HydrocarbonEngineering June 2018 Preview
HydrocarbonEngineering June 2018 Preview
HydrocarbonEngineering June 2018 Preview
Connected Industrial
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CONTENTS
June 2018 Volume 23 Number 06 ISSN 1468-9340
03 Comment 59 Connection for detection
Duncan Gooch, Honeywell Industrial Safety, explores
05 Guest Comment how bringing wireless connectivity to traditional fixed gas
07 World News detectors can help take plant efficiency to the next level
in the digital age.
14 A new path
Nancy D. Yamaguchi, Contributing Editor, discusses the 63 Prediction with precision
future of Europe’s oil sector. Massimiliano Di Febo, Pasquale Paganini and Alfredo Costa,
IPC, Italy, share CFD simulation tips for the process industry.
23 Optimal operations
Koichi Wada and Tsukasa Shiga, Kobelco Compressors 68 The burning issues
America Inc., USA, outline the importance of selecting the Richard Martin and Matthew Martin, Honeywell UOP
most suitable compressors for use in polyolefin plants. Callidus, discuss the traditional operating issues associated
with radiant wall burners, and a new design which
28 Mirroring a flexible landscape overcomes many of these issues.
Tushar Patel, Atlas Copco Gas and Process, explores how
integrally-geared compressors bring greater agility to NGL 75 A strategy for compliance
recovery. As flaring practices come under increasing scrutiny,
Courtny Edge and Dan Smith, Trinity Consultants, USA,
33 Cutting out contaminants outline how a flaring minimisation assessment can help to
Justin C. Slagle and Donnie Joe Worth, Bryan Research ensure compliance.
& Engineering Inc., USA, along with Jesus Mejorada,
Empire Gas Services LLC, USA, discuss options for 79 Focus on flare pilots
removing methanol from NGL in an amine treater. Clayton A. Francis, Zeeco Inc., USA, discusses the
requirements of modern flare pilot detection systems.
39 Separate to save
Molly Tsipis, Pentair, USA, explains how contaminants in 82 Revamping flare gas analysis
amine systems can be avoided by optimising the process David Fahle, Servomex, USA, explains how plant flares can
with high efficiency separations. reach high levels of efficiency and better comply with
emission standards using continuous gas analysis methods.
43 Accurate amine relief estimations
Ayan Dasgupta, Soumitro Nagpal and Harshit Sharma, 87 Going green
Fluor India, discuss accurate relief load and composition Ilan Toledano, Wattco, Canada, explores how circulation
estimation for amine regenerators. heaters can help the oil and gas industry reduce emissions.
51 Stream separation 90 LNG: an evolving market
Ross Dugas, The Dow Chemical Co., USA, shares how Nimalan Gnanendran and John Baguley, LNG Ltd, Australia,
hydrocarbon separation technology can help with discuss the growth of the LNG market and the future of
cost-efficient C3+ removal from natural gas streams. next generation LNG plants.
55 An accurate measure of quality 95 Capturing the value of LNG
Jake Tivey, Orbital Gas Systems, USA, explains the LNG plants may provide potential for decarbonisation
importance of efficient gas quality measurement for fiscal via carbon capture and storage implementation.
metering in adapting the gas network for the future. Jorge Arizmendi-Sanchez, Ben Eastwood, Costain, along
with Jasmin Kemper, IEA-GHG, explain.
99 ACHEMA 2018 Preview
Hydrocarbon Engineering previews a selection of companies
active within the downstream hydrocarbon processing
industry that will be exhibiting at ACHEMA 2018.
THIS
Honeywell UOP’s Callidus Technologies business is a
pioneer in combustion and post-treatment technology
MONTH'S
for the refining, petrochemical, chemicals, metals, and
gas processing industries. Following a proven history
of innovative solutions to difficult industry problems,
FRONT
Callidus’ engineering and project execution expertise
is now helping the process industries to navigate the
COVER
rapidly changing environmental compliance landscape
while delivering safe, efficient, clean and high
performance technology.
JOIN THE Copyright© Palladian Publications Ltd 2018. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
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recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. All views expressed in this
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Engineering Engineering Engineering
Uncaptioned images courtesy of www.shutterstock.com.
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COMMENT
CONTACT INFO CALLUM O'REILLY
EDITOR
W
MANAGING EDITOR James Little
[email protected] orld Cup fever has well and truly
gripped our office in recent
EDITOR Callum O'Reilly
[email protected] weeks. Hydrocarbon Engineering’s
Assistant Editor, Anna, has already
ASSISTANT EDITOR Anna Nicklin stuck a giant World Cup fixture planner next
[email protected]
to her desk, bought an England horn, and is
ADVERTISEMENT DIRECTOR Rod Hardy threatening to attach St George’s Cross flags to
[email protected]
our car when we make the trip over to Germany for ACHEMA in June (if you’re
ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER Chris Atkin attending the show, please drop by Hall 9.2, Stand D1 to meet the team).
[email protected] Prior to England announcing its 23-man squad to take on the world in Russia,
ADVERTISEMENT EXECUTIVE Sophie Barrett the British media went into overdrive with editorial pieces outlining why certain
[email protected] players should (and shouldn’t) be selected for the tournament. Amongst the
more interesting of these stories were those that compiled squads based on
PRODUCTION Ben Munro
[email protected] performance data from the previous season alone. These pieces dug deep into
the data behind every player eligible to play for England at the tournament,
WEB MANAGER Tom Fullerton
[email protected]
analysing statistics such as number of appearances, pass accuracy, distance
covered per game, number of tackles, chances created and shooting accuracy.
DIGITAL EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Nicholas Woodroof While the final squad did not exactly mirror the statistics, data is
[email protected]
undoubtedly playing an increasingly important role in all sports. Innovative
SUBSCRIPTIONS Laura White technology can now provide teams with intricate data about their staff’s
[email protected] performance, which can be used to tailor a player’s workload and fine-tune their
ADMINISTRATION Nicola Fuller training programmes.
[email protected] Much has been written about the transformative impact of digitalisation
on the oil and gas industry. Companies are embracing technologies such as
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Nancy Yamaguchi Gordon Cope the Cloud, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, big data and analytics to help
optimise performance, improve efficiency and lower costs. Another benefit of
the digital revolution is that companies can develop deeper relationships with
SUBSCRIPTION RATES their customers.
Annual subscription £110 UK including postage Many of these benefits are demonstrated in an online competition recently
/£125 overseas (postage airmail).
Two year discounted rate £176 UK launched by NAPCON, which is rather aptly named the ‘2018 Operator World
including postage/£200 overseas (postage airmail). Cup’. The competition will be played with NAPCON’s simulation-based Furnace
SUBSCRIPTION CLAIMS
operator training game, which teaches the player how to operate an industrial
Claims for non receipt of issues must be made within 3 months of furnace. The competition, which started in May, involves online qualifications.
publication of the issue or they will not be honoured without charge.
The most successful players are then chosen to participate in industry events,
APPLICABLE ONLY TO USA & CANADA where they will play against each other, face-to-face. The three best players
Hydrocarbon Engineering (ISSN No: 1468-9340, USPS No: 020-998) is
published monthly by Palladian Publications Ltd GBR and distributed in each month will receive five licenses to NAPCON’s Furnace game, as well as
in the USA by Asendia USA, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe NJ 08831.
Periodicals postage paid New Brunswick, NJ and additional mailing its Distiller game, which was developed to train process operators in the basic
offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to HYDROCARBON
ENGINEERING, 701C Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA 19032.
distillation process within an oil refinery.
Initiatives such as NAPCON’s Operator World Cup are good examples of how
companies can use digitalisation to successfully interact with their customers,
while demonstrating the benefits of their technology and capturing vital data
15 South Street, Farnham, Surrey about their users. Crucially, gamification, in a world of big data, also enables
GU9 7QU, ENGLAND those customers to engage their workforce during operator training and monitor
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 718 999 their performance.
Fax: +44 (0) 1252 718 992
Although it’s difficult to imagine that any amount of data will help England
win the World Cup this summer, I’m keeping my fingers-crossed that the team
are utilising its potential to the greatest extent possible. I have a feeling that
they’ll need all the help they can get!
---INTRODUCING-----
---A----NEW----NAmE---
---IN---INDUSTRIAL-----
---PROCESS---------
---------SOLUTIONS---
IPCO is a new name in Industrial Process solutions but a
business partner with whom many in the sulphur industry
will already be familiar.
A
global forum for a global industry – if I had to ideas are often born,
describe ACHEMA in as few words as possible, which can then be
this could be one way to do it. The process developed further.
industries – chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food Many of these ideas
– are global players, tackling global challenges, and their can be seen and
solutions derive from global collaboration. touched at one of
Raw material streams, products and technologies the approximately 3800 stands at ACHEMA 2018.
are traded all around the world, and all stakeholders Building bridges is one of our aims. Not only
profit from this. One reason for their global reach is between countries or regions, but also between
that the process industries serve the most elementary disciplines: engineers, chemists, biotechnologists,
needs of every citizen across scientists, technology
the world. For example, developers and users meet
thanks to agrochemicals, at ACHEMA. If you are
hunger in the world can be looking to build a plant,
fought successfully. Industrial ACHEMA is a one-stop
water treatment ensures that
If you are looking to shopping mall where you
stress on natural resources build a plant, ACHEMA can find everything from the
is minimised, up to a point filter and the pump to the
where a plant’s water supply
is a one-stop shopping automation concept and
is completely self-sufficient, mall where you can find the sensors to monitor your
described by the ‘zero liquid process. Thanks to the sheer
discharge’ concept. The
everything from the size of the exhibition, you
pharmaceutical industry filter and the pump to can also dive deeply into
develops plants that can be one section – visitors have
set up in any corner of the
the automation concept been known to spend the
world to produce medication and the sensors to whole week in Hall 8 where
or vaccines customised to the world’s largest exhibition
local requirements. New fuels,
monitor your process. of pumps, compressors and
one day may even be made valves is an integral part of
from CO2 with the help of ACHEMA. And if you want to
renewable energy, enable know what is on the horizon,
mobility. And lightweight visitors can listen in to some
materials and highly efficient processes help to reduce of the approximately 800 presentations in the lecture
energy consumption. halls and learn what is on the way to the exhibition
In science, as well as in industry, work teams are halls in 2021. Topics related to downstream oil and
diverse, and many research projects reach well beyond gas processing cover anything from alloys for steam
national and even continental borders. Thanks to digital cracking furnace coils to process monitoring in the
communication, working groups can share and discuss refining industry.
their results in real time. Despite these possibilities, Meeting people and discussing new ideas is
scientists still travel, visit other laboratories, make something that works much better in person than in
internships or spend their whole career moving from a blog or discussion forum on the internet. So, pack
one continent to the other. Scientific curiosity does comfortable shoes, plan your visit and join us from
not end at the laboratory door. From collaboration 11 – 15 June 2018 in Frankfurt. True to our slogan:
that takes different perspectives into account, great Be informed. Be inspired. Be there.
Build as big
as you dream.
At AECOM, we work with leading oil and gas producers to design,
build, finance and maintain the infrastructure that delivers raw
product to end consumers. From wellhead to gas tank, from crude oil
to recyclable plastic water bottle, we’re meeting the challenge.
See how we deliver what others can only dream about at aecom.com.
WORLD NEWS
ADNOC announces plans to become a
UAE | Total, Borealis
USA |
key downstream player and NOVA
Chemicals close on
T he Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.
(ADNOC) has unveiled plans to
invest AED 165 billion (US$45 billion)
overseas investments to secure
greater market access.
Building on the existing strengths
petrochemicals JV
A
alongside its partners, over the and competitive advantages of the fter receiving all of the required
next five years, to become a Ruwais Industrial Complex, ADNOC regulatory approvals, Total S.A,
leading global downstream player. will create the world’s largest and Borealis AG and NOVA Chemicals
The investment will allow the most advanced integrated refining Corp. have closed on their joint
company to stretch the value of and petrochemicals complex. venture (JV) in petrochemicals on the
every barrel it produces to the Through a combined programme of US Gulf Coast.
benefit of ADNOC, its partners and strategic partnerships and investment, The JV company, named Bayport
the UAE. the company will increase its range Polymers LLC (Bay-Pol), is 50% owned
The plans were unveiled at the and volume of high-value by Total and 50% owned by a JV
ADNOC Downstream Investment downstream products, secure better between Borealis and NOVA
Forum. The investment programme access to growth markets globally, Chemicals, Novealis Holdings LLC.
will underpin a new downstream and create a manufacturing The Bay-Pol JV assets include: the
strategy to significantly expand ecosystem in Ruwais that will under-construction 1 million tpy
ADNOC’s refining and significantly stimulate in-country ethane steam cracker in Port Arthur,
petrochemical operations at Ruwais, value creation, private sector growth Texas; Total’s existing polyethylene
and undertake highly targeted and employment. 400 000 tpy facility in Bayport,
Texas; and a new 625 000 tpy
Borstar® polyethylene unit at Total’s
Cheniere continues construction at
USA | Bayport site, subject to further
approvals.
CCL Project Diane Chamberlain has been
appointed President of Bay-Pol. She
a s e v is it us
P le
s t a n d K 140!
at
www.yokogawa.com
WORLD NEWS
IN BRIEF Total to develop natural gas
Oman |
resources in Oman
china
China National Offshore Oil Corp.
(CNOOC) and Shell Nanhai B.V. have
T otal has signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with the
government of Oman to develop
a potential to reach 1 billion ft3/d at
a later stage.
Total will use its equity gas
officially started-up the second ethylene natural gas resources in the country. entitlement as feedstock to develop
cracker at their Nanhai petrochemicals This MoU covers both upstream and a regional hub for LNG bunkering
complex in Huizhou, Guangdong Province. downstream businesses. service in Oman, which will supply
The new ethylene cracker increases Total and Shell will develop LNG as a fuel to marine vessels. This
ethylene capacity at the complex by several natural gas discoveries in the will be achieved thanks to a new
approximately 1.2 million tpy, more than Greater Barik area on onshore Block 6 small-scale modular liquefaction
doubling the capacity of the complex, with respective shares of 25% and plant, to be built in Sohar port. The
and benefits from a deep integration with 75%, as per the agreement between plant will comprise a train of
adjacent CNOOC refineries. both companies and before possible approximately 1 million tpy and will
State back-in, with the objective of offer the flexibility for expansion as
indonesia an initial gas production of required by the development of the
Through its subsidiary INPEX Masela approximately 500 million ft3/d and LNG bunkering market.
Ltd, INPEX Corp. has awarded KBR Inc.
a pre-front-end engineering and design
(pre-FEED) for the Abadi onshore LNG
project. Under the contract, KBR will
provide a pre-FEED package, utilising
its proven design and execution
Argentina | Trafigura acquires downstream
methodologies. The work will be assets
performed from KBR’s Jakarta office, which
will provide services including site master
plan development, scope of work for the
FEED phase, as well as an EPC schedule and
T he Trafigura Group Pte Ltd has
acquired the majority of
Pampa Energia SA’s downstream
the Argentinian, Paraguayan and
Bolivian markets with diesel and
gasoline via the Parana River. It is also
cost estimate. assets. These assets include more rapidly developing a network of retail
than 250 service stations and the service stations across Argentina
russia Ricardo Elicabe refinery (BBR),
located in Bahia Blanca.
under the Puma Energy brand.
The transfer of the assets and
With the loading of eight custom-made
Damen tugs, Combi Lift has reached a Trafigura’s current operations in rebranding of the 250 service stations
milestone in the Gazprom Amur Gas Argentina include a fluvial fleet and will be progressive and rolled out
Processing Plant (GPP) Project. This officially the Campana Terminal, which supplies over the coming months.
marks the transition between the project
planning and implementation stages.
Combi Lift, contracted by the Linde Group,
chose to cooperate with SAL Heavy Lift on
this project. Germany | BP selects hte for catalyst tests
usa
The first commercial start-up of Clariant’s
OleMax 260 has been successfully achieved
h te – the high throughput
experimentation company – has
been selected by BP to evaluate
naphtha reforming and hydrocracking
catalysts and compare their
performance against incumbent
at the new ethylene production plant of commercial catalysts for both catalysts. The resulting testing
The Dow Chemical Co. in Freeport, Texas. naphtha reforming and programme will provide BP with the
This catalyst was developed specifically hydrocracking applications using data to make selections for its
for ethylene producers with ‘front-end’ high throughput technology under upcoming naphtha reforming and
process configurations to increase yields commercially-relevant conditions hydrocracking catalyst change-outs.
and profits, while helping to ensure safe for its refineries. The overall aim of both projects
and more sustainable operation. BP selected hte for the evaluation is to measure activity, yields and
study to benchmark commercial stability.
It’s not easy to keep every control valve and every instrument
in your plant at it’s peak performance. Even a small problem
in any one of them could result in major issues for
the entire system.
MY
13 - 14 September 2018
Total and Sonatrach ink agreement
CY
17 - 20 September 2018
Gastech
Barcelona Spain
T otal has signed an agreement
with Sonatrach to launch
engineering studies for a
summer, subject to approval by the
relevant Algerian regulatory
authorities.
www.gastechevent.com petrochemical project in Arzew. The facility will valorise propane,
The project includes a propane produced in large quantities locally,
18 - 20 September 2018 dehydrogenation (PDH) unit and a by transforming it into PP, a plastic
Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia
polypropylene (PP) production unit for which demand is growing
Houston, Texas, USA
tps.tamu.edu with an output capacity of strongly. It will supply local and
550 000 tpy. The project represents Mediterranean demand, and Total
26 - 27 September 2018 an investment of approximately will be responsible for the
Tank Storage Asia US$1.4 billion by the two partners commercialisation of the rest of the
Singapore (Sonatrach 51%, Total 49%), who are production in Europe, where it will
www.tankstorageasia.com planning to start the front-end leverage its market expertise to the
engineering and design (FEED) this benefit of both partners.
9 - 11 October 2018
Asia Downstream Week
Bangkok, Thailand
www.europetro.com USA | JGC and S & B form partnership
12 - 15 November 2018
ADIPEC
Abu Dhabi, UAE
J GC Corp. and S & B Engineers
and Constructors Ltd have
signed a framework agreement to
and gas, petrochemicals, and
chemicals markets, including
preliminary feasibility studies,
www.adipec.com form a strategic partnership to front-end engineering and design
provide engineering, procurement (FEED), EPC, and project
1 - 5 April 2019
and construction (EPC) services for management. JGC and S & B have
LNG 2019
Shanghai, China
projects within the US. previously executed several
www.lng2019.com The partnership covers a full successful EPC projects on the
range of lifecycle services for the oil Gulf Coast.
Still evolving
Outside of Europe, many people would be puzzled to identify
the countries in the region, to place them within their proper
boundaries, and to determine their memberships in the
numerous overlapping international groupings, including the
European Union (EU), the European Free Trade Association
(EFTA), the European Economic Area (EEA), the Eurozone, as
well as the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and
Development (OECD).
The emergence of new political and economic systems is
having a massive impact on the European energy sector. Many
Eastern Europe and Baltic States are now members of the EU.
They use the Euro as their currency, but their energy
infrastructure and markets may reflect former affiliations with
the Former Soviet Union. Russia remains a key source of crude
oil and natural gas to many of these countries, and Russian
engineering built many pipelines, terminals and refineries along
the way. The country maintains influence on some European
countries via its ability to control the flow of resources.
A core group within Europe is OECD Europe, which was
established in 1960 with the membership of 18 European
countries plus the US and Canada. The organisation was
dedicated to promoting economic development and most of
the members were successful in this aim. There are now
35 members in Europe, North America, South America, and the
Asia-Pacific region.
The OECD Europe countries are members of the EU, but
the reverse is not always the case. For example, Iceland,
Norway, and Switzerland are OECD members, but they are
tied together economically via the EFTA, not the EU. Norway’s
absence from the EU can complicate European oil data, since
it is the largest oil producer in Europe. Within the Baltic States,
Estonia and Latvia are members of both the OECD and the EU,
but Lithuania is an EU member outside of the OECD.
In 2007, Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU, while Croatia
joined in 2013. These countries are not in the OECD. There are
currently five countries seeking to join the EU: Turkey, the
Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Serbia.
Meanwhile, the UK voted to leave the EU in its 2016
referendum. The Brexit ‘divorce’ details are complex and still
under construction.
Is Europe’s situation and direction providing leadership for
the western world? In the energy sector, at least, the regional
industry seems beset from all sides, with energy providers
seeking to expand market share in Europe. To the south are the
Middle East and Africa, with massive reserves of oil and gas. To
the east are Russia and other CIS countries, some of which are
greatly expanding their energy production and exports.
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