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Implementing real time optimisation technology
Jul-2015
Modelling implementation of real time optimisation and its potential for increased profitability in refining processes
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Tracking performance degradation in a debutaniser column
Jan-2013
A project applying statistical and data mining techniques to historical operating data identified the root causes of a debutaniser’s poor performanc ...
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Hydrocracker parametric sensitivity study
Apr-2009
Product yields and hydrogen consumption were predicted using a discreet lumping model. The model was used to study unit responses to changes in operating ...
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Column design using mass transfer rate simulation
Apr-2002
This article looks at examples of commercial columns used in CO2 removal and selective H2S treating, comparing performance test data to demonstrate benefits ...
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Engineering gas-to-liquids projects — Part 1
Jul-2004
An insight into the R&D, optimisation and engineering activities needed to take Fischer-Tropsch pilot plant data through all development stages
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Optimising petrochemical operations
Jan-2008
Substantial increases in profit can be achieved in refinery/aromatics operations using methodology and modelling tools that incorporate multiple degrees ...
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Apr-2014
Reliability is a buzz word used a lot these days. You hear it a lot and it means different things to different people based on their job description.
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Vacuum unit design for high 
metals crudes
Jan-2007
Vacuum unit design can influence vacuum gas yield, product quality and run length. A wet vacuum unit with residue stripping achieves the highest cutpo ...
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Troubleshooting refinery equipment with multiphase CFD modelling
Jan-2014
Computational fluid dynamics is a useful and increasingly practical tool for improving the design of and increasing the understanding of common process ...
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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.
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Economic alternative for remote and stranded natural gas and ethane in the US
Aug-2014
The recent abundance of natural gas in widespread locations of the US has resulted in many resources being remote or stranded, creating the need for economical ...
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Troubleshooting a C3 splitter tower Part 2: Root cause and solution
Jan-2015
Distillation trays are prone to channelling and multi-pass maldistribution in large diameter towers. Multichordal gamma scanning is used for solving such ...
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Laser scanning with dimensional control
Apr-2017
Integrating traditional methodology with new scanning technologies to achieve higher order accuracies for critical interfaces and tie-in points
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Adjusting gas treatment strategies to resolve methanol issues
Aug-2016
It is not uncommon today for producers to introduce methanol into their hydrocarbon systems, either as a means of hydrate inhibition, as an additive blended ...
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Improved predictions for amine sweetening facilities
Oct-2001
A review of the work that has been done to avoid the severe problems that benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene can impose on sulphur recovery ass ...
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Data operations transform fuels value
May-2019
A refiner applied advanced analytics to develop techniques for processing opportunity crudes which minimise negative effects on the plant.
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Proper interpretation of freezing and hydrate prediction results from process simulation
Mar-2006
This paper focuses on the modelling of solid phase behaviour in systems that are frequently encountered in natural gas processing. The ability to perform ...
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Gas treating simulation — a holistic perspective part 3: co2 removal in an LNG plant
May-2013
This is the final article in a three-part series dealing with CO2 removal in a variety of real-world cases in which the behaviour of the gas treating plant ...
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Should you rely on your simulation results?
Dec-2020
Avoiding some of the pitfalls of process simulation
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Optimization and throughput opportunities at PTT PLC’s amine plant
Jun-2015
Removal of CO2 from natural gas is a necessary treating step before cryogenic processing. At the PTT Public Limited Company Gas Processing Plant 5, the ...
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Integration of planning processes
Oct-2015
A group was established to integrate management processes across all areas of refinery activity to identify opportunities for increasing product values ...
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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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Fouling and cleaning analysis of a heat exchanger network
Dec-2019
Analysis of a complex heat exchanger network employs a digital twin model to establish a programme for fouling and cleaning.
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Improve sulphur plant performance through simulation
Jun-2017
The various units of the sulphur plant are closely connected, creating process dependencies that can be better understood using simulation.
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Digital twins enhance LNG plant performance
May-2019
Digitalisation technologies offer new and disruptive ways to overcome the challenges of increasing margin, reducing carbon emissions and addressing talent ...
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Jul-2006
Benchmarking is an important tool in routine FCC data evaluations. It can be used to validate unit data as well as identify areas for improved perform ...
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Vacuum unit design for high 
metals crudes
Jan-2007
Vacuum unit design can influence vacuum gas yield, product quality and run length. A wet vacuum unit with residue stripping achieves the highest cutpo ...
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Acid gas enrichment part II: maximising selectivity
Apr-2008
By recycling about 70% of enriched gas back to the front end of an acid gas enrichment unit, an almost two-fold improvement in SRU feed quality can be ...
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Optimising crude 
unit design
Apr-2009
Real retrofit examples demonstrate how crude units can be successfully optimised with the crude slates currently being processed. Process design strategies ...
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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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Modelling for ULSD optimisation
Apr-2011
On-line coordination and optimisation of refinery process units led to a 10% increase in middle distillate production
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FCC catalyst optimisation in response to rare earth prices
Oct-2011
Lower levels of rare-earth catalyst formulations offset higher raw material costs, but refiners must consider the effects on catalyst performance and ...
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High-acid crude processing enabled by unique use of computational fluid dynamics
Oct-2013
A methodology for applying CFD enables faster identification of pipe elements that are the most vulnerable to attack by high-acid crudes
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Protecting compressors with dynamic simulation
Apr-2014
Dynamic simulation supports reliable operation of compressor installations to deliver maximum plant availability and productivity
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Seven rules of sedimentation in hydrocracking
Apr-2015
Guidelines to mitigate sedimentation fouling in heavy sour crude processing together with case studies illustrating how the improvements are captured.
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Jul-2015
Computational fluid dynamics was used to analyse the performance of side entry mixers in large crude tanks
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Sep-2016
Automation at start-up, supported by dynamic simulation, is desirable if it can be accomplished with a modest amount of engineering effort
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Simulating crude units with preflash
Nov-2016
Process simulation offers a cost effective way of testing ideas to improve yield and energy performance.
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Dynamic column simulation delivers reduced relief load
Jan-2018
Dynamic modelling of a gasoline hydrodesulphurisation column simulates the column relief profile during power failure
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Mar-2018
Scalable simulation of crude unit operations enables refineries to build increasingly rigorous models to enhance performance
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Claus waste heat boiler economics Part 2: mechanical considerations
May-2019
The design of a cost effective waste heat boiler faces many, often opposing factors affecting the performance and reliability of the exchanger.
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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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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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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.
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Tray revamp restores crude column performance
Jan-2019
Retrofitting the packed top section of a crude atmospheric tower with high capacity trays improved separation efficiency
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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
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Best practice in energy efficiency
Apr-2015
Energy management software tools provide solutions for energy savings from design through operation
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Claus sulphur recovery options
Apr-1997
This article examines some Claus modifications which can alleviate operational difficulties and improve overall sulphur recovery
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Managing training simulator projects
Oct-2006
Operator training simulators are not cheap, yet their value in preparing personnel for the fast startup and operation of new process plants is signifi ...
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Improve sulphur plant performance through simulation
Jun-2017
The various units of the sulphur plant are closely connected, creating process dependencies that can be better understood using simulation.
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Optimization of an existing Habshan II amine sweetening unit
Jul-2016
As part of its ongoing optimisation effort, Abu Dhabi Gas Industries (GASCO) is working with the Petroleum Institute (PI) and Bryan Research and Engineering ...
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The role of tail gas treating unit 
quench towers
Jun-2016
A quench tower cools gas entering a tail gas amine unit but also protects the amine against SO2 breakthrough.
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Energy savings in preheat trains with preflash
Jun-2016
An eastern European refinery combined pinch technology and process simulation to achieve the most cost effective energy savings
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How dynamic pressure can affect vacuum column readings
Jun-2016
Computational fluid dynamics confirmed field measurements to explain a vacuum unit’s poor quality HVGO and was used to redesign the tower internals
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Impact of light tight oils on distillate hydrotreater operation
Apr-2016
Addressing the range of challenges brought to diesel and jet production by light tight oil processing
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Monitoring and simulation resolves overhead corrosion
Mar-2016
Online corrosion monitoring in tandem with simulation modelling identified the root cause of corrosion in a crude unit overhead
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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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Operator training simulator accelerates learning (TIA)
Jan-2016
As technology becomes more complex and companies strive to do more with fewer personnel, having a highly skilled workforce is paramount.
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Integration of planning processes
Oct-2015
A group was established to integrate management processes across all areas of refinery activity to identify opportunities for increasing product values ...
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Oct-2015
Understanding the full scope of projects and acting upon the right engineering choices reduces capital risk
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Jul-2015
Computational fluid dynamics was used to analyse the performance of side entry mixers in large crude tanks
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Implementing real time optimisation technology
Jul-2015
Modelling implementation of real time optimisation and its potential for increased profitability in refining processes
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Leveraging real-time environmental analytics to improve air quality performance
Jul-2015
The Problem - Federal, state and local air quality mandates are becoming more stringent. Regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, emanating from the U.S. ...
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Optimization and throughput opportunities at PTT PLC’s amine plant
Jun-2015
Removal of CO2 from natural gas is a necessary treating step before cryogenic processing. At the PTT Public Limited Company Gas Processing Plant 5, the ...
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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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What a difference a few months can make: how to respond to the oil price drop
May-2015
For five years, high energy prices drove strong capital investment and strong profit margins throughout the industry. Those same economics also encouraged ...
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Seven rules of sedimentation in hydrocracking
Apr-2015
Guidelines to mitigate sedimentation fouling in heavy sour crude processing together with case studies illustrating how the improvements are captured.
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Improving CO2 absorber performance in LNG production
Apr-2015
Simulation of deep CO2 removal in LNG and syngas applications, combined with intercooling, maximises effectiveness of piperazine-promoted MDEA solvent ...
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Tube alloy degradation in a steam cracking furnace
Apr-2015
Understanding catalytic coke growth mechanisms to better predict and optimise furnace service times with tube alloy degradation
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Best practice in energy efficiency
Apr-2015
Energy management software tools provide solutions for energy savings from design through operation
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3D scanning corrrects design clashes
Apr-2015
A contractor in Nigeria applied 3D laser scanning to overcome design clashes that had led to postponement of planned revamps in a gas platform
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Three steps to successful processing of shale and other opportunity feedstocks
Mar-2015
Careful blending of incoming feedstocks makes it possible to create an input 
stream to the refinery that is a better match than any crude source ...
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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 ...
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Dynamic simulation of process controls
Jan-2015
Simulation of a catalytic naphtha reformer confirmed the accurate performance of control instrumentation
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Optimisation of a diesel 
hydrotreating unit
Jan-2015
A model based on operating data is used to meet sulphur product specifications at lower DHT reactor temperatures with longer catalyst life