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Reducing hydrocarbons in SWS acid gas
Oct-2016
Measures to minimise the level of hydrocarbons in sour water and thereby protect the efficiency of the sulphur plant.
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Decrease catalyst costs by regeneration, analysis and sorting
Mar-2012
Use of regenerated catalyst can be maximised by careful sampling and analysis of spent catalyst to construct a reactor contamination profile
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Cracking hydrocarbon feedstock with a heavy tail
Mar-2013
The introduction of a vapour/liquid separation step allows for the efficient removal of a heavy tail from the furnace convection section
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Strategies for increasing production of light cycle oil
Oct-2009
Refineries should consider several strategies, including recycle and enhanced catalyst activity, to increase LCO output from the FCCU while minimising ...
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Tray hydraulic operating regimes 
and selectivity
Apr-2010
Tray hydraulics is discussed in terms of froth and spray operating regimes, and possible impacts on selectivity are pointed out by reference to performance ...
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Stop gas leaks from compressor packings
Apr-2015
A new piston rod sealing technology based on a pressurised oil barrier can eliminate a significant source of gas leaks from reciprocating compressors.
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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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Designing for sulphur removal and storage: part 1
Apr-2010
Selection of technologies for the sulphur block must serve legislative demands and the efficient operation of upstream processes
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FCC product fractionation for maximum LCO
Jul-2017
For increased production of diesel over gasoline, maximising recovery of LCO from the FCC reactor can be part of the scheme
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Isokinetic nozzles for steam sampling
Nov-2016
The proper design of a sampling system is critical for a sample that is representative of the stream to be measured.
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Crude oil cargo selection and time frame of LP optimisation
Jul-2010
Combinatorial selection is the most rigorous and theoretically correct method of crude oil cargo evaluation. Efficient algorithms are key to its imple ...
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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
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Improving residue hydrocracking performance
Jul-2011
Trials with a catalyst system for enhanced transfer of hydrogen to asphaltenes show reduced sediment formation and fouling in ebullated-bed residue hy ...
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Delayed coking: valves make the difference
Jan-2009
Traditional manual methods of coke drum unheading are labour intensive, costly to maintain, expensive to repair and carry inherent risk for personnel on ...
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Risks of accumulated sulphur in sulphur recovery units
Apr-2014
While recovering sulphur in an SRU depends on condensation of sulphur, its unintended condensation and accumulation can present problems.
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Tray technology 
enhances extraction
Oct-2007
A case study involving the revamp of two rotating disc contactors in aromatics service highlights the most important design considerations for enhancing ...
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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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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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Sep-2006
Operational issues such as higher heater duty and column pressure must be weighed against avoiding residue entrainment in HVGO
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Improving refinery distillation operations
Apr-2008
The outline of a route map or staged approach to unit process improvement follows similar steps to those taken when installing advanced controls on a ...
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Sharing the load: proper control methods for parallel refrigeration compressors
Jan-2015
Parallel refrigeration machines have been in use for decades in the LNG industry primarily for the Phillips Cascade LNG process which utilises parallel ...
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Delayed coking as a sustainable refinery solution
Jun-2021
Fuel grade coke is a serious environmental pollutant but the producer, the delayed coking process, can be a contributor to future sustainable development ...
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Role of fired heater safety systems
Jul-2013
A fully automated burner management system operating as a SIS for burner control can meet minimum safety targets, improve system availability and lower ...
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Valuable liquids from refinery gases
Oct-2012
With appropriate treatment schemes, refinery off-gases can be valuable sources of olefins and hydrogen
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A cheaper way of alkylating propylene and amylenes
Oct-1997
The authors describe how propylene and amylenes can be alkylated using much less sulphuric acid catalyst
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Mar-2012
The source of a fouling problem in a FCC CO boiler was identified by systematic analysis of fresh catalysts, additives and equilibrium catalysts
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Catalyst catastrophes in hydrogen plants
Jan-2006
Processing mishaps can occur if catalyst is placed in abnormal conditions. These catastrophes include temperature runaways, the formation of toxic nickel ...
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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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Developments in H2S scavenging
Jun-2018
Advances in the application of triazine scavengers have significantly 
improved process efficiencies.
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Gases: identifying hazards and mitigating risks
Feb-2012
Although critical for the operation of refineries and petrochemical plants, industrial gases can be associated with a spectrum of possible hazards and ...
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Understanding FCC feeds and benefits to refinery operation
Apr-2015
In this work, over one hundred FCC feed samples, originating from diverse geographic locations and consisting of assorted FCC refinery streams, were a ...
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Sulphidation corrosion in a claus waste heat boiler
Aug-2021
Simulation enabled a refiner to avoid potentially dangerous operating conditions in a sulphur recovery unit.
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Optimise hydrocracker operations for maximum distillates
Apr-2012
Estimation of an accurate operating window for a hydrocracker enables refiners to minimise yields of light ends and maximise diesel production
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RFCC units set new standard for propylene production
Oct-2012
RFCC units are being commissioned and operated to convert hydrotreated and straight-run resid to high levels of propylene
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Metathesis for maximum propylene
Apr-2006
Using metathesis technology to process refinery-based C4 feedstocks can maximise propylene. The economic advantages of flow schemes using alpha-olefins ...
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Value maximisation in FCC units using multispecialty catalyst formulation
Feb-2023
Increasing propylene yields while reducing bottoms production.
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Simplifying hydrogen production
Jun-2017
Catalyst systems developed for the purification and reforming sections of the hydrogen plant target significant barriers to efficient production.
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Realities of heat flux in fired heaters
Nov-2020
Uneven radiant heat flux distribution is a major cause of poor reliability in refinery fired heaters.
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Challenges of heavy crude processing
Oct-2012
A review of upgrading options and refinery configurations to process heavy crudes profitably. Refiners have long faced a major dilemma when designing refineries ...
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Stripping sour water: the effect of heat stable salts
Oct-2012
Mass transfer rate-based simulation models sour water stripping and assesses the distribution of ammonia in conventional amine treating systems
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Acid gas treatment upgrade for Qatargas
Jul-2016
Upgrading acid gas treatment at the world’s largest LNG facility safeguards the plant’s design capacity and its ability to process increasingly sour ...
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SOx and NOx emission abatement in the FCC
Feb-2018
The complexities of sulphur and nitrogen species formation in the FCC call for tailor made catalyst additive chemistry to limit formation of polluting ...
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Dec-2020
Leveraging IIOT concepts leads to a reduction in energy consumption and improved refining margin
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Refiner’s role in upgrading plastic waste
Sep-2022
Plastic consumption is projected to skyrocket in the coming decades for packaging, automobiles and construction, increasing to 1, 231 million tonnes in ...
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Catalyst technologies for improved FCC yields
Nov-2017
Boron based nickel passivation enables refiners to reduce contaminant hydrogen and coke production and improve FCC yields.
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Advances in residue hydrocracking
Mar-2018
Recent developments in ebullated bed hydrocracking technology target high residue conversion and high quality products.
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Electrification and medium voltage process heater systems
Feb-2022
Decarboniation efforts worldwide, led both by industry leaders and legislation, have increased efforts to shift fossil fuel use to renewables. One way ...
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Reducing hydrocarbons in SWS acid gas
Oct-2016
Measures to minimise the level of hydrocarbons in sour water and thereby protect the efficiency of the sulphur plant.
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Jan-2022
Improvements in performance and energy efficiency were achieved during the turnaround of a crude distillation unit.
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Choosing a neutralising amine corrosion inhibitor
Jul-2004
A review of physical and chemical properties of commonly used amine-based corrosion inhibitors. The authors highlight the relative strengths and weaknesses ...
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Future refinery complexes built using an integrated approach
Nov-2022
Minimise risks of project design changes at later stages using process digital twins during the design phase.
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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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High throughput experimentation meets chlorine chemistry
Nov-2022
A novel high throughput unit designed for the accelerated testing of HCl oxidation catalysts under industrially relevant conditions.
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Economics of refining catalysts
Nov-2022
Risk aversion, such as averting a dual-sourcing catalyst strategy, obstructs improved profit contribution, supply flexibility, adoption, and replication ...
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Rejuvenate profits and support sustainability with reused catalysts
Nov-2022
Rejuvenated catalysts can optimise refinery margins for cat feed hydrotreating (CFH) applications.
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Demystifying digital transformation
Nov-2022
How to automate and optimise operational processes using technology.
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Needle coke — overcoming quality challenges in a resurgent market
Nov-2022
The quality of needle coke precursors as a function of their origin and/or process is discussed against a backdrop of the drive to enhance quality, purity, ...
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Identifying the root cause of underperforming ejector systems
Nov-2022
Underperforming ejector systems illustrate the importance of the long air baffle, its proper operation, and how to quickly identify problems when they ...
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Tools for FCC unit troubleshooting
Nov-2022
Strategies, resources, and technology can help to rapidly identify potential operational problems in FCC units targeted for upgrading and optimisation ...
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Chemical cleaning and fouling removal technologies
Nov-2022
Chemical cleaning technologies for the removal of hazardous gases and problematic fouling deposits are explained.
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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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Crude preheat train fouling and fix-up
Nov-2022
Rigorous modelling of crude preheat train exchangers allows for fouling progression of the heat exchangers to be monitored throughout the crude unit run ...
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Nov-2022
Weld peaking or out-of-roundness affecting PSAs is evaluated, highlighting the value of conducting peaking measurements to determine a PSA’s inherent ...
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Advancing industries through materials technology
Oct-2022
At the end of August 2022, following shareholder approval of a proposal presented by the Sandvik AB board of directors, Sandvik Materials Technology officially ...
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Development and commercialisation of superabsorbent polymer technology
Oct-2022
As part of the Propylene Derived Petrochemical Project (PDPP) of BPCL Kochi Refinery (KR), superabsorbent polymer (SAP) was identified as one of the value-added ...
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Smarter and safer sulphur for refinery and petrochemical plants with SULSAFE
Oct-2022
Refiners and petrochemical operators are looking for a sustainable replacement for dimethyl disulphide (DMDS), which is known to be hazardous in the i ...
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Comprehensive energy efficiency improvement and benchmarking studies
Oct-2022
Climate change due to global warming has made it obligatory for all nations to reduce their carbon emissions to save the Earth and environment and undertake ...
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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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Catalyst technologies for enhancing profitability in the energy transition
Oct-2022
Fuels derived from fossil sources have been the dominant global energy vehicle for several decades despite making inroads into alternative fuels.
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Digital transformation of component repair boosts compressor uptime
Oct-2022
Valves, packing, and other replaceable components have a key influence on the performance and reliability of reciprocating compressors.
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Precious metals: managing the markets in a changing world
Oct-2022
The metals we call ‘precious’ were originally given that title based on their beauty and rarity. They were shiny, and people have always liked shiny. ...
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Oct-2022
Most refineries are adopting cloud-enabled digitalisation to reap the benefits of technology in terms of scale-up, security, and availability of the applications ...
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Indigenous technologies pave the way for crude oil-to-chemicals transition
Oct-2022
The crude oil-to-chemicals (COTC) transition is being brought in due to growth in petrochemicals, estimated at 1.4 times GDP, which could contribute to ...
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SprayMax FCC feed injection nozzles
Oct-2022
Fluid catalytic cracking is a well-established conversion process in the refining industry in which a low-value, heavy hydrocarbon liquid is converted ...
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Sulphur reduction, sulphur removal, and spent caustic reuse
May-2024
(White Paper) - Demand for flexible sulphur recovery solutions is increasing, including wet air oxidation, deep neutralisation, incineration, and processes ...
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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, ...