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Oil Refineries

Mobile units ensure flexible fire protection at oil refineries

By: Robyn Wilkinson 8th September 2017 Fire protection equipment supplier DoseTech commissioned a second firefighting trailer-mounted (FTM) unit for a South Africa-based crude oil storage depot last month, providing a highly portable and flexible solution to complement the depot’s existing large-scale foam and water cannon system. →

Retractable spray injectors important cost savers

By: Robyn Wilkinson 8th September 2017 Retractable spray injectors not only increase the ease and safety of performing inspection and maintenance activities at oil refineries but can also potentially reduce operational downtime and contribute to significant cost savings, says spraying systems provider Monitor Engineering MD Grant... →

KEY COOLING Spray injectors inject liquids or gases into process streams, providing critical cooling, mixing, quenching, washing, humidifying, gas cooling or chemical reactions

Thermal spray coatings provide protection for refineries

8th September 2017 Thermal spray coatings can produce significant cost savings for refineries by reducing the amount of piping maintenance required to guard against the consequences of corrosion under insulation (CUI), says wear solutions provider Weartech director Adam Wintle. →

PROTECTIVE LAYER Coatings produced with thermal spraying are formed when millions of particles are deposited on top of each other and are bonded to the substrate

Well-managed upgrades essential at African refineries

By: Robyn Wilkinson 8th September 2017 With demand for cleaner fuel products driving refinery upgrades in Africa, turnaround planning must be carefully managed to eliminate the risks of costly overruns and production losses, which can threaten the economic viability of the projects, says project management consultancy Turner &... →

KEEPING UP Refineries are under pressure to become more environment-friendly in respect of their direct impact on the environment and the impact of the fuels they produce

Photo by Bloomberg
KEEPING UP Refineries are under pressure to become more environment-friendly in respect of their direct impact on the environment and the impact of the fuels they produce

Importing refined fuels quicker and more financially viable for Africa

By: Robyn Wilkinson 8th September 2017 Rather than focusing time and finances on establishing new oil refineries, African countries should enhance their focus on a niche market strength that will enable them to become competitive in a global market, accepting that the import and storage of refined fuels is a quicker and more... →

RODRICK NAIDOO Countries that have their own crude resources and established mega-refineries could never be outpriced by a South African refinery

Strategic planning ensures successful turnaround on refinery upgrades

8th September 2017 Creative thinking and sound preparation enabled engineering firm MegChem to assist oil company Chevron with large-scale upgrades at its Cape Town refinery in a turnaround period of ten weeks, says MegChem director Louis Odendaal →

TEAM EFFORT The combined Chevron and MegChem teams worked together closely to complete the upgrades

Newest firefighting technology delivered to South Africa

By: Nadine James 2nd September 2016 Fire protection technology provider DoseTech is promoting the concept of firefighting trailer-mounted (FTM) units to the sub-Saharan Africa oil industry, and has concluded the delivery of the first system to the South African market. Further, the company is in discussions with a South African... →

GERMAN ENGINEERING The FTM units are manufactured by DoseTech partner and German fire-safety product manufacturer FireDos

Industry challenges blunt investment in oil and gas sector

2nd September 2016 Demand for oil and gas from markets in Africa remains high but low crude prices combined with poor physical infrastructure, inadequate logistical solutions and onerous government regulations have blunted investment in oil and gas field development, says independent oil and gas company SacOil... →

THABO KGOGO 57% of Africa’s export earnings are derived from hydrocarbons

Company science and engineering programme celebrates graduates

2nd September 2016 More than 100 science and engineering university graduates and participants in petrochemicals and chemicals company Sasol’s education programmes were recognised on July 7 for successfully completing their respective degree courses from undergraduate to doctorate level. The graduates had... →

SASOLBURG PLANT The Sasol Inzalo Foundation has enabled 105 black, and predominantly female students to graduate in the past year

Photo by Duane Daws
SASOLBURG PLANT The Sasol Inzalo Foundation has enabled 105 black, and predominantly female students to graduate in the past year

Ghana oil refinery showing signs of profitability

2nd September 2016 Recent reports demonstrate that Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) – Ghana’s only oil refinery – has begun showing signs of profitability after seven years of stagnation. The refinery posted a profit of $800 000 from its operations from February 16 to April 20, a development described by market... →

REFINERY IS FINE AGAIN The Ghanaian refinery has recovered from its seven year stagnation and is showing progress

Egyptian petrochemicals complex expected 2021

2nd September 2016 Egyptian petrochemicals company Carbon Holding's proposed Tahrir Petrochemicals Complex is to be located within the Ain Sokhna industrial zone, near the Gulf of Suez. Major contracts for the project have been awarded, with the construction work expected to start later this year and commissioning... →

SUNRISE INDUSTRY While the oil industry in other parts of the globe is stagnating the World Bank believes there is still potential in Africa's oil industry

Nigeria, Spain to strengthen bilateral trade relationship

2nd September 2016 Nigeria and Spain, last month expressed their readiness to strengthen their bilateral trade relationship for mutual benefit across the spectrum in the oil and gas industry. State-owned oil development corporation Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) group MD Dr Maikanti Kachalla Baru... →

OIL ON TAP Two Nigerian refineries and a pipeline were brought back online to address the country's petrol shortage

Phase 1 of refinery expansion project to be completed this year

2nd September 2016 The Cameroonian government is planning to complete the first phase of the expansion and modernisation works at national refinery company Sonara’s refinery later this year, which will lead to an increase in production. According to local media, the refinery – the only one in the country – has been... →

DOGGED DEVELOPMENT The Sonara refinery has been in the process of expanding and modernising its equipment since 2013

RFO consumption expected to decline significantly by 2020

2nd September 2016 US energy research agency Energy Information Administration (EIA) in May released a report that commented that residual fuel oil (RFO) consumption is expected to decline significantly within the next four years. RFO is one of several residuals that remain after lighter materials, including... →

Opportunities for bitumen producers increased in Africa

2nd September 2016 With there being various commitments to improve infrastructure made by African countries, bitumen producers will be assured of significant work in future, says oil industry company Royal Dutch Shell. According to figures stated in the Roads and Highways overview compiled by international... →

SAPREF The 10/20 bitumen is available for direct pick-up at the Shell and BP South African Petroleum Refineries in Durban

Supplier development programme launched for black businesses

2nd September 2016 Oil refining company Chevron Corporation’s local subsidiary Chevron South Africa (SA) – which markets its fuel under the Caltex brand – last month announced a new enterprise and supplier development (E&SD) programme aimed at improving access to its value chain for black-owned businesses. The... →

CHEVRON OIL REFINERY The refinery produces petrol, diesel, jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gas and other specialty products for South Africa

Combining operations for competitive edge

By: Kimberley Smuts 4th September 2015 Oil refining and marketing company Neste announced its decision to invest about €60-million in the Naantali production line last month. The investment pertains to the programme that was announced in October 2014, through which Neste will develop the refineries in Porvoo, on the southern coast of... →

COMPANY COMBINES OPERATIONS Oil refining and marketing company Neste announced its decision to invest about €60-million in the Naantali production line last month

Chevron refinery completes planned maintenance and inspections

By: Kimberley Smuts 4th September 2015 Comprising a network of Caltex service stations and a refinery, as well as a sizeable supply and trading organisation, Chevron South Africa recently restarted production at its Milnerton-based refinery, in Cape Town, shortly after one if its most significant and successfully planned maintenance... →

MAINTENANCE INSPECTION COMPLETED Chevron South Africa recently restarted production at its Milnerton-based refinery, in Cape Town

Global expertise leveraged to service the liquid fuels and petrochemicals industries

By: Kimberley Smuts 4th September 2015 Having seen business potential in the refining and manufacture of liquid fuels and chemicals, ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions (TKIS) business development and sales GM Vishal Harichund tells Engineering News that TKIS South Africa (SA) can draw on the technology and expertise provided by the... →

THYSSENKRUPP, WILHELMSHAVEN, GERMANY ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions South Africa can draw on the technology and expertise provided by the global TKIS organisation’s specialist divisions

Oil refinery’s planned maintenance completed

By: Kimberley Smuts 4th September 2015 South Africa’s second-largest oil refinery, Engen Refinery (Enref), in Durban, South Africa has undergone a planned maintenance outage that was completed last month. The outage started on July 9 and, on August 8, Enref’s mainstream units were fully online, while the remaining units underwent a... →

Joint agreement finalised to modernise Assiut refinery in Egypt

By: Kimberley Smuts 4th September 2015 Engineering and construction project managers for the energy industry Technip Italy announced, in July, the finalization of a joint agreement with Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and Assiut Oil Refining Company (ASORC) for the modernisation project of the Assiut refinery located in... →

Oil and gas company responds to industry and market demands

By: Kimberley Smuts 4th September 2015 French multinational integrated oil and gas company Total presented its French refining roadmap to employee representatives in April this year. The plan is designed to provide each Total refining site in France the means to resist the volatile business environment and perform profitably. Total... →

Water treatment specialist services global oil refineries

By: Kimberley Smuts 4th September 2015 International water-treatment solutions specialist Degrémont, a subsidiary of France-based utility company Suez Environment, is committed to supplying sustainable, efficient and cost-effective water management services to the oil refinery and petrochemicals industry. The company supplies robust... →

Uganda’s $2.5bn crude oil refinery to start commercial production in 2018

4th September 2015 Uganda’s $2.5-billion crude oil refinery, currently being constructed by a consortium led by Russia’s raw materials and infrastructure development company RT Global Resources, will start commercial production in 2018. The consortium was chosen by Uganda’s government in February to build and... →

Oil and gas expo aims to discuss and mitigate industry challenges

By: Kimberley Smuts 4th September 2015 International and African key decision-makers in the oil and gas industry have confirmed their attendance at the yearly Africa Oil & Gas Expo 2015, which will take place on September 8 and 9 at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg. They will discuss the latest developments and... →

AGM discusses the rising energy demand of a growing continent

4th September 2015 Stakeholders in the African downstream oil industry met at the Westin Grand Hotel, in Cape Town, in March as part of African Refiners Association (ARA) week to discuss how to invigorate investment in the refining and distribution sectors of all African countries, from the Mediterranean to the... →

Technology provider to supply Malaysian refinery project

By: Kimberley Smuts 4th September 2015 Malaysia’s national oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) has selected international provider of advanced technologies, catalysts, adsorbents and services Axens as a technology provider for Petronas’s Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development (Rapid) project in... →

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES Petronas has selected Axens as a technology provider for its Rapid project in Pengerang, Johor, Malaysia

Company delivers oil refinery control systems

4th September 2015 Japanese electrical engineering and software company Yokogawa China has received an order from Chinese oil and gas company PetroChina Yunnan Petrochemical to deliver control systems for an oil refinery that is being built in China’s Yunnan province. The first stage of the project includes... →

Construction project aims to expand crude oil throughput

By: Kimberley Smuts 4th September 2015 International professional technical service providers Jacobs Engineering Group announced last month that it was selected by multinational oil and gas corporation ExxonMobil to perform engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for its crude flexibility engineering and... →

Company announces services contract for Russian oil refinery unit

4th September 2015 Engineering contractors Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announced in June that its main subsidiary, Tecnimont S.p.A., in cooperation with Russian partners, has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management services contract by Russian oil producer, JSC Gazprom Neft, for the... →

Kentz (member of the SNC-Lavalin group)

4th September 2015 With offices in over 50 countries and a staff complement of about 40 000, Montreal-based global engineering firm SNC-Lavalin provides engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services to clients in a variety of industrial... →

Conference highlights oil and gas industry

5th September 2014 A weeklong conference, aimed at uniting and networking between major role-players in the global oil industry, will run from November 3 to 7 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. →

Photo by Bloomberg
HIGHLIGHTING OIL INDUSTRY Africa Oil Week will feature recent industry trends and critical issues

SA oil below par on international scale

By: Donna Slater 5th September 2014 The quality of all grades of oil produced and refined in South Africa is subpar in terms of international standards and industry best practices, according to Kyalami-based wear control company Filter Focus. →

APPROPRIATE FILTRATION The local oil industry needs to employ filters for holding-tank breather pipes

New facility increases manufacturing capacity

5th September 2014 US-based oil refiner Chevron Corporation started commercial production of premium base oils from a newly constructed manufacturing facility at the company’s refinery in Pascagoula, near Mississippi, in July. →

INCREASING CAPACITY
The facility will help countries around the world meet increasingly strict regulatory requirements and higher performance standards for lubricants

Photo by Reuters
INCREASING CAPACITY The facility will help countries around the world meet increasingly strict regulatory requirements and higher performance standards for lubricants

Local lubricant manufacturers acquired to boost offering

5th September 2014 Germany-based lubricants manufacturer Fuchs Petrolub, with a yearly turnover of €1.8-billion, announced in May that it had acquired South African lubricant manufacturing companies Lubritene and Lubrasa. →

LOCAL INDUSTRY GROWTH The acquisition of two local lubricant manufacturers will enable the Fuchs Group to enter new markets worldwide and provide export opportunities for the local subsidiary

Smart attendance device monitors personnel in remote regions

5th September 2014 A time and attendance monitoring system that works with satellite communications can assist in the monitoring of staff in remote locations, such as those on sea-based oil rigs, according to workforce management and business process outsourcing company Adcorp Operations Shared Services. →

KEEPING TABS ON STAFF The aim of using the new system is to create efficient time acquisition, administration and payroll functions in remote areas

Thermal spray coatings to protect refineries

5th September 2014 The problem of corrosion-under-insulation (CUI), which is common in the oil refineries industry, can be controlled by applying a thermal spray that is available from wear, corrosion and hardfacing company Weartech. →

PREVENTING CORROSION Corrosion under insulation accounts for as much as 40% to 60% of a company’s piping maintenance costs

Reliability contract improves performance

By: Donna Slater 5th September 2014 A second-term contract to enhance the reliability of 565 pumps at Cape Town-based oil refinery Chevron has been improved through training the site personnel and mechanical seals manufacturer John Crane’s constantly monitoring the pumps. →

RELIABLE PUMPING The John Crane Performance Plus team ensured that standards set by the American Petroleum Institute were met at all times

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