The Main Column

  Most megaprojects suffer from costs and timeline overruns. This podcast details 11 prominent areas project managers should focus on to ensure megaprojects are on-time and on-budget. For comments or feedback, please contact: podcast@hydrocarbonprocessing.com  

  The editors of Hydrocarbon Processing forecast HPI spending on capital, operations and maintenance will total approximately $491 B in 2021. This podcast examines a synopsis on global spending, capital expenditures by region and active/new project numbers in the global HPI. For comments or feedback, please contact: podcast@hydrocarbonprocessing.com  

  This executive viewpoint from Brian Gallagher, Vice President of Corporate Development, Graycor, discusses steps the EPC industry needs to take to build a skilled and engaged construction workforce.  For comments or feedback, please contact: podcast@hydrocarbonprocessing.com  

This podcast examines a new proprietary process that produces a mixed butanol product from refinery-grade propylene suitable for use as a fuel additive. For comments or feedback, please contact: podcast@hydrocarbonprocessing.com

  Hydrocarbon Processing spoke with Ben Dickinson, Senior Operations Lead, Cybersecurity, ABB, to discuss the risks companies face from cyber-attacks and guidelines to help mitigate risks and keep facilities and personnel safe.  For comments or feedback, please contact: podcast@hydrocarbonprocessing.com  

Hydrocarbon Processing sat down with Dave Loubser, Senior Staff Consultant, KBC, a Yokogawa Company, to discuss the importance of a plant's shift handover, along with ways to implement and effective shift handover strategy. For comments or feedback, please contact: podcast@hydrocarbonprocessing.com

This podcast, written by Marcelo Carugo, Vice President of Global Refining and Chemical Programs, Emerson, provides examples to show how a company's digital transformation journey works in practice to improve operations, focusing primarily on safety and reducing emissions. For comments or feedback, please contact: podcast@hydrocarbonprocessing.com

This podcast details Methanex's Chile 4 Standalone Operation project. It details the development process performed by Methanex, starting from the business context through an explanation of the original design and the proposed new design and, finally, depicting the benefits derived from the project's implementation. For comments or feedback, please contact: podcast@hydrocarbonprocessing.com

In-person group training may never look the same as it did prior to the pandemic, but 2020 has shown that organizations can get much more out of remote tools than previously thought possible. This podcast examines five lessons to create flexible and engaging remote training sessions for plant personnel. For comments or feedback, please contact: podcast@hydrocarbonprocessing.com

  This podcast examines the value of engineering data and innovation throughout the life cycle of a project. For successful data management, users need to focus on several important questions: What data is required? How can data be managed and used effectively? How can engineers achieve consistent data?  For comments or feedback, please contact: podcast@hydrocarbonprocessing.com  

Among numerous emerging technologies in the process industries, the digital twin is the most powerful and disruptive. Why? Listen to this episode of The Main Column Podcast to learn more. For comments or feedback, please contact: podcast@hydrocarbonprocessing.com

Most oil and gas companies are investing in digitalization; however, they often fail to move beyond proof of value or pilot projects. This podcast examines key factors that can set a digitalization program up for success and allow scaling past the pilot stage. For comments or feedback, please contact: podcast@hydrocarbonprocessing.com

This podcast, written by ExxonMobil, explains how digital platforms can offer significant benefits across the oil and gas value chain by employing advanced analytical tools and near-real-time access to technical expertise to improve daily plant performance.

HPI organizations generate vast amounts of data throughout their operations. It is imperative to utilize this data in the most optimal way. This podcast examines several advanced data management tools to help organizations optimize workflows and bring benefits to the entire enterprise.

  Hydrocarbon Processing sits down with Bill Preston, President and Chief Operating Officer of KP Engineering, to discuss how this EPC has leveraged their diverse background in oil refining to adapt to the sustainable market needs of hydrogen and clean fuels.  

  One way refiners can better control or even reduce costs is by accurately monitoring hydrogen levels in several locations throughout the facility. This podcast examines the importance of hydrogen monitoring and suggestions on improving hydrogen measurements for optimal performance.  

  This podcast discusses seven crucial qualities terminal operators are looking for in a modern inventory management solution--a terminal operator's "wish list." These qualities help terminal operators reduce inventory uncertainties, increase efficiency and minimize product losses.  

How is the role of the process technology licensor evolving to meet future energy and products demand? Hydrocarbon Processing's Editor-in-Chief, Lee Nichols, discussed the role of the process technology licensor--now and the into the future--with Leon de Bruyn, President and CEO, Lummus Technology.

  This podcast details how Eastman Chemical's Longview, Texas site instituted specific goals to institute excellence in its maintenance department and optimize the way it works with operations.   

  Yokogawa recently released a survey that found that two-thirds of process industry companies are anticipating fully autonomous operations by 2030. Hydrocarbon Processing's Editor-in-Chief, Lee Nichols, discussed the findings of this report with Duncan Micklem, Vice President, Yokogawa, and how the industry is adopting new digital technologies, what it means for the future workforce and how asset...

  OT/IT integration is required for sharing information among all levels of manufacturing organizations to achieve profit-driven operation (PDO). This podcast examines a particular PDO solution, which breaks down production performance indicators down to the technical and operative levels, using industrial best practices to create synaptic performance indicators.  

  This podcast examines specific concepts and technologies used in reducing emissions and effectively decarbonizing LNG production. This includes liquefaction facility design, power generation, renewables and energy storage and digitalization.   

  This podcast outlines best practices and methods to reduce installation time of trays in distillation columns.   

  This podcast examines problems caused by using manual on/off valves in tank and terminal facilities, along with detailing the best ways to automate operations by selecting the right type of valve for each application.  

Regulations on refining/petrochemical wastewater effluents and controlling their use in freshwater sources are getting stricter in many countries around the world. Hydrocarbon Processing sat down with Bill Cunningham, Siemens, to discuss a case study on two separate projects Siemens conducted at Sinopec's Anqing refinery to adhere to new environmental regulations and how technology can be applied...