Lee Nichols, Vice President, Content/Editor-in-Chief
Unit uptime is one of the most important aspects in refining and petrochemical plant operations. Work stoppages due to any number of causes can be detrimental to profitability; therefore, it is imperative to utilize best practices, technologies, techniques and know-how to ensure processing units operate efficiently and safely.
Refiners and petrochemical producers should seek and use the latest maintenance and inspection technologies, services and techniques to not only keep processing units running, but also ensure they operate at optimal performance. This helps improve the reliability, safety and productivity of plant operations.
Maintenance is an integral part of refining and petrochemical operations. Without a reliable maintenance program, crucial equipment cannot operate optimally or, in a worst-case scenario, could break down, leading to unit downtime, an environmental hazard or even a safety issue. Therefore, due to the essential nature of process equipment, maintenance costs are a necessary expenditure.
This issue of Hydrocarbon Processing focuses on the latest technologies and case studies on improving reliability through proactive maintenance and inspection programs. These articles are just a few of the many ways that refiners and petrochemical producers are optimizing operations to improve equipment and unit reliability.
What’s new to Hydrocarbon Processing? This issue also contains two new sections: The Main Column podcasts and a new section devoted to technical articles focused on power and utilities within refineries and/or petrochemical plants.
Judging by the download numbers, many of you are already familiar with Hydrocarbon Processing’s The Main Column podcast—the podcast series has already garnered nearly 3 MM downloads over the past 3 yr. Now, starting in this issue, Hydrocarbon Processing will feature the latest podcasts within issues of the digital publications. Readers can listen to these podcasts from the ease of their laptop, tablet, smart phone or PC. This provides our readers with another pathway to listen to/learn about the latest technologies, services, case studies, best practices and trends affecting the global hydrocarbon processing industry. All podcasts can still be accessed via The Main Column podcast site on the Hydrocarbon Processing site.
Lastly, in an effort to highlight other various integral parts of refineries and petrochemical plants, Hydrocarbon Processing continues to add topic-specific technical articles and case studies to its monthly lineup. The publication’s latest addition focuses on new ways to optimize a plant’s power and utility systems. This new section will provide the latest pathways that operators, technology providers, maintenance and reliability professionals, and others are enhancing the use of power within their facilities, as well as the latest advancements in utilities operations. If you are interested in providing a technical article for this new section—or to the other topics within Hydrocarbon Processing—contact Lee.Nichols@HydrocarbonProcessing.com for additional information. HP