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World’s biggest sulphur forming site
Jul-2014
The Habshan Sulphur Granulation Plant, located about 16km southeast of the existing Habshan Gas Complex in Abu Dhabi, is about to be the world’s largest ...
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Tube and pipe fitting considerations for reliable, leak-tight process lines
Mar-2008
Unreliable process lines create excessive costs for industry in the form of higher operating expenditures, increased downtime and potentially negative ...
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Dividing wall technology in distillation columns
Feb-2020
Increased throughput required the revamp of a gasoline unit. Space constraints and strict product requirements led to dividing wall column technology as ...
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Selecting the “Best” fired heater
Jun-2013
Fired heaters are extensively used in the chemical process industry to heat process fluids and generate steam. Typically, fired heaters consume the largest ...
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Developments in hydrotreating catalyst
Sep-2016
How a second generation hydrotreating catalyst was developed for high pressure ultra-low sulphur diesel units and hydrocracker pretreaters.
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Catalyst passivation for safer, more efficient turnarounds
Apr-2018
Eliminating inert entry for catalyst changeout in a hydrocracker. Since hydrotreating and hydrocracking were introduced to the refining industry in the ...
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Jan-2009
Design considerations for clean diesel hydrotreating. Critical issues are 
discussed when designing a hydrotreating facility to produce diesel fuel ...
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Hydrocracking catalyst and processing developments
Jul-2009
Improvements to hydrocracking catalyst activity and selectivity at various operational and feedstocks conditions are discussed
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Advances in a catalyst cooler technology
Oct-1999
In this article reliability and flexibility of operation is assessed, and commercial experience of the technology in over 20 FCC units is discussed
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Using cold boiler feed water for energy recovery
Jan-2012
Feeding membrane deaerated cold boiler feed water to appropriate units will enable waste heat to replace substantial steam duty in a refinery
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Developments in cyclone technology improve FCC unit reliability
Jul-2010
Developments in FCC cyclone technology reduce problems of abrasion that cause unscheduled unit shutdowns
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Producing propylene 
glycol from biomass
Mar-2009
Process and catalytic considerations for producing propylene glycol from glycerin-derived biomass sources are compared to current conventional sources, ...
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Consolidation of refinery control rooms
Jan-2012
Migration of a refinery’s DCS provided an opportunity to reconfigure and consolidate the control rooms and operational management system
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Crude unit start-ups: the results of a 
high liquid level
Sep-2003
Pressure-measurement techniques can avoid the dangers of rapidly changing flow rates and levels during start-up
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Maximising distillate production from the FCC unit
Jul-1998
In the heating oil season, many refiners switch from a gasoline to a distillate mode of operation of the FCC unit, to increase light cycle oil yield
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Reciprocating compressors in a hydrogen plant
Aug-2016
A hydrogen producer chose moderate speed reciprocating compressors for its natural gas feed and hydrogen product services.
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Estimation of heat losses from process piping and equipment
Apr-2010
An accessible predictive tool calculates surface heat losses from refinery piping and equipment. The most important part of the energy management strategy ...
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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 ...
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COS and mercaptans removal from gases
Apr-2023
Challenges with removing trace sulphur species can be better understood and resolved with a new kinetic model validated by plant data in its ability to ...
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Oct-2004
A review of caustic treating technologies useful in the removal of volatile sulphur from sour light crudes
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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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ZSM-5 additive maximises propylene
Apr-2015
Multi-stage phosphorus treatment improves ZSM-5 zeolite stabilisation and creates more propylene producing acid sites.
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Continuous removal of contaminants from amine solutions
Oct-2011
A continuous purification system overcomes amine degradation and the formation of corrosion-promoting heat stable amine salts
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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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Shale crudes and FCC: 
a mismatch from heaven?
May-2014
Weighing the effects that the processing of shale oils has on FCC unit operation, such as iron poisoning of FCC catalysts.
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Hydrotreating challenges and opportunities with tight oil
Jan-2015
Tight oil’s contaminant and cold flow challenges require appropriate catalyst treatment systems
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The petrochemistry of paraxylene

Feb-2015
Understanding the basics of the paraxylene manufacturing process.
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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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Hydrogen transfer and ZSM-5 in maximising propylene
Apr-2015
Used at high concentrations to maximise propylene from the fluid catalytic cracking unit, ZSM-5 strongly influences a complex matrix of reactions.
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Maximising profitability with FCC feeds from opportunity crudes
May-2015
Case studies show how to achieve optimal monetisation value with opportunity feeds through operating strategies, innovative catalysts and technical st ...
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The challenges of crude blending - Part 1
Feb-2016
Declining crude prices encourage more spot purchases that save costs, but mixing different grades can create headaches for refiners.
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Feb-2016
An understanding of process basics and fouling mechanisms enables increased run length in problem columns.
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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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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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Jun-2016
Purification and dispersion strategies applied to hydroprocessing catalyst can improve reactor performance
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Direct oxidation sulphur recovery process for very lean acid gas applications
Jun-2016
Due to higher demand in desulphurisation and new environmental regulations, Companies need to find robust and efficient technologies while considering ...
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SRU simulation getting the properties right
Aug-2016
Reliable, predictive simulation software for SRUs requires recognition of many of the unique properties and behaviours of sulphur.
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Integrated design for gas processing
Oct-2016
An integrated approach to designing process line-up delivers a range of economic, process and environmental benefits.
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Apr-2017
Finite element analysis can be employed to improve the safety and quality of old or new designs and troubleshoot problems in the field
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Nov-2017
Collaboration between technical and project teams enabled the fast-track replacement of an FCC unit
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Nov-2017
A line-up featuring ebullated bed hydrocracking delivers full conversion of bitumen, including production of premium diesel fuel
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Opening the crude flexibility window: enhancing crude unit capabilities
Mar-2018
Innovative online analysers help refiners to mitigate crude unit threats in real time and provide new insights into existing problems.
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Flexible upgrading of heavy feedstocks
Feb-2019
Adding tailor-made options for upgrading heavy crudes to existing assets can adapt refineries to changes in market conditions and regulatory demands.
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Claus waste heat boiler economics Part 1: process considerations
Feb-2019
The design of the waste heat boiler has a critical role to play in determining process operations, reliability and economic performance in the sulphur ...
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Technology selection for a natural gas plant
May-2019
Selecting equipment for a sulphur block requires balancing technical performance and costs, as well as local conditions and regulations.
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New catalysts for low and medium pressure hydrotreating
May-2019
A catalyst platform provides higher performance in middle distillate hydrotreating applications with limited hydrogen, difficult feedstocks and severe ...
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Jul-2019
New catalyst technologies and technical service support helped a refiner overcome difficulties with VGO conversion.
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Operational challenges in sour water stripping
Jul-2019
How to keep a sour water stripper at optimum performance between shutdowns.
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Jun-2022
How digital solutions help energy companies achieve short and long-term sustainability.
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Part 1: structural analysis concepts for beginner mechanical engineers
May-2022
Admittedly, this blog post will be geared toward a small audience. It’s for a recent (or maybe not so recent) graduate with a Mechanical Engineering ...
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Use of tube inserts in fired heaters
May-2022
In 1896 Whitham reported the successful use of twisted tapes (originally called retarders, and now also called turbulators) to increase heat transfer in ...
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May-2022
Fired heaters, also called furnaces, use the heat from combustion of hydrocarbons to increase the temperature of a fluid. Direct-fired heaters are common ...
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Transition to net zero: steps to decarbonise the oil refining industry
May-2022
A review of the solutions being employed by oil refineries to reduce their Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions.
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Accelerating the digital transformation
May-2022
The energy and utilities (E&U) industry constantly changes and transforms to comply with government regulations, implement new technologies, and satisfy ...
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The keys to successfully revamping a fired heater: how to maximise value
May-2022
Fired heaters are facing scrutiny because they contribute to the global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). For refineries and ...
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Maximising crude-to-olefins pathways
May-2022
Considering that high-purity olefins are necessary for maximum conversion of polymerisation reactions, selective hydrogenation is crucial for purifying ...
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Refiner’s future role in the energy industry
May-2022
With the global population swelling and industrialization on the rise in developing nations, humanity’s hunger for energy has reached unprecedented ...
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Taking hydroprocessing reactor cooling off the critical path
May-2022
Rapid cool-down of a typical hydroprocessing unit’s recycle gas compressor offgas can be used to cool spent reactor catalyst while avoiding the need ...
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Digital twins expanding across the downstream industry
May-2022
Advances in new-generation information technologies including big data, digital twins and smart manufacturing are becoming the focus of global manufacturing ...
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Why hydrocarbon-based energy will continue dominating the market
Apr-2022
A crucial factor in generating power and producing transportation fuels from renewable resources depends on efficient supply and distribution. For example, ...
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Refiners capturing value through styrene production
Apr-2022
The Global Styrene Market is estimated to be worth US$ 34.23 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to increase with a CAGR of 5.1% during 2022-2027, according ...
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Increasing naphtha feedstock for the petrochemical market
Apr-2022
The global naphtha market is valued at $152.2 billion in 2022 and could reach $212.9 billion by 2030, growing at an estimated CAGR of 3.8% over the forecast ...
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Sustainability targets and policies driving SAF ... for Now
Apr-2022
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production is still significantly less than fossil fuel-based aviation fuel (kero-jet).
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Optimising planned maintenance outages in turnarounds
Apr-2022
Maintenance downtime affects the refiner’s bottom line every hour that production is offline, which is when temporary power suppliers can help a facility ...
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Fibre-based specialty catalyst material maximises surface area and catalyst contact
Apr-2022
Customisable high surface area catalyst support material offers enhanced production for specialty chemical and industrial catalytic reactions.
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Forming a sustainable catalyst partnership
Apr-2022
What should you consider when looking for a partner to process catalyst materials for you? These rules can help you develop a successful sustainable and ...
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Performance of titania based tail gas catalyst at start-up
Apr-2022
Titania supported tail gas catalyst offers a number of operational benefits, particularly for TGTU installations operating with steam reheaters at low ...
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Co-processing renewable and recyclable feedstocks in the FCC unit
Apr-2022
As new regulations drive refiners to develop more sustainable processes to produce fuels and chemicals, they are exploring co-feeding renewable and recyclable ...
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Data quality obtained in refinery catalyst testing
Apr-2022
With high data quality (repeatability, reproducibility, and scalability) refiners can confidently determine the most efficient catalyst for their process ...
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Study of CCRU first reformer reactor ∆P behaviour using multiple linear regression
Apr-2022
Determinants and explanatory variables affecting the behaviour of the first reformer reactor ∆P are identified, with the aim of controlling it and ...
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Carbon dioxide emissions from fired heaters
Apr-2022
Fired heaters emit an estimated 400 to 500 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) every year. At least 73% of average refinery CO2 emissions come from combustion ...
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Apr-2022
Did you know that ancient algae impact our lives to this day? Read on to learn how decomposed carbon-based life becomes petroleum products with the help ...
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Model Based Definition: What is it and Why?
Apr-2022
Model Based Definition (sometimes Drafting or Dimensioning or Design) is an iteration to mechanical design that uses a CAD generated 3D model with dimensions, ...
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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, ...