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Oct-2020
How MOL used a new approach to data to improve plant diagnostics, adopt alternate crudes and save millions. The petroleum industry is once again in the ...
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How watt density specifications may be holding back optimal electric heat exchanger design
Mar-2020
Typical customer specifications for a direct electric heat exchanger (DEHE) in forced convection gas applications aim for efficiency and safety given the ...
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Radiometric measurements: accuracy, repeatability and errors
Dec-2019
Radiometric measurements for industrial processes have been around for several decades.
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Optimise catalyst efficiency by monitoring chlorine levels
Jun-2019
Over the years, refineries have fine-tuned their production methods to maximise efficiency while ensuring quality.
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Certifying sulphur in automotive fuels and monitoring chlorine for corrosion mitigation
May-2017
With the high volatility in crude prices leading to uncertainty in budgets, refiners are seeking new, innovative ways to respond to the industry’s dynamic ...
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Digitalisation is only scratching the surface
Nov-2019
Digitalisation usually means upgrading a few elements of technology or workflows, leaving a partial digital twin when a holistic approach is needed.
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Downtime damages environmental performance too
Jul-2020
Advanced technologies can reduce the environmental impact of unexpected shutdowns.
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Jun-2023
Following an incident at a refinery, design modifications made to compressors means any future explosions will be prevented.
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Detailed hydrocarbon analysis (DHA) — past, present and future Part 1
Jul-2020
A Historical Perspective. In the 1990s, gasoline regulations were changing rapidly. Lead antiknock compounds were banned. Typical gasoline benzene levels ...
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Evolution of a digital twin Part 2: Use of the digital twin
Jul-2020
A two-part article provides a step-by-step introduction to the concept, construction and application of a digital twin for the lifecycle of an ethylene ...
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The business case for digitalisation in the refining sector
Apr-2020
When we use the word ‘digitalisation’ what do we really mean? Computers have been used for process control since Fortran 77 was developed in the late ...
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Cross-unit APC boosts downstream performance
Jul-2020
Manipulating advanced process control in a crude unit reduced constraints in a downstream diesel hydrotreater
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Three forces fuelling industrial energy transition (ADS)
Dec-2019
The energy transition is challenging every industrial sector, whether it is the energy consumed, the emissions produced, or the products created.
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Avoid sulphur measurement bias from particulate settling in crude oil
Oct-2017
Petra MAX™ delivers advanced D4294 sulphur analysis in addition to 12 elements from P to Zn including Ni, V, and Fe.
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Characterising heterogeneous catalysts with laser diffraction (TIA)
Nov-2018
Heterogeneous catalysts, where the catalyst is in solid form, enhance many of the gas and liquid phase reactions that underpin routine chemical proces ...
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Level measurement in coke drums (TiA)
Nov-2020
If heavy components of crude oil are to be converted into lighter ones, cracking processes come into play.
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Automatic matrix correction for C/H ratio in 4294 sulfur analysis
Mar-2018
Recent international trends across a majority of fuel types have focused on lowering specifications for total sulphur. These changes in regulation are ...
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Aug-2019
Every fuel producer and fuel tester understands that innovation is key for growth. Far too long the status quo has been uncontested, leading to stagnation ...
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Innovation in supply chain planning
Jun-2018
Software that can be configured to solve any problem in the supply chain is critical to planning in the oil and gas industry.
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ASTM D2622 Compliance with D7039 Precision for Sulfur in Diesel
Oct-2019
In August 2018, XOS published a paper that reviewed and discussed ASTM Proficiency Testing Program (PTP) diesel and gasoline sulphur data comparing reproducibility ...
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A new solution to eliminate centrifuge for sulphur in crude oil analysis
Jun-2018
Test methods for measuring sulphur content, like ASTM D4294 and ISO 8754, have become critical for assessing the value of crude oil.
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Laser based analysis for thermal incinerators
Nov-2019
An analyser design based on a tunable diode laser aims for more reliable and cost-effective combustion measurement in sulphur removal operations
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Dec-2019
Correct probe orientation is a critical consideration in the design of a sampling system for process streams.
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Digital twins expanding across the downstream industry
May-2022
Advances in new-generation information technologies including big data, digital twins and smart manufacturing are becoming the focus of global manufacturing ...
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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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Emissions monitoring and detection in the hydrocarbon industry
Feb-2010
Requirements for reducing air pollution emissions have been evolving over the past couple of decades and today are an intricate mix of limits, targets ...
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New technologies for operator training
Jan-2018
Advanced technologies including cloud hosting and virtual reality can enhance the effectiveness of operator training simulators
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Control optimisation for petrochemicals (TIA)
Aug-2018
Neste Engineering Solutions’ (NES) Dynamic Real Time Optimization (DRTO) technology continues to demonstrate long term cumulated benefit versus traditional ...
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Precision comparison between HDXRF® and ICP for Ni, Fe, and V
Nov-2018
As petroleum professionals continue to refine their production processes, products such as crude oil can contain higher concentrations of problematic metals ...
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Chasing the bias — gasoline matrix matching to improve ASTM D2622 sulphur
Jan-2019
With the implementation of the US EPA Tier III, Euro 5, and upcoming Euro 6 gasoline sulphur regulations (Table 1), there is an increasing concern with ...
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Level measurement in coke drums (TiA)
Nov-2020
If heavy components of crude oil are to be converted into lighter ones, cracking processes come into play.
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Handling delayed coker disturbances with APC
Sep-2016
An advanced process control system provides automatic detection of disturbances during drum switch in a delayed coker to raise performance levels.
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Optimising hydrogen production and use
Jul-2011
Knowledge of hydrogen producing and consuming process technologies, systems analyses and process controls can be leveraged to optimise hydrogen use
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Flow metering vacuum tower bottoms
Oct-2011
A clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter can make flow measurement at the bottom of vacuum distillation towers more reliable
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Integrated monitoring for optimising crude distillation
Jan-2012
On-line process analysers in crude distillation units prevent lost throughput caused by non-conforming process conditions and crude oil switching
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Micromachined gas chromatography for gas plants
Apr-2012
Onsite gas chromatography is available to troubleshoot, optimise, debottleneck and help identify energy savings in natural gas plants
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Accurate quality checks in catalyst regeneration
Apr-2012
A method based on density measurement delivers fast and repeatable analysis of chlorination agents used in catalyst regeneration
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The importance of overfill-safe operation for accurate level detection using guided wave radar
Mar-2013
Although approvals like the German Federal Water Act (WHG) obtained from TUV, or the Flemish Regulation on Environment (VLAREM), certify Overfill-proof ...
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Diagnostic tools and control parameters for refinery heaters
Apr-2013
To optimise or manage furnace operation more effectively and safely, engineers and operators need to understand and control the entire process
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Integrated plant control and monitoring
Dec-2015
Turbomachinery controls (TMC) such as antisurge and load-sharing controls, as well as its solution hardware platforms, have been evolving through faster ...
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Dec-2015
Flow (dP) transmitter speed of response to meet API 670 5th edition requirements.
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Optimised maintenance maximises PSA unit availability (TIA)
Jan-2016
The availability of a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit was becoming a major concern for a French refinery in 2009.
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Safety system separation - examination of three types of machinery protection systems
Apr-2016
overspeed, surge detection and vibration monitoring, to help clarify when a SIL certification is truly necessary. Authors explain how companies can protect ...
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Certifying sulphur in automotive fuels and monitoring chlorine for corrosion mitigation
May-2017
With the high volatility in crude prices leading to uncertainty in budgets, refiners are seeking new, innovative ways to respond to the industry’s dynamic ...
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Automatic matrix correction for C/H ratio in 4294 sulfur analysis
Mar-2018
Recent international trends across a majority of fuel types have focused on lowering specifications for total sulphur. These changes in regulation are ...
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Managing interference radiation in nucleonic level measurements
May-2019
In this paper we will identify common sources of interference radiation, and explain how they affect nucleonic measurements. Also we will elaborate how ...
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The great data transformation: how the industry is capitalising on digitalisation (Part 2)
Aug-2019
Real-life examples from Shell, Transocean, and SBM Offshore. In the first part of this paper, we explored how TransCanada, Petronas, and ADNOC Onshore ...
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A comparison of chlorine levels in aromatics
Aug-2019
Petroleum refining processes have evolved over the years to maximise efficiency and output as crude oils are turned into finished products.
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What the Energy and Chemical industry should learn from the music industry
Feb-2019
The Energy and Chemical industry is in desperate need of a shake-up. It is at or near the bottom of every industry digital maturity league table.
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Chasing the bias — gasoline matrix matching to improve ASTM D2622 sulphur
Jan-2019
With the implementation of the US EPA Tier III, Euro 5, and upcoming Euro 6 gasoline sulphur regulations (Table 1), there is an increasing concern with ...
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Hydrocarbon Processing Gas Analysis Magazine - Issue 4 2019
Jan-2019
Accurate, reliable oxygen (O2) measurements are essential in many HP applications, delivering the readings that support process efficiency, safety and ...
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Artificial intelligence for refiners
Jan-2019
First define the problem, then artificial intelligence can be the way forward to higher operational efficiencies.
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An overview of Honeywell’s layered optimisation solution
Nov-2018
Advanced process control (APC) and real-time optimisation (RTO) tools have become necessary technologies for today’s process operating companies to compete ...
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Precision comparison between HDXRF® and ICP for Ni, Fe, and V
Nov-2018
As petroleum professionals continue to refine their production processes, products such as crude oil can contain higher concentrations of problematic metals ...
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Characterising heterogeneous catalysts with laser diffraction (TIA)
Nov-2018
Heterogeneous catalysts, where the catalyst is in solid form, enhance many of the gas and liquid phase reactions that underpin routine chemical proces ...
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Measuring level in a molten sulphur pit (TIA)
Nov-2018
Not every level measurement application is straightforward. In some instances, the nature of the substance being measured creates a hostile measurement ...
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Simple lubricant additive package quality control using HDXRF
Nov-2018
Professionals in the field of lubrication and tribology are at the forefront of solving many of today’s biggest problems.
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Ensure accurate results for sulphur and chlorine analysis in biodiesels
Sep-2018
The use of biodiesel is rapidly becoming more popular due to growing trends both inside and outside the petroleum industry.
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Precision comparison between ASTM test methods D7039, D2622, and D5453
Sep-2018
For many years, professionals in the petroleum industry have faced challenges regarding compliance and quality of product.
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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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Control optimisation for petrochemicals (TIA)
Aug-2018
Neste Engineering Solutions’ (NES) Dynamic Real Time Optimization (DRTO) technology continues to demonstrate long term cumulated benefit versus traditional ...
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A new solution to eliminate centrifuge for sulphur in crude oil analysis
Jun-2018
Test methods for measuring sulphur content, like ASTM D4294 and ISO 8754, have become critical for assessing the value of crude oil.
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Process flow determines coker 
heater performance
Jun-2018
Uniform tube metal temperature resulting from a change in process flow enhances the run length of a delayed coker heater.
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Innovation in supply chain planning
Jun-2018
Software that can be configured to solve any problem in the supply chain is critical to planning in the oil and gas industry.
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Machine learning in asset maintenance
Jun-2018
Application of machine learning to asset performance management marks a transition from estimated and statistical models towards measured patterns of ...
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Packed bed performance analytics
Jun-2018
Advanced analytics introduce a numerical and easily understood approach to tower gamma scanning.
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HDXRF vs ICP for nickel and vanadium in crude oil
May-2018
Technology introduced over the last decade, such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, has led to new sources of light tight oil (LTO).
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Automatic matrix correction for C/H ratio in 4294 sulfur analysis
Mar-2018
Recent international trends across a majority of fuel types have focused on lowering specifications for total sulphur. These changes in regulation are ...
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Crude analysers in corrosion prevention
Mar-2018
On-line salt-in-crude oil analysers and crude oil analysers are essential in protecting the CDU and other refinery process units from corrosion.
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Advanced process control of distillation
Mar-2018
The introduction of model predictive control enabled a bio-products plant to raise throughput and automate product variation.
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Three ways to effectively monitor total chlorine in liquid hydrocarbons
Feb-2018
Corrosion at petroleum refineries is a critical problem all over the world. In the United States alone, NACE International, a professional association ...
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Ultra low sulphur analysis in liquid petroleum using MWDXRF
Jan-2018
Tougher regulations are challenging refiners to produce higher quality products while trying to maximise efficiency.
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Plant optimisation: leveraging data analytics and modelling
Jan-2018
More advanced modelling skills are needed at the design stage to realise the promise of better optimisation
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Steam methane reformer tube lifecycle improvement best practices
May-2024
(White Paper) - Reformer tube life assessment can be done via online monitoring, non-destructive testing, and tube harvesting with historical operating, ...