Hydrocarbon Engineering

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March 2017

Volume 22 Number 03

ISSN 1468-9340

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World News

US refinery crude supply

As the global oil market moves into closer balance between supply and

demand, Contributing Editor, Nancy Yamaguchi, examines the possible

implications for the US downstream sector.

Looking to a prosperous future

Süleyman Özmen, Shell Global Solutions US Inc., USA, outlines the

importance of continuous improvement in refinery operations as a route to

sustained profitability.

Preparing for the IIoT evolution

Bart Winters and Francois Leclerc, Honeywell Process Solutions, present a

real-world approach to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) for process

reliability.

Stable stacking

James Esteban and Wes Whitecotton, Criterion Catalysts & Technologies, USA,

discuss how stacked catalyst systems can improve catalyst system stability

and cycle longevity.

Is the catalyst enough?

Ken Chlapik, Scott Vidrine and Sravan Pappu, Johnson Matthey Process

Technologies, USA, and Paul Diddams, Johnson Matthey Process Technologies,

Europe, evaluate catalytic technologies and monitoring techniques that

enable reliable yet flexible refining operations between major turnarounds.

Making a breakthrough

Ray Fletcher, InovaCat B.V., the Netherlands, presents a new technology

capable of converting low valued naphthas into maximum propylene and BTX.

A versatile alkylation route

Mitrajit Mukherjee, Grace Brock, Vamsi Vadhri and Tom Hickey, Exelus Inc.,

USA, present a new process that converts butanes and methanol to alkylate,

resulting in minimal aromatics, olefins and sulfur content.

Controlling naphthenic acid corrosion

Sam Lordo, Dr. Kailash Sawhney, Dr. Satheesh Kumar Sambandam and

M. Rajganesh, Nalco Champion; An Ecolab Company, USA, provide an

overview of the use of phosphate ester inhibitors for controlling high

temperature naphthenic acid corrosion.

Joined-up thinking

Damage as a result of hidden corrosion is a major issue for the oil and gas

industry. Archie Crawford, Bilfinger Salamis, UK, looks at recent advances to

tackle the issue on offshore assets and asks whether there is something to

learn for those who maintain downstream facilities.

Measure it, manage it

Bruce Pellegrino, Sensor Networks, Inc., USA and Mike Nugent, E

G, USA,

examine a new technology for online corrosion monitoring and control when

processing opportunity crudes.

A flexible diet

Ralph Navarrete and George Duggan, Baker Hughes Inc., USA, explain how

desalter pH management can help to increase crude diet flexibility.

The cure to separation anxiety

Victor Scalco, General Atomics, USA, explains how fines control in the

catalytic process can help to increase profits from the 'bottom of the barrel'.

Lessons learned

Jimell Erwin, Ph.D., Southwest Research Institute, USA, outlines how

pilot-scale testing can help to assess the rewards and challenges of bioderived

feedstocks.

Important innovations

Duncan Baillie, LUX Assure Ltd, UK, explains how innovative technologies are

redefining chemical testing in the oil and gas industry.

A process revolution

Eugen Schibli, Mettler Toledo, Switzerland, explains how intelligent weighing

sensors with predictive maintenance can help the downstream processing

industry to stay ahead of issues and avoid disruptions.

Verifying viscosity

Luc K. Bellière and Philippe Burg, Sofraser, France, evaluate a new kinematic

viscosity analyser working at reference temperature.

101

Safe and sound

Ton Beems, Yokogawa Europe, the Netherlands, explains how compliance

with IEC-61508 and IEC-61511 standards can be ensured through the

operational phase of the safety lifecycle.

106

Sharing is caring

Allan Ralston, Safehouse, UK, examines how sharing innovation can help to

drive improved health and safety standards and performance in the oil and

gas industry.

113

The fatal four

Blast rated modules are often the last line of defense for those working

in blast zones. Gert Lessing, Hallwood Modular Buildings, USA, outlines

important safety considerations when selecting a module.

116

A helping hand

Hasan Alaradi, RRC Middle East, Bahrain, reviews a turnaround carried

out at ORPIC's Sohar refinery in Oman, focusing on the health and safety

requirements of the project.

123

Relieve the pressure

Stefan Rüsenberg, Rembe GmbH Safety + Control, Germany, discusses

failure analysis of high pressure rupture discs and presents effective counter

measures.

131

Use it or lose it

James Au and David Ng, Chemical Engineering Partners, USA, examine

various re-refining and recycling processes that can be undertaken to reduce

contaminants and preserve the value and usability of used oil.

137

Laser spectacular

Colin Pittman, Advanced 3D Laser Solutions Ltd, UK, examines the use of

laser scanning technology in the downstream storage industry, and how

it aids in high accuracy tank calibration.

141

Bringing the heat

Erika Ahvenainen, Intergraph®PP&M, the Netherlands, and Jana Miller,

Intergraph CADWorx®& Analysis Solutions, USA, outline how to improve heat

exchanger and pressure vessel design and analysis.

145

Heat technology Q&A

Hydrocarbon Engineering

questions a number of downstream heat technology

experts about R&D, testing and design, efficiency improvements and the

overall market outlook.

156

15 facts on...

This month we give you 15 facts on crude oil!

Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) is a global leader with over 40 years

of experience delivering process automation and control solutions

that help industrial customers run their operations safely, reliably,

efficiently and sustainably through innovative technologies, services

and domain expertise. Withmore than 12 000 employees around

the world, HPS serves customers inmore than 125 countries in the

oil & gas, refining, petrochemicals, pulp & paper, specialty chemicals,

pharmaceuticals, industrial power, andmining &minerals industries.