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Crude overhead system design considerations
Jul-2007
Proper crude unit overhead system design is important when building a new unit or revamping an existing one to process different crudes
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Optimisation of product yield and coke formation in a RFCC unit
Apr-2010
Simulation studies of a commercial residue fluid catalytic cracking unit indicate the conditions for an optimum balance of product yield with low coke ...
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Reciprocating compressor suction and discharge valve monitoring
Feb-2013
A decision making guideline evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the most common online monitoring technologies
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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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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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Removing contaminants from crude oil
Mar-2016
Natural and introduced contaminants limit crude desalting effectiveness, increasing fouling and corrosion risks in downstream units
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Seismic design of structural steel pipe racks
Nov-2011
Structural steel pipe racks are structures in petrochemical, chemical and power plants that support pipes, power cables and instrument cable trays. Occasionally, ...
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Troubleshooting steam ejectors
Oct-2014
Some causes and practical solutions concerning problems with refinery steam vacuum ejectors
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Oct-2016
Software based on the latest international codes enables straightforward design of storage tanks in a range of load conditions
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Natural gas fuels the integration of refining and petrochemicals
Jul-2012
Maximising the use of natural gas in a refinery-petrochemicals complex offers higher margins and lower carbon emissions
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Apr-2013
A careful evaluation of the options for removing mercury from natural gas plant feed and product streams is a prudent exercise
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Options for CO2 capture from SMR
Oct-2014
As CO2 capture from steam methane reforming becomes increasingly important, the economics of retrofit for recovery from process gas streams need to be ...
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Flue gas heat recovery through the acid dew point
Jul-2019
Polymer based heat exchange technology enables more heat recovery from flue gas by addressing acid corrosion issues.
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Crude oil vapour pressure testing
Jan-2012
Vapour pressure testing is an important safety check in the transport, storage and blending of crude oil
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Steam reforming natural gas containing higher hydrocarbons
Apr-2013
A method is described for estimating reformed gas composition in a primary reformer when the feed is a natural gas containing higher hydrocarbons
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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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Controlling the hydrocarbon dew point of pipeline gas
Jul-2017
A key factor in selecting technology to control the hydrocarbon dew point of natural gas is the quantity of heavy hydrocarbons in the feed stream
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Jul-2013
A simulation model compares accurately with actual operating data to provide reliable predictions of catalyst lifetime in naphtha reforming
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Relative economics of mixed C4 processing routes
Jan-1998
Ethylene producers are seeking ways to upgrade the mixed C4 stream from ethylene plants to improve operating economics
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Processing NH3 acid gas in a sulphur recovery unit
Apr-2010
The feasability and economics of a two-stage sour water stripper with an SRU for NH3 contents of 25% and higher are discussed
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Advanced propane dehydrogenation
Jan-2008
Oxdehydrogenation-based on-purpose propane dehydrogenation can close the propylene supply-demand gap. Reactor design and the effect of thermodynamic equilibrium ...
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Hydrotreating in the production of green diesel
Apr-2010
A novel scheme enables co-processing of light gas oil and tall diesel to produce a renewable diesel meeting EN 590 specifications
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Pre-reformer catalyst in a hydrogen plant
Apr-2020
Good operation following recommended practice with technical support highlight the successful performance of a pre-reformer catalyst.
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Detecting and dealing with hydrate formation
Apr-2010
A review of cause, detection and treatment of hydrate plug formation in 
gas pipelines. Gas hydrates are solid crystalline compounds, which have ...
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Enhancing flexibility in two-stage hydrocrackers
Aug-2022
Shifting markets and refined product priorities compels refiners to find the flexibility for shifting from middle distillate to naphtha for petrochemical ...
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Jun-2016
The outlook and opportunities for petrochemicals based on China’s development of shale gas
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Nov-2020
The global climate change and the needed GHG emission reduction, as well as increasing awareness of the circular economy have pushed towards thinking about ...
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Catalytic answer to a steam cracking challenge
Apr-2021
Rapid growth in steam cracker capacity has encountered a developing problem — contamination of opportunity naphtha feed by carbon disulphide.
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Steam ring redesign improves FCC bottoms stability
Apr-2022
Installing a newly designed steam ring in a main fractionator stabilised fluctuations in the flash point of FCC bottoms
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Methanol from CO2: a technology and outlook overview
Apr-2023
Optimal capture of CO2 towards methanol production compels development of sustainable renewable solutions like green methanol.
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Control corrosion in refineries and petrochemical plants
Oct-2023
Formation of a water-resistant organic film barrier stops electrochemical corrosion on metal surfaces.
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Crude to chemicals: Part 1 - The basic concept of crudes
Nov-2023
Reactor platforms with novel heat integration designed around advanced separation techniques and catalyst systems achieve 75% yields from selected cru ...
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SMR for fuel cell grade hydrogen
Dec-2020
Affordable and sustainable production of blue hydrogen is key to the successful use of fuel cells in transportation.
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Pilot plant studies of hydrotreating catalysts
May-2020
Studies of catalysts for hydrotreating lubricant base oil delivered similar results from conventional and high throughput pilot plants
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Revamping crude towers for quality and yield
Nov-2016
A successful revamp of distillation towers for increased diesel quality and yield depended on reliable design and accurate assembly
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Savings using divided wall columns
Jan-2019
Divided wall columns can provide substantial energy and capital cost savings compared to conventional distillation methods.
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Hydrocracker revamp lifts product flexibility
Nov-2020
How an innovative moving bed technology enabled a major refinery to improve residue conversion and crude flexibility.
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Maximising stripping section performance
Aug-2021
The design of a crude unit stripping section affects diesel and gasoil yields, energy usage, and unit reliability.
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Rejuvenated catalysts optimise refinery margins in high severity ULSD applications
Jun-2022
Rejuvenated catalysts compare well with fresh catalysts for performance in high pressure ULSD applications with added cost savings.
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Biofeed co-processing for fuel production
Aug-2022
Comprehensive review of corrosion operating concerns when co-processing renewables and bio-oils through existing hydrotreaters, FCC units, amine units, ...
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Jan-2023
What is the best estimation for refinery and petrochemical product demand in 2023?
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Minimising unwanted coke formation in FCC operations
Apr-2023
Design and operating practices to minimise the amount and effects of unwanted coke formation in FCC operations.
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Jun-2017
There is a good economic case for petcoke slurry as a refinery fuel, but first you need to deal with the rheology
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A novel approach to cleaning 
furnace coils
Jul-2013
A modified pigging operation aims to greatly reduce the time required for coke removal from furnace coils
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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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Refinery protection with gas detection
Apr-2020
Based on several recent M&A transaction valuations it is fair to say that the price tag of a medium-sized, medium-complexity refinery in Europe is in the ...
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Jan-2008
Highly exothermic olefins saturation and silica contamination can occur when hydrotreating coker naphtha.
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Apr-2021
An alumina-supported catalyst for ULSD production or hydrocracking pretreat provides longer catalyst cycles, higher throughput, and better product qua ...
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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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Solving the flow control challenges in ethylene: Part 1
Jan-2024
Increasing supply of plastics to meet demand while reducing emissions to hit net zero targets requires the industry to review their processes and oper ...
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Solutions to severe service control valves
Jan-2024
Selecting the most appropriate severe service control valves is of significant importance. Control valves are an important part of the refining and chemical ...
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The circular economy as an emerging market in the petrochemicals industry
Jan-2024
Within the energy industry, the oil and gas market continues to hold a prominent position, but it is currently undergoing a transition, moving its focus ...
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OptiFuel optimising gasoline, diesel and renewable analysis while ensuring regulatory compliance
Jan-2024
The global demand for oil is on the rise, driven strongly by the petrochemical and aviation sectors.
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JFA-70Xi for sustainable aviation fuel
Jan-2024
SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuels; sometimes known as renewable jet fuels or biojets) have widely been accepted as the major contributor to the global reduction ...
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Closed-loop sampling systems can lower fugitive emission levels
Dec-2023
Becoming a net-zero facility is easier with the right grab sampling technology. The goal of most plant operators in today’s environment is to operate ...
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Best practices for refinery boilers field service
Dec-2023
Those servicing refinery boilers often face tight deadlines, limited outage windows, and space constraints. Industrial boilers are generally custom pieces ...
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Unicracking unit flow scheme optimisation and integration
Nov-2023
How an optimisation and integration approach can assist in maximising refinery margin for a residue upgrading project.
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Olefin purification: Why selecting the right adsorbent matters
Nov-2023
Removing difficult-to-detect contaminants helps minimise adsorbent reactivity while avoiding side reactions and excessive heat release.
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An economically attractive carbon capture solution for FCC
Nov-2023
Reducing the cost of FCC carbon capture along with increasing FCC throughput and facilitating wider range feedstock processing.
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Restoring fired heater furnace heat transfer efficiency
Nov-2023
Convection section cleaning of process heaters at an Egyptian facility achieved more than 90% treating of all tube and surface areas. Inefficient heat ...
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Balancing act of managing a refinery: New technology vs increasing revenue (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
Refining management is a constant balancing act between investing in new technology and increasing revenue potential. The trend in European refining is ...
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CCS and hydrogen for decarbonisation (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
In the pursuit of global climate ambitions outlined in the Paris Agreement, the role of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen technologies has ...
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Conversion to a green refinery configuration: Assessing options, risks, and viability (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
In order to meet the mandates of the Paris Agreement, as well as carbon intensity and greenhouse gas emission reductions, fossil fuel-based transportation ...
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Precious metal catalyst sampling: Not a trivial pursuit (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
Precious metals are likely among the most recycled substances on earth as their value always seems to make it worth someone’s time and effort to retrieve, ...
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Predictive model for maximum feedstock flexibility (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
Challenge of crude oil variability. Current market conditions are driving refineries towards a permanent diversification in crudes. Crude oil is a complex ...
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Recycling PVC production byproducts can unlock financial and environmental savings (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
It is no surprise that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has near universal appeal, with a staggering 34 million tons produced annually.
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Nov-2023
European refiners are grappling with complex challenges related to environmental regulations, changing market dynamics, and global competition.
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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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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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Nov-2023
On September 13, the European Parliament approved the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, which increases sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) requirements within ...
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ReNewFine for renewable diesel and SAF: Results of a 20-year partnership in 100% HVO (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
Ketjen, a wholly owned subsidiary of Albemarle, launched in January of this year from its headquarters in Houston, Texas. Our solutions support clean energy, ...
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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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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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Which future? Using scenario analysis to explore national pathways to decarbonisation (ERTC 2023)
Nov-2023
In 2021, world leaders gathered for COP26 in Glasgow to reaffirm the global commitment to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and limit global warming ...