Impact of bitumen feeds 
on the FCCU: part I

Jul-2008

The impact of processing bitumen-derived feeds on FCC operations and product yields is assessed, and the capital investments required to process varying ...

Chemical analysis in amine system operations

Jul-2013

The array of contaminants that can disrupt the operation of alkanolamine systems needs to be precisely characterised and analysed

Characterising and tracking contaminants in opportunity crudes

Jan-2014

The specific properties of contaminants in opportunity crudes affect the selection of crude slates for existing facilities and the design of revamps and ...

Oil recovery from tank sludge

Nov-2017

Thorough tank cleaning means removing all of the sludge and restoring the vessel’s full storage capacity.

Unconventional crude oil selection and compatibility

Mar-2011

Crude selection and compatibility considerations are a critical part of a successful refinery operation. Constantly changing quality conventional and unconventional ...

Processing shale oil in an FCC unit: 
catalyst and profit optimisation

Aug-2015

Adjustments in base catalyst, use of ZSM-5 additives and metal traps enable efficient processing of paraffinic and heavy crude in the presence of metals ...

Designing a crude unit heat 
exchanger network

Oct-2012

Preheat train design for heavy Canadian crudes can be very challenging, requiring an approach not normally required with other crudes

Analysis method for determining bound and free alkanolamines in HSS contaminated solutions

Jul-1990

A conductometric titration method has been developed to determine the true available alkanolamine in solutions used for H2S and CO2 removal from refinery ...

Upgrading residues for high levels of distillate production

Oct-2009

A slurry hydrocracking reactor technology demonstrates a high level of conversion of vacuum residues to distillate and gasoline

Deep-cut vacuum unit design

Oct-2005

Process modelling and equipment know-how are needed to design deep-cut vacuum units that operate reliably at high temperature and low pressure

Full conversion of bitumen

Nov-2017

A line-up featuring ebullated bed hydrocracking delivers full conversion of bitumen, including production of premium diesel fuel

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 ...

Strategies for improved naphtha processing

Oct-2013

To take advantage of dilbit from Alberta and light oils from shale formations, refiners must develop a strategy for processing additional naphthas and ...

Canadian crude processing challenges

Jan-2008

Vacuum unit design influences liquid volume yields, run length, product 
yield and product quality when processing bitumen crude oils

Light tight oil crude comparison

Mar-2015

The production method for Eagle Ford and Bakken is via fracturing of the tight or shale formations in two different North America regions. Crude from the ...

Refinery design in China

Jan-2013

Poor-quality crude oils and strict environmental regulations promote the use of technologies that favour energy savings and environmental protection

Profiting with FCC feedstock diversity

Jul-2006

Gasoline sulphur-reduction catalysts and additives can provide additional options and flexibility while maximising refinery profitability

Unique qualities of Canadian bitumen and synthetic crudes

Jan-2010

As production of Canadian bitumen and synthetic crude oil expands, North American refinery feed slates enter new territory in terms of crude oil quali ...

Advances in residue upgrading technology

Apr-2002

A combination of mature technology and innovative catalyst design and process improvements provide the flexibility to upgrade heavier feeds

Reducing sulphur oxide emissions from the FCC unit

Feb-2010

Application of a SOx-reduction additive enabled a refiner to meet a pressing requirement to reduce emissions from its FCCU

The importance of using pilot plant testing for FCC catalyst selection

Aug-2013

In the EMEA region, over 65% of refineries perform catalyst testing prior to selecting FCC catalysts for their units.

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

Elimination of refinery sour gases and trace components

Jul-2007

Case study concerning elimination of sour gases and trace components from gasification gases. The objective is to produce pure hydrogen for hydrotreating ...

Improving FCC catalyst performance

Mar-2006

Higher volumes of heavier feeds can be processed with additives designed to enhance base catalyst effectiveness. Deactivation and dehydrogenation problems ...

Has the time for partial upgrading of heavy oil and bitumen arrived?

Oct-2009

Partial or field upgrading of heavy oil produces transportable synthetic crude oil and eliminates the need for diluents for transportation to refiners

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 ...

Vacuum unit performance

Oct-2012

Inaccurate feed characterisation and process modelling errors are major contributors to poor performance in a vacuum unit as refiners switch to heavier ...

Optimising desalter control

Aug-2019

Analysing desalter performance and improving crude blending capacity with multi-phase instrumentation and control.

Alberta’s crude oil reserves

Jul-2014

Recovery factors achieved by improved recovery techniques indicate that crude oil reserves in Alberta’s bitumen sands are the largest on earth

Wastewater treatment for challenging crudes

Jan-2018

A new organic polymer treatment has enabled refiners to more effectively process a variety of opportunity crudes

What is hydrogen embrittlement in metals, where in the plant is it most likely to occur, and how can we avoid it? (PTQ Q&A)

Oct-2020

Responses to a question in the Q3 2020 issue of PTQ

Residue upgrading

Apr-2006

An examination into the feedstock and process conditions where solvent deasphalting is the most appropriate technology for upgrading residue

Processing high TAN crude: part II

Jan-2011

Huizhou, which is the first refinery for processing 100% high TAN crude, started up in 2009. This article describes the challenges of an opportunity crude ...

Diverting low-sulphur heavy stocks for fuel oil production

Apr-2011

Studies enabled a refinery to divert low-value product stocks into higher-value products and preserve crude throughput levels

Has the time for partial upgrading of heavy oil and bitumen arrived?

Oct-2009

Partial or field upgrading of heavy oil produces transportable synthetic crude oil and eliminates the need for diluents for transportation to refiners

Sulphur recovery from lean 
sour gas streams

Nov-2013

Gas streams are often treated with amine or membrane systems to meet specifications before the gas can be sent to a pipeline or used in a fuel gas system. ...

Improving level control in desalters to aid in use of opportunity crudes

Sep-2019

Refineries are a complex set of various operating units designed to process crude oil into refined products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuels and feedstocks ...

Elimination of refinery sour gases and trace components

Jul-2007

Case study concerning elimination of sour gases and trace components from gasification gases. The objective is to produce pure hydrogen for hydrotreating ...

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

Maximise yields of high-quality diesel

Jun-2012

Global growth in distillate demand has driven refiners to investigate ways to increase middle distillate yields. Figure 1 shows the diesel-gasoline spot ...

A few sweet tricks for sour gas

May-2014

Large volumes of acid gas (H2S and SO2-rich gas) are generated from various technologies used to sweeten sour off-gases, or acid gas.

Predicting reactive heavy oil process operation

Oct-2014

Characterisation of feed and product yields through component structures for better understanding and prediction of operations

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

Crude fingerprinting and predictive analytics

Jul-2017

Predictive modelling technology has been developed to predict the behavioural characteristics of crude oils and their blends

Delayed coker revamp for a capacity increase

Mar-2021

Revamping to a three-drum coker arrangement delivered improved product yields, higher throughput, and greater feedstock flexibility.

Multi-phase project enables switch to heavier crude (TIA)

Aug-2021

In recent years, deasphalted oil (DAO) hydrocracking has emerged as a highly attractive investment option, principally because it provides the opportunity ...

An introduction to fouling in fired heaters: part 1

Apr-2022

Fouling is the accumulation and formation of unwanted materials on the surfaces of processing equipment.

Crude oil selection: optimisation by weight or by volume?

Apr-2010

The LP model should optimise crude and products in their trading units for accurate assessment of crude oil worth and maximisation of gains from product ...

Advances in amine reclaiming

Feb-2007

Why there is no excuse for operating a dirty amine system. The benefits of reclaiming amine systems are trumpeted by many and doubted by others.

Heavy feed characterisation: a molecular approach

Jun-2018

Characterising heavy feeds on a molecular basis, together with kinetic studies, accurately predicts the reactivity of a wide range of vacuum residues.