Hydrocarbon Processing - November 2021 - 7

Editorial
Comment
LEE NICHOLS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Lee.Nichols@HydrocarbonProcessing.com
In pursuit of operational excellence:
A thank you from Hydrocarbon Processing
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
In late September, Hydrocarbon Processing
hosted the International Refining
and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC).
IRPC Operations highlighted the latest
equipment, services, tools and technologies
that are at the forefront of optimizing
refining and petrochemical operations
and maintenance efforts for a safer, more
efficient, more profitable and sustainable
work environment.
The global, virtual event was viewed by
more than 1,000 registrants from nearly 65
countries around the world. Nearly 70% of
the event's presentations were led by owneroperator
organizations from nearly 20 countries,
each providing their knowledge on
best practices and operational know-how.
The agenda. Prior to the start of IRPC
Operations' technical tracks, a one-day
Innovation Showcase was held by Axens.
The half-day seminar highlighted trends
and several technologies that are shaping
the hydrocarbon processing industries.
These topics included the changes that are
transpiring within the processing industries,
such as deep company reorganizations,
the restoration of refining margins
as crude oil prices increase and how refiners
are investing in adding value to their
operations to improve competitiveness.
These investments include increasing renewables
and biofuels production, new
plastics recycling technologies and capacity,
and incorporating petrochemicals production
capacity into existing assets.
The remainder of the Innovation
Showcase highlighted other processing
technologies, catalysts and digital platforms
that are optimizing refining and
petrochemical operations. These topics
segued into the two-day technical agenda
led by informative keynotes on carbon
capture and storage, the future of petrochemicals
and optimizing plant maintenance
in the era of digital transformation.
These keynotes were followed by a deep
dive into various topics to optimize operations
and maintenance, including:
* Alternative fuels, biofuels
and clean fuels production
* Catalysts
* Digital transformation
* Emerging technologies
* Engineering and construction
* Environment and safety
* Green petrochemicals
* Maintenance and reliability
* Process controls, instrumentation
and automation
* Process optimization
* Refining and petrochemical
integration
* Valves, pumps and turbomachinery
* Water management.
IRPC Operations
can
be
viewed
on-demand by visiting www.IRPCOperations.com.
A
sincere thank you to all participants.
Hydrocarbon Processing extends a
heartfelt thank you to all presenters for
their time and effort in sharing their knowledge
and experience. The technologies,
best practices, maintenance know-how and
operational efficiencies were on full display
to inform and present a call-to-action for a
safer, more profitable and more efficient
working environment. The knowledge
presented through case studies, videos and
anecdotes displayed how the industry's
technologies and workflows are operated
in real-world scenarios. What better way to
learn than through real-world experiences?
Hydrocarbon Processing would also like
to thank the sponsors of the event: Axens,
Babcock & Wilcox and Beyond Limits.
And, as always, we want to thank our hydrocarbon
processing community for their
continued support.
The ability to share knowledge and best
practices from colleagues around the world
is a testament to the desire of industry personnel
to pursue operational excellence.
20 HP Digital. Repsol details
a project in which a digital twin
improved the accuracy and scope of one
of their refinery's linear programming
models that makes decisions regarding
crude feedstock purchasing and refinery
unit operations, driving alignment
of decisions and actions across the
company's value chain.
22 Special Focus.
As the HPI moves into a more
digital environment, advanced process
control, instrumentation and automation
solutions are providing companies
with endless ways to optimize plant
performance. This month's Special Focus
details the future of process automation.
30 Engineering
and Construction.
This continuation on the topic of
materials management shows how
data-centric execution fosters elevation
out of detrimental siloed documentcentric
execution, how collaboration
among all transactional parties via a
common data environment can facilitate
efficient project execution and several
areas where a forward-thinking materials
management team can significantly
enhance project productivity.
49 HP Awards.
The nominees and winners
of the 2021 HP Awards are detailed.
See which technologies and people
are making a significant impact in the
hydrocarbon processing industry.
81 Pumps. Industry experience
is shared on reliability challenges
in working with vertically suspended
molten sulfur pumps. This work details
common pump field troubles reported
by operations, pump failure modes and
case studies that demonstrate typical
failure modes and mechanisms.
Hydrocarbon Processing | NOVEMBER 2021 7
http://www.IRPC-Operations.com http://www.Operations.com
Hydrocarbon Processing - November 2021

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