
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Aug-2018
The benefits of including a non-intrusive approach within a risk based strategy for the inspection of pressure vessels.
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Predictive analytics in incident prevention
Sep-2018
Predictive analytics can support risk management by identifying where failures are likely to occur and what can be done to prevent them.
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Advancing industries through materials technology
Oct-2022
At the end of August 2022, following shareholder approval of a proposal presented by the Sandvik AB board of directors, Sandvik Materials Technology officially ...
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Continuum damage FEA implementation in HTHA model
Feb-2023
Using the power of finite element analysis to accurately capture high-temperature hydrogen attack damage through the use of a custom creep user subrou ...
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Improving asset performance and 
process safety
Jul-2009
How to achieve effective risk management and excellence in plant reliability and safety through asset performance management
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Estimation of heat losses from process piping and equipment
Apr-2010
An accessible predictive tool calculates surface heat losses from refinery piping and equipment. The most important part of the energy management strategy ...
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Increasing catalytic reforming yields
Mar-2008
Case study where a CCR Platforming process unit increased profitability by changing to a high-density catalyst. Higher aromatic yields and the ability ...
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How to keep your risk-based inspection program functioning efficiently (RI 2023)
Nov-2023
As owner-users continue to rely on existing risk-based inspection (RBI) programs, the question of how to keep an RBI program functioning and compliant ...
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Effect of redundancy/voting in SIL calculation
May-2024
Developing safeguard strategies in the early stages of refinery and petrochemical project system design helps achieve optimal protection and prevent false ...
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Key factors in selecting refractories for the hydrocarbon processing industry
Mar-2007
Longer campaigns, higher temperatures, and more oxygen all add up to increased wear and tear on process vessels and equipment and make proper material ...
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Jan-2007
Gamma scanning is a powerful tool that can be used to determine the cause of flooding and regain column efficiency. Debutaniser capacity and performance ...
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Jul-2006
Benchmarking is an important tool in routine FCC data evaluations. It can be used to validate unit data as well as identify areas for improved perform ...
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Corrosion monitoring improvements
Oct-2005
Case study examines prediction, monitoring and mitigation of corrosion-related effects at a West European refinery operating in a high temperature, naphthenic ...
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Optimising cooling water systems
Oct-2005
An integrated approach to chemical treatment can improve reliability, reduce costs and extend the life of cooling systems. Cooling system problems can ...
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Oct-2004
Installation of vortex tube clusters in crude unit preflash drums has eliminated foam carry-over, increasing diesel and atmospheric gasoil product yie ...
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Why vacuum unit fired heaters coke
Oct-2004
A description of the internal workings of vacuum heaters and the causes of coke formation within them
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Choosing a neutralising amine corrosion inhibitor
Jul-2004
A review of physical and chemical properties of commonly used amine-based corrosion inhibitors. The authors highlight the relative strengths and weaknesses ...
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Worldwide trends in RAM improvement
Apr-2004
A review of the improvements in plant reliability, availability and maintenance that have taken place to ensure better and sustainable results in a competitive ...
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Tackling fouling in vinyl monomer manufacture
Jul-2003
Conventional and new approaches to the control of fouling in vinyl monomer processes are discussed in this article, which describes the fouling characteristics ...
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Improving FCCUs: bottoms system upgrades
Jul-2003
A review of process flow scheme fundamentals and basic equipment operating and design principles that have improved unit operating profitability through ...
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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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Benefits from a profits improvement plan
Jul-2001
How a Japanese refinery improved its profitability by adopting a detailed plan for optimising every aspect of plant operation as well as encouraging a ...
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Treating options to meet clean fuel challenges
Apr-2001
The multiple challenges of meeting fuel specifications and upgrading low value streams, such as LCO and heavy naphtha, call for a comprehensive understanding ...
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Avoiding unscheduled shutdowns
Apr-2001
Case studies have demonstrated that correct heater design and consequent performance will determine crude unit run length
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An advanced asphaltene pelletisation process
Jul-2000
A description of a new process for pelletising asphaltene from solvent deasphalters to produce solid asphaltene pellets with a higher heating value, and ...
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Development tools to improve plant design
Apr-2000
New tools are available today to improve LNG process, plant safety and overall efficiency. At the same time, advancing computer technology is enabling ...
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Reducing the danger of maintenance exposure
Apr-1998
Maintenance cost overruns result from inadequate cost estimating and the emergence of unidentified work that has to be done
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Managing operating strategy affecting process reliability
Apr-1998
A review of the method for combining opportunities for profit improvement, together with processing and maintenance requirements, with engineering practices, ...