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Meeting future Indian gasoline market demands
Jun-2022
The role Indian oil refiners can take in meeting gasoline demand with production of clean burning components.
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May-2021
Analysis of gases supports cleaner air initiatives in hydrocarbon processing. Increasingly, plant operators are becoming highly sensitive to their contribution ...
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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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Reducing environmental impact of FCCs with wet gas scrubbers by using SOx additives (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
Over the last 80 years, the FCC has played a critical role in the refining industry and continues to adapt to shifting industry conditions. The next opportunity ...
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Profitably complying with red ii: A q&a with shell biofuel technology specialists (ERTC)
Nov-2020
Though it may be tempting to see the EU’s revised renewable energy directive (RED II) as simply another legislative burden, this conversation with Shell ...
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A model for refinery profitability
Nov-2021
Creating a culture of optimisation through a harmonised business process
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Catalyst testing for renewable fuels and chemicals
Nov-2023
The possibilities and best practices to run renewable feedstocks in high throughput units are presented.
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Transforming a refinery unit into a key component of end-of-life plastic circularity (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
Every year, in Europe alone, roughly 30 million tonnes of plastic waste is collected. However, more than 80% of that resource is not recycled into new ...
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Managing life cycle assessment and life cycle thinking in refining
Nov-2023
LCA and LCT facilitate the ability to quantitatively determine the impact on integrated environmental management benefits as demonstrated at 10 processing ...
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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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Mar-2022
Energy transition benchmarks have surged in 2021 and prices are expected to remain highly volatile. Transparency is key in this evolving market.
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Sustainability rankings matter
Jun-2022
From the workers on the production floor to corporate management pursuing higher returns, the common bond in the 100+ year old refining business is cultivation ...
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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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Emerging LOHC technology (TiA)
May-2024
The use of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) is part of broader research into hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy carrier.
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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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Reduce, reuse, and repurpose: Minor changes for major results (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
Transformational change within a refinery can be challenging to navigate. New policies that incentivise sustainability also require significant invest ...
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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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Energy efficiency: project optimisation through proven tools and practices (ERTC)
Dec-2021
The world’s refining sector is at a pivotal inflection point where operators must evolve to remain competitive following a challenging year.
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Nov-2020
The energy transition is all about supplying the world’s growing needs for energy and mobility in a more sustainable way.
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Adding value with catalyst testing — supporting refineries in challenging times (ERTC)
Nov-2020
The refining industry is under enormous pressure to adapt to the global changes led by measures against climate change.
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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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CO2-derived bio-based polycarbonate: A route towards sustainability (RI 2023)
Nov-2023
The continuous depletion of fossil-based feedstock and excessive emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂) has affected the ecological environment and become ...
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Thoughts about leadership in the energy transition times (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
Amidst the dynamic canvas of the energy transition, the beacon of effective leadership shines ever brighter, illuminating the path through challenges toward ...
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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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Optimising processes and operations for CO2 emissions reduction
Feb-2022
A proactive approach can achieve immediate CO2 emissions reduction with almost no investments while reducing operating costs.
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Application of CFD in NOx reduction
Oct-2009
A study of parameters affecting NOx formation in an ageing boiler unit confirmed the measures needed to meet emissions targets
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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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Greater environmental protection from monitoring lower levels of contaminents
Apr-2010
A burgeoning world population and the industrialisation necessary to meet its needs have led to massive technological advances in all facets of human ...
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Online real-time optimisation helps identify energy gaps
Oct-2010
Real-time supervision of a refinery’s energy system enables optimisation of its fuel consumption and emissions levels
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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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Drivers for zero discharge in refineries
Jan-2011
Wastewater treatment utilising zero-discharge techniques has reduced the impact of effluent discharges
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Preventing environmental excursions on the FCC unit
Jul-2011
Guidelines to enable the FCC engineer to identify and eliminate the root cause of unexpected flue gas emissions
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FCC catalysts and additives for cost and emissions control
Oct-2012
A rare earth-free catalyst enabled a refinery to reduce its FCC catalyst costs and a non-platinum combustion promoter helped control NOx emissions
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Jan-2013
Poor-quality crude oils and strict environmental regulations promote the use of technologies that favour energy savings and environmental protection
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Reducing emission treatment costs for gas processors
Mar-2013
Regenerative thermal oxidising abatement technology is effective in amine tail gas treatment operations due to energy-efficient operation and reliabil ...
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There are more roads that lead to Rome. Which is the best route for you?
Dec-2013
In our modern society the need for energy is still increasing in a rapid pace, with expectations that hydrocarbon fuels production will have to almost ...
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Meeting tighter NOx emissions rules
Jul-2014
A low temperature oxidation technology uses ozone to remove very low levels of nitrogen oxide from refinery gases
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Driving refining change: part 2
Sep-2014
A look at how automotive emissions legislation and the drive for energy sustainability are impacting the refining industry.
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Monitoring and controlling emissions 
in Europe
Jan-2015
Implementing the EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive calls for quality and consistency in technologies for monitoring and controlling emissions.
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Moving targets: how ever changing air quality regulations are driving process decisions
Jun-2015
Historically, the concern of process engineers was the design and operation of plants to do primarily one thing, efficiently meet product specifications. ...
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Preparing for the energy transition
Feb-2020
The industrial energy transition is characterised by fast-moving changes, technological developments, and a high degree of uncertainty.
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Decarbonisation, electrification and the case for modern electric process heaters
Jul-2020
Companies in liquified natural gas (LNG) and other industries have been taking bold steps to reduce their carbon footprint.
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DWC technology for improved separation and reduced CO2 emissions
Oct-2022
The two most important challenges today’s refinery and petrochemical industries are facing from a sustainability point of view are reducing carbon footprints ...
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Efficient and cost-effective amine purification process
Oct-2022
In refineries and gas processing complexes, H₂S and CO₂ present in the sour gases are removed using an aqueous solution of alkanolamine.
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What about a CBAM for the refining industry? (ERTC)
Nov-2022
In 2020, when oil demand and refining margins collapsed during the pandemic, we saw a tidal wave of industry rationalisation across the world; many refineries ...
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Facilitating adoption of carbon capture on fcc flue gas (ERTC)
Nov-2022
Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) is a key conversion step in gasoline production.
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Sustainable energy management is becoming increasingly important for refineries (ERTC)
Nov-2022
Energy is the big topic throughout Europe. Where does it come from, what is it used for, and how can we save it?
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Insights from Shell Rheinland’s transition to net zero
Nov-2022
When a refiner is defining its decarbonisation plans, it is likely to face a daunting realisation: of all the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions for which ...
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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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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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Can refiners afford carbon capture?
Jan-2010
CCS is not widely considered an economical way of reducing refiners’ carbon footprints, but case studies indicate great variation in the cost of imp ...
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Application of CFD in NOx reduction
Oct-2009
A study of parameters affecting NOx formation in an ageing boiler unit confirmed the measures needed to meet emissions targets
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Revamping hydrogen and sulphur plants to meet future challenges
Oct-2009
Revamp opportunities for hydrogen and sulphur plant operations in the era of clean fuels production offer significant benefits for 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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FCCU particulate emissions control with a Shell third stage separator:
a case study
Sep-2009
Third Stage Separators (TSS) have been utilised for many years to protect turbo expanders installed on FCCU regenerator flue gas systems.
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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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Computational fluid dynamic modelling of refinery combustion processes
Jul-2009
Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modelling has been widely used for a relatively short period in the refining and petrochemical industries for modelling ...
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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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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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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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Apr-2009
Major opportunities for energy efficiency and reduction of GHG emissions within a refinery/petrochemical complex are identified. Work process methodology ...
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Reducing NOx emissions from FCC regenerators
Mar-2009
Case study demonstrates the performance of new technology for reducing NOx emissions in regenerator flue gas. The new developments reduce NOx emissions ...
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Industrial design and optimisation of CO2 capture, dehydration and compression facilities
Mar-2009
On an industrial-scale process, a comprehensive engineering design and optimisation study was conducted for CO2 capture, dehydration and compression facilities ...
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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 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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SO2 scrubbing in 
refinery applications
Jan-2009
Emissions control and by-product capture can add value from flue gas streams generated by FCCU, process heaters, sulphur plants and spent acid regeneration ...
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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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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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Analysing economic viability of opportunity crudes
Jul-2008
Challenges to refinery heavy oil upgrades are discussed. Demand for heavy and high-TAN crudes continues to rise as light sweet crude reserves decline. ...
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May-2008
The Shell Claus Offgas Treating (SCOT) process has been developed to remove sulphur compounds from Claus tail gas to comply with even more stringent emission ...
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Gasification/IGCC to improve refinery operations
Apr-2008
Gasification and IGCC in refineries is discussed in light of increased attention to CO2 emissions and environmental performance.
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Securing fuel supply and reducing GHG emissions
Apr-2008
Six strategic options are available to refiners to satisfy future energy and environmental requirements in the light of surging oil prices and public concerns ...
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Reducing FCC SOx in 
partial-burn regenerators
Apr-2008
Latest developments in SOx-reduction additives are discussed along with their relative merits and appropriate applications
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Cracking heater convection retrofit with integral SCR
Apr-2008
When faced with a state-imposed mandate to reduce NOx emissions from a steam cracker, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP (CPChem) determined that the ...
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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 ...