ARTICLES
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Optimising sweep gas flow in a flare header
Oct-2012
How to calculate the minimum flow of flare header sweep gas needed to maintain safe conditions
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Optimising pumparound reflux for 
zero-cost energy savings
Apr-2012
By increasing pumparound ratios in principal units, refinery engineers were able to recover energy for process heating and reduce stack emissions
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Crude oil vapour pressure testing
Jan-2012
Vapour pressure testing is an important safety check in the transport, storage and blending of crude oil
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Ambient conditions impact CO and NOx emissions: part II
Jul-2009
Effects of air temperature and humidity on burner NOx emissions are discussed, including considerations for factoring in these effects
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The design temperature of flare systems
Apr-2017
A key objective when setting flare system design conditions is to maintain the integrity of the system during fire relief
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Detection of VOCs demands continuous innovation in calibration gases
Oct-2011
With an ever-increasing number of processing plants coming on stream worldwide to keep up with the burgeoning petrochemical industry, the focus on the ...
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HCN emissions in fluid catalytic cracking
Apr-2013
Increased attention to refinery emissions of hydrogen cyanide requires detailed understanding of its formation and conversion in the FCC regenerator
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Jul-2011
UOP Callidus supplies and installs complete systems and various subsystem components for CO boilers and other FCC related ancillary equipment.
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Ambient conditions impact CO and NOx emissions: part I
Apr-2009
Changing ambient conditions can impact CO and NOx emissions without proper process adjustments. A wide range of operating conditions show how these emissions ...
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Abatement of hydrogen sulphide 
in asphalt
Jan-2012
Risks of exposure at asphalt loading platforms require reliable monitoring of H2S levels and a programme of abatement using effective chemical scaveng ...
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Practical hydrocarbon dew point specification for natural gas transmission lines
Mar-2011
Hydrocarbon liquid dropout can cause a number of problems in gas transmission lines, including increased pressure drop, reduced line capacity and equipment ...
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Process and energy analysis for cost savings and CO2 reduction
Jul-2010
Applying heat pinch technology and process know-how to maximise energy savings. In an increasingly carbon-conscious market, improving energy efficiency ...
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Wet scrubbing-based NOx control using LoTOx technology - first commercial FCC start-up
Sep-2007
Wet scrubbing based NOx control had been successfully applied to various industries for several years. Refineries, however, had not used such an approach ...
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Future of opportunity crudes processing
Oct-2011
Five critical drivers help refiners remain profitable and sustain long-term business goals while processing relatively inexpensive, low-quality crudes
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Amine plant corrosion reduced by removal of bicine
Jun-2012
Bicine, an amino acid, has been found in numerous amine gas treating systems including tail gas treating units, certain refinery services, and some natural ...
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Reducing gasoline sulphur with additives
Apr-2004
Evolution of regulations in an era of limited capital has led to the development of catalyst additive technologies to reduce FCC gasoline sulphur
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Dynamics of operation for flare systems
Apr-2014
Detailed studies of problems with flaring performance led a refinery to define and implement a scheme for optimum flare performance
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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 ...
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Sulphur tail gas thermal oxidiser systems
Dec-2008
SRUs (sulphur recovery units) in refineries and gas plants remove sulphur compounds from sulphur containing fuel gases and from natural gas and crude oil ...
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Impact of low-sulphur bunkers 
on refineries
Mar-2009
Proposed IMO global sulphur specifications on bunker fuels market and options available to reduce fuel oil sulphur are reviewed
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New flare technology utilising low pressure steam
Sep-2009
The American Petroleum Institute defines a flare to be a “device or system used to safely dispose of relief fluids in an environmentally compliant manner ...
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Jan-2006
How much CO2 can a refinery release into the atmosphere? This is one of the many challenges facing refineries when it comes to reducing CO2 emmisions
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Capture and convert - handling mercaptans in hydrocarbon streams
Dec-2008
With the development of increasingly difficult hydrocarbon streams, mercaptans emerge as a major nuisance. The removal and conversion of mercaptans is ...
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Enhancements in Ethylene Oxide/Ethylene Glycol manufacturing technology
Aug-2017
The markets for ethylene oxide (EO) and ethylene glycol (EG) continue to see attractive growth. This means that at least one or two new plants will need ...
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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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The role of biofuels in the energy transition
Apr-2022
Overcoming the challenges of coprocessing renewables.
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Energy management and sustainability of the downstream industry
Jun-2022
Energy management must feature in any strategy in the downstream industry for both environmental impact and economic competitiveness.
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CCS from refinery emissions: CO2 purity must be analysed and controlled
Jun-2020
One of the most promising measures to decarbonise refinery operations is carbon capture and storage (CCS) from existing combustion processes, such as process ...
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IMO 2020 - Maritime CEMS and refinery changes
May-2020
For several years, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has stipulated low levels of sulphur emissions close to densely populated coastal areas, ...
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Environmental monitoring and management in the downstream oil and gas sector
Apr-2020
Keeping it clean, keeping it green. Ground water, rain water run-off and effluent. Contaminated soil replacement in spillage areas, excavated soil disposal ...
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Rejuvenated catalysts optimise refinery margins in high severity ULSD applications
Jun-2022
Rejuvenated catalysts compare well with fresh catalysts for performance in high pressure ULSD applications with added cost savings.
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Reducing NOx emissions from an FCC unit (TIA)
Aug-2018
Refinery processes account for a considerable share of the overall emissions of air pollutants in Europe. The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) is the ...
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Refinery protection with gas detection
Apr-2020
Based on several recent M&A transaction valuations it is fair to say that the price tag of a medium-sized, medium-complexity refinery in Europe is in the ...
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The hazards of fired heater flooding
Nov-2020
Heater flooding is a serious and potentially dangerous condition which must be dealt with properly and quickly.
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Waste recycling: an opportunity for refiners?
Aug-2020
The Circular Economy has been established as the number one priority in the European Green Deal and innovative recycling technologies are helping refiners ...
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Navigating environmental complexities at pace
Nov-2022
Revamping existing hydrogen plants can provide a significant and lasting impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions towards net zero.
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Achieving 95% direct CO2 reduction for hydrogen plants
Jun-2022
Decarbonisation solutions targeting existing refinery hydrogen plants enable refiners to achieve long-term CO2 capture while minimising site space requirements ...
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Detection of VOCs demands continuous innovation in calibration gases
Oct-2011
With an ever-increasing number of processing plants coming on stream worldwide to keep up with the burgeoning petrochemical industry, the focus on the ...
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Using infrared monitors to achieve auxiliary flare pilot monitoring (TIA)
Jul-2018
Infrared flare pilot monitoring as a primary or secondary monitoring solution provides a pilot status signal when thermocouple failures occur and assures ...
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Reliability analysis to determine environmental emissions from units
Jul-2010
Reliability analysis determines the extent to which plant can meet emission limits and supports estimates of possible financial penalties for non-comp ...
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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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Evaluating hydrogen rich fuel gas firing
Mar-2021
A sudden shift to hydrogen rich fuel gas firing may not be prudent if a fired heater is not designed for it.
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Capturing carbon dioxide from refinery streams
Aug-2020
Using hydrogen manufacturing units to demonstrate the relative benefits of technologies for capturing carbon from low and high pressure streams.
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Catalyst switch solves NOx removal issues
Jun-2021
Changing to a corrugated honeycomb design from a pellet type for catalytic NOx reduction of a furnace’s flue gas stream overcame a series of operational ...
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Acid gas fired reheater control
Jun-2021
Operating as close as possible to the stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio is advised for acid gas fired reheaters.
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Improved SOx reduction in partial burn FCC
Nov-2021
Refinery applications of a new additive demonstrate improved SOx reduction performance in partial burn FCC operation
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Optimising hydrotreating catalyst reuse with Excel rejuvenation technology (ERTC)
Dec-2021
The refining industry is currently under pressure to optimise profit margins in challenging financial conditions while adapting to a changing global climate ...
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The cost of hydrogen production
Apr-2022
Selecting routes to hydrogen production calls for a balance of environmental impact and cost.
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Sustainable aviation fuel: prepare for take-off!
Dec-2022
Despite the unprecedented drop in global air traffic due to the Covid-19 crisis in the past years, passenger numbers and cargo volumes are anticipated ...
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Catalytic strategies to meet gasoline sulphur limits
Apr-2015
Stricter regulations reducing average gasoline sulphur content will require further reduction of FCC gasoline sulphur
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Run length improvement and emissions reduction in delayed coker heaters
May-2023
For many refineries, the delayed coker unit is a vital component of refinery profitability. The tubes used in delayed coker units foul and must be decoked ...
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Reduce the carbon footprint of tail gas treating with reactivated catalysts
May-2023
Times have changed since catalytic processes were established.
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Petrochemical complex digitalisation for greater efficiency and emissions reduction
Apr-2023
Concepts of automation and data exchange in manufacturing have propelled both upstream and downstream sectors into the 4.0 world, gradually extending to ...
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Importance of effective and efficient data analysis and visualisation
Apr-2023
Kit-based ‘out-of-the-box’ dashboard solutions address many industry challenges, both in making better and faster decisions and simplifying and accelerating ...
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Energy saving with tube inserts for heat exchangers
Apr-2023
When it comes to fouling in crude oil preheat trains, tube inserts can maximise heat transfer and reduce heat exchanger fouling, with an average six-month ...
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Methanol from CO2: a technology and outlook overview
Apr-2023
Optimal capture of CO2 towards methanol production compels development of sustainable renewable solutions like green methanol.
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Reduce emissions and improve refinery profitability
Mar-2023
Tools and solutions for the naphtha complex and beyond.Today, refineries and petrochemical facilities across the globe are faced with the challenges of ...
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Co-processing renewables in a hydrocracker
Mar-2023
Understanding and controlling the impact on catalyst performance, yields, and product properties is key to renewables co-processing in hydrocracking u ...
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Preventing corrosion resulting from renewables conversion
Feb-2023
Many oil and gas companies are repurposing refineries to produce renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and other renewable biofuels and products. ...
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How refineries are saving time and money protecting assets
Feb-2023
The oil and gas industry is seeing a rise in demand and is taking vital steps to avoid disruption in production by preventing corrosion in process vessels, ...
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Reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in fired heaters
Feb-2023
A global inventory of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions recently published by One Earth suggests that global cumulative emissions could be reduced by up ...
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How to improve energy efficiency, reliability and asset integrity
Feb-2023
A global inventory of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions recently published by One Earth suggests that global cumulative emissions could be reduced by up ...
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Unfire your heater for better performance
Feb-2023
The benefits of implementing dispersed combustion in fired heaters in order to align with current and future NOx requirements using a practical techno ...
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An introduction to fouling in fired heaters: Part three burner fouling
Feb-2023
Burner fouling: To keep a fired heater operating optimally it is important to distribute heat as evenly as possible.
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Ten easy hacks for heater and combustion engineers
Feb-2023
It’s not possible to run heater simulations out in the field. Here we highlight rules, formulas and easy hacks to help fired heater engineers in their ...
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Innovation: Implementing cutting-edge technology without getting cut
Feb-2023
Communication is key. How manufacturers and operations personnel can improve on the end result by collaborating in the use of new equipment.
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Increasing draft from a natural draft stack
Feb-2023
Easy methods to check if your heater is out of draft.
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A confounding problem: Vibration issues in boilers and furnaces
Feb-2023
There’s a whole lot of shaking going on – but why? Identifying industry trends that have contributed to this issue and what can increase the likelihood ...
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Fired heater features – what’s that on top of the stack for?
Feb-2023
Finding out what the purpose of the cone featured on the top of some heater stacks is and what it actually does.
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Achieving Fit for 55 emission reduction targets by 2030
Feb-2023
Options available to oil refineries in reducing CO2 emissions while providing a clearer vision on possible roadmaps.
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Sustainable aviation fuel: prepare for take-off!
Dec-2022
Despite the unprecedented drop in global air traffic due to the Covid-19 crisis in the past years, passenger numbers and cargo volumes are anticipated ...
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Solution for ammonia monitoring in CEMS and DeNOx applications
Nov-2022
The SERVOTOUGH Laser 3 Plus Environmental delivers Tunable Diode Laser sensing precision to ammonia monitoring applications in a low-maintenance, cost-effective ...
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Nov-2022
Chemical absorption is both technically and economically feasible for biogas upgrading under atmospheric conditions, thereby avoiding the need for com ...
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Navigating environmental complexities at pace
Nov-2022
Revamping existing hydrogen plants can provide a significant and lasting impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions towards net zero.
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Safer and efficient combustion for fired heaters and boilers
Nov-2022
A technological approach to achieving efficiency improvements, CO2 emissions reduction, and parallel effects in NOx emissions control in a crude oil-fired ...
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