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Tray hydraulic operating regimes 
and selectivity
Apr-2010
Tray hydraulics is discussed in terms of froth and spray operating regimes, and possible impacts on selectivity are pointed out by reference to performance ...
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Reducing hydrocarbons in SWS acid gas
Oct-2016
Measures to minimise the level of hydrocarbons in sour water and thereby protect the efficiency of the sulphur plant.
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Cracking hydrocarbon feedstock with a heavy tail
Mar-2013
The introduction of a vapour/liquid separation step allows for the efficient removal of a heavy tail from the furnace convection section
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Designing for sulphur removal and storage: part 1
Apr-2010
Selection of technologies for the sulphur block must serve legislative demands and the efficient operation of upstream processes
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Stop gas leaks from compressor packings
Apr-2015
A new piston rod sealing technology based on a pressurised oil barrier can eliminate a significant source of gas leaks from reciprocating compressors.
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Estimating delayed coker yields
Feb-2020
Correlations were developed for estimating product yields from delayed coker units to achieve optimum performance and refinery configuration.
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Improving residue hydrocracking performance
Jul-2011
Trials with a catalyst system for enhanced transfer of hydrogen to asphaltenes show reduced sediment formation and fouling in ebullated-bed residue hy ...
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Strategies for increasing production of light cycle oil
Oct-2009
Refineries should consider several strategies, including recycle and enhanced catalyst activity, to increase LCO output from the FCCU while minimising ...
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Delayed coking: valves make the difference
Jan-2009
Traditional manual methods of coke drum unheading are labour intensive, costly to maintain, expensive to repair and carry inherent risk for personnel on ...
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Practical flare gas recovery for minimising flaring
Apr-2015
Flares play a critical role as a safety device in refineries, and in most oil and gas producing or processing facilities.
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Crude oil cargo selection and time frame of LP optimisation
Jul-2010
Combinatorial selection is the most rigorous and theoretically correct method of crude oil cargo evaluation. Efficient algorithms are key to its imple ...
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Tray technology 
enhances extraction
Oct-2007
A case study involving the revamp of two rotating disc contactors in aromatics service highlights the most important design considerations for enhancing ...
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FCC product fractionation for maximum LCO
Jul-2017
For increased production of diesel over gasoline, maximising recovery of LCO from the FCC reactor can be part of the scheme
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Isokinetic nozzles for steam sampling
Nov-2016
The proper design of a sampling system is critical for a sample that is representative of the stream to be measured.
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Risks of accumulated sulphur in sulphur recovery units
Apr-2014
While recovering sulphur in an SRU depends on condensation of sulphur, its unintended condensation and accumulation can present problems.
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Sep-2006
Operational issues such as higher heater duty and column pressure must be weighed against avoiding residue entrainment in HVGO
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A cheaper way of alkylating propylene and amylenes
Oct-1997
The authors describe how propylene and amylenes can be alkylated using much less sulphuric acid catalyst
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Sharing the load: proper control methods for parallel refrigeration compressors
Jan-2015
Parallel refrigeration machines have been in use for decades in the LNG industry primarily for the Phillips Cascade LNG process which utilises parallel ...
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Improving refinery distillation operations
Apr-2008
The outline of a route map or staged approach to unit process improvement follows similar steps to those taken when installing advanced controls on a ...
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Valuable liquids from refinery gases
Oct-2012
With appropriate treatment schemes, refinery off-gases can be valuable sources of olefins and hydrogen
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Cuba’s oil: due for development
Apr-2017
Cuba’s ambitions for energy self-sufficiency require major investment in the nation’s oil reserves and refining industry
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Design challenges for future CO2 pipelines
Apr-2009
Overview of some design issues that need to be considered when planning, engineering and constructing pipelines to transport CO2 in its supercritical state ...
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Simulating and monitoring H2 plant operations
Oct-2012
A computer program was developed to enable a refinery to monitor its hydrogen production daily to foresee potential operating problems
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Choosing the proper regulator for high-purity applications
Feb-2008
Regulators are highly technical, highly specialised fluid-handling components. So, the next time you need one please do not just grab one out of the supply ...
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Role of fired heater safety systems
Jul-2013
A fully automated burner management system operating as a SIS for burner control can meet minimum safety targets, improve system availability and lower ...
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Catalyst catastrophes in hydrogen plants
Jan-2006
Processing mishaps can occur if catalyst is placed in abnormal conditions. These catastrophes include temperature runaways, the formation of toxic nickel ...
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Tube rupture in a natural gas heater
Feb-2016
Dynamic simulation supports the use of a pressure safety valve over a rupture disk in the event of a tube rupture
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Developments in H2S scavenging
Jun-2018
Advances in the application of triazine scavengers have significantly 
improved process efficiencies.
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Gases: identifying hazards and mitigating risks
Feb-2012
Although critical for the operation of refineries and petrochemical plants, industrial gases can be associated with a spectrum of possible hazards and ...
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Sulphidation corrosion in a claus waste heat boiler
Aug-2021
Simulation enabled a refiner to avoid potentially dangerous operating conditions in a sulphur recovery unit.
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Optimise hydrocracker operations for maximum distillates
Apr-2012
Estimation of an accurate operating window for a hydrocracker enables refiners to minimise yields of light ends and maximise diesel production
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RFCC units set new standard for propylene production
Oct-2012
RFCC units are being commissioned and operated to convert hydrotreated and straight-run resid to high levels of propylene
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Metathesis for maximum propylene
Apr-2006
Using metathesis technology to process refinery-based C4 feedstocks can maximise propylene. The economic advantages of flow schemes using alpha-olefins ...
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Value maximisation in FCC units using multispecialty catalyst formulation
Feb-2023
Increasing propylene yields while reducing bottoms production.
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Gasifying coke to produce hydrogen 
in refineries
Jul-2012
Coke gasification to produce hydrogen for hydroprocessing is more capital intensive than steam methane reforming, but not so vulnerable to natural gas ...
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Simplifying hydrogen production
Jun-2017
Catalyst systems developed for the purification and reforming sections of the hydrogen plant target significant barriers to efficient production.
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Realities of heat flux in fired heaters
Nov-2020
Uneven radiant heat flux distribution is a major cause of poor reliability in refinery fired heaters.
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Challenges of heavy crude processing
Oct-2012
A review of upgrading options and refinery configurations to process heavy crudes profitably. Refiners have long faced a major dilemma when designing refineries ...
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Stripping sour water: the effect of heat stable salts
Oct-2012
Mass transfer rate-based simulation models sour water stripping and assesses the distribution of ammonia in conventional amine treating systems
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Acid gas treatment upgrade for Qatargas
Jul-2016
Upgrading acid gas treatment at the world’s largest LNG facility safeguards the plant’s design capacity and its ability to process increasingly sour ...
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SOx and NOx emission abatement in the FCC
Feb-2018
The complexities of sulphur and nitrogen species formation in the FCC call for tailor made catalyst additive chemistry to limit formation of polluting ...
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Dec-2020
Leveraging IIOT concepts leads to a reduction in energy consumption and improved refining margin
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Refiner’s role in upgrading plastic waste
Sep-2022
Plastic consumption is projected to skyrocket in the coming decades for packaging, automobiles and construction, increasing to 1, 231 million tonnes in ...
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Catalyst technologies for improved FCC yields
Nov-2017
Boron based nickel passivation enables refiners to reduce contaminant hydrogen and coke production and improve FCC yields.
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Advances in residue hydrocracking
Mar-2018
Recent developments in ebullated bed hydrocracking technology target high residue conversion and high quality products.
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Electrification and medium voltage process heater systems
Feb-2022
Decarboniation efforts worldwide, led both by industry leaders and legislation, have increased efforts to shift fossil fuel use to renewables. One way ...
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Reducing hydrocarbons in SWS acid gas
Oct-2016
Measures to minimise the level of hydrocarbons in sour water and thereby protect the efficiency of the sulphur plant.
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Jan-2022
Improvements in performance and energy efficiency were achieved during the turnaround of a crude distillation unit.
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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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Improving the distillation energy network
Oct-2013
Energy-efficient design applied to the refit of a distillation unit was achieved through optimisation between the distillation column and heat network ...
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Refiner’s role in upgrading plastic waste
Sep-2022
Plastic consumption is projected to skyrocket in the coming decades for packaging, automobiles and construction, increasing to 1, 231 million tonnes in ...
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Enhancing flexibility in two-stage hydrocrackers
Aug-2022
Shifting markets and refined product priorities compels refiners to find the flexibility for shifting from middle distillate to naphtha for petrochemical ...
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Role of FCC process and catalysts in the energy transition
Aug-2022
In the evolving circular economy, proper leveraging of FCC technology and operations can deliver value for refiners in the decades going forward.
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Adsorbent choices help refiners find safer solutions
Aug-2022
For refiners, selection of the proper adsorbent, or combination of adsorbents, is critical to ensure the removal of all contaminants during olefin (such ...
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New graphical procedure to design reactor supports used in industry
Aug-2022
Two reactor models used in gas recovery demonstrate a new design strategy that can lead to significant savings in material cost and engineering design ...
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Capital priorities in the downstream industry
Aug-2022
Margins opportunities in chemicals and biofuels dominate long-term investments.
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A step change in feed nozzle design
Aug-2022
How Shell’s Max Atomisation Feed Nozzle technology can improve FCC unit margins with minimal capital investment, including audited results from three ...
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FCC unit yield improvement with artificial intelligence
Aug-2022
How closed loop neural networks have improved FCC yields via direct control and continuous optimization.
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Stationing an operator at a pressure safety valve bypass
Aug-2022
Caution is recommended before stationing an operator at the PSV bypass for overpressure protection.
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Challenges with carbon disulphide removal in petrochemical naphtha
Aug-2022
Meeting new specifications for removing carbon disulphide in petrochemical naphtha using dividing wall column technology.
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Optimising oil and gas operations - when to decommission or modernise
Aug-2022
To make accurate, timely decisions to maximise the value of their assets today and in the future, refiners and other oil and gas companies need quality ...
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Biofeed co-processing for fuel production
Aug-2022
Comprehensive review of corrosion operating concerns when co-processing renewables and bio-oils through existing hydrotreaters, FCC units, amine units, ...
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Production optimisation for refining and olefins: how best to achieve it
Aug-2022
To suceed, companies must decisively implement production optimisation strategies using the latest AI-driven technologies, like digital twins and prescriptive ...
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Safety in turnaround power services
Jul-2022
Renting power systems during a turnaround or unexpected shutdown must take into account the health and safety of contractors and plant personnel working ...
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Jul-2022
With the introduction of the 4th generation AC Analytical Controls (AC) Reformulyzer M4, group type analysis of finished gasoline and its precursors & ...
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Determination of total sulphur in biofuels from feedstock to endproduct according to ASTM D5453
Jul-2022
Sulphur is a natural component in both crude oil and biobased feedstocks that will be present in diesel and gasoline unless it is removed during the production ...
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AC Analytical Controls productivity center combines full ASTM D86 alternative in a single GC
Jul-2022
Distillation is a method that separates a liquid mixture by boiling and subsequent condensation of the gas phase.
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Jul-2022
The AC Reformulyser is one of the most used analysers worldwide to determine the total aromatic, total olefin, benzene, oxygen content, and oxygenates ...
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Jul-2022
ASTM D6667 is an established test method for the determination of total volatile sulphur in gaseous hydrocarbons and liquefied petroleum gases (LPG). This ...
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Improving accuracy and precision in crude oil boiling point dstribution analysis
Jul-2022
It is not a secret that the most valuable cuts of the crudes are present in the lighter part of them, where primarily gasoline, kerosene, diesel and jet ...
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Jul-2022
In the crude oil value chain, margins are a big deal
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Refineries can choose from different options for distillation of gasoline at atmospheric pressure
Jul-2022
Many refineries use a combination of technologies to efficiently measure and optimise the distillation of crude oil into separate hydrocarbon components, ...
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Jul-2022
Total nitrogen content is an important quality criterium for many types of water, but especially for wastewater, such as process effluents.
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Why Reformulyser is the preferred analysis technique for gasoline grouptype analysis?
Jul-2022
Gasoline is a fuel mainly used as an engine fuel for vehicles, and as a retail product it should meet certain specifications based on local or global ...
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Accelerating reactor cool down prior to turnaround
Jul-2022
The post-pandemic demand for transportation fuels and petrochemicals requires higher process complexity.