Hydrocarbon Processing - April 2021 - 7

Editorial
Comment

LEE NICHOLS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Lee.Nichols@HydrocarbonProcessing.com

Clean fuels: Maximizing production
without forsaking profitability
Over the past several decades, the
hydrocarbon processing industry has invested heavily in new processing units to
produce low-sulfur and ultra-low-sulfur
(ULS) transportation fuels. This increase
in " clean fuels " production focuses on mitigating pollutants from vehicle exhaust.
In the past 30 yr, the global refining industry has invested hundreds of billions of
dollars to reduce the amount of sulfur in
gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, etc. At present, millions of tons per year of additional secondary unit capacity is under development.
According to OPEC's World Oil Outlook 2020, secondary unit capacity (conversion, desulfurization and octane) is
forecast to increase approximately 10
MMbpd by 2026. More than half of this
total will be for new desulfurization capacity (FIG. 1). Most new desulfurization capacity will be built in Asia and the
Middle East, which account for nearly 4
MMbpd of new desulfurization capacity
within the forecast period.
The stark increase in new desulfurization capacity is due to new stringent clean
fuels regulations being adopted by nations
around the world.
Renewables and biofuels. Organizations around the world are also investing
in increasing biofuels blending and in new

production capacity for alternative fuels
and renewable fuels. These are emerging
trends in several regions/countries.
For example, many countries are mandating the increase in biofuels blending
with conventional fuels. These programs
not only provide a method of reducing
emissions, but also enable many countries
to mitigate costly crude oil imports.
Finally, a major trend in new cleanfuels production is the increase in new
renewable fuels plants being built. For
example, several retrofit projects and new
renewable diesel plants are being built in
the U.S. to increase the production of renewable diesel.
Analysis and discussion. Due to the

stark increase in new government regulations to curb emissions, this issue is dedicated to showcasing several technologies
that will help advance the production of
renewable diesel, helping the marine industry comply with strict marine fuels
regulations, adhering to new ULS fuels
production initiatives and using digital technologies to create smart renewable facilities. These technologies are a
glimpse at the many processes available
to maximize the production of clean fuels and optimize operations without forsaking profitability.

1.6
1.4
1.2

MMbpd

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0.8

19 Executive Viewpoints.

Thorbjoern Fors, Siemens
Energy, discusses the decarbonization
of the oil and gas industry and
the technologies that are helping
companies meet their sustainability
goals, while Lisa Graham, Seeq,
provides her views on navigating risks
and leading in times of uncertainty.

24 Clean Fuels.

This month's Special Focus
details several technologies that can
be used to produce renewable diesel,
adhere to Tier 3 and IMO marine fuel
regulations and maximize alkylation
unit profitability.

and
51 Engineering
Construction.

Although modular construction is
not a new concept, it may become a
necessity due to the global pandemic.
Considering the importance of operator
safety and social distancing during
COVID-19, five key advantages of
modular construction are discussed
to ensure a safe and successful project.

69 Water Management.

Weak organic amines are
commonly used in crude unit overhead
systems to prevent acidic corrosion
from chlorides and other acidic
contaminants via a neutralization
reaction. This article examines the use
of a proprietary amine-neutralizing
technology implemented in two of
TOTAL's European refineries.

81 Safety.

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0.4
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

FIG. 1. Global desulfurization capacity growth, 2020-2025 (MMbpd). Source: OPEC.

2025

Adequate
implementation of alarm
management is a fundamental part
in process safety management. This
article details how concepts, stages,
indicators, etc., of alarm management
are compatible with the main elements
of process safety management.
Hydrocarbon Processing | APRIL 2021 7

Hydrocarbon Processing - April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hydrocarbon Processing - April 2021