Sunny Days Ahead for Offshore
The recent financial crisis which led to the global recession saw crude oil prices plummeting from a record high of $147 per barrel in July'08 to below $40 per barrel by Dec'08, which had indeed affected the E&P sector's activities - mainly their expansion plans. Umesh Grover says that time has arrived for the offshore services sector to suppliment the E&P section...
- By Umesh Grover
GE Smart Meters to be Used in AEP Ohio's Smart Grid Demonstration
GE Smart Meters will give consumers the information to make informed choices about when and how they use electricity-enabling them to lower their electric bills without sacrificing lifestyle...
- By our bureau
UK Offshore Safety Incidents Hit Record Low
New offshore statistics suggest the sector is getting safer, with both the combined fatal and major injury rate and major hydrocarbon releases at their lowest since the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) began regulating the industry...
Dim Prospects Spelt Out for Jack-Ups
Jack-up demand has been hit hard as oil prices tumbled from last year's peak over $140 a barrel...
Corporate Excellence Award for R.S. Sharma, CMD, ONGC
R.S. Sharma, CMD, ONGC was conferred 'Amity Leadership Award for Corporate Excellence in Oil & Gas Industry' by Amity Business School during the 5th Annual Global Leadership Summit held at NO IDA on September 19, 2009...
HPCL receives Enterprise Connect Award 2009
HPCL received the Enterprise Connect Award 2009, which recognizes and rewards excellence among CIOs. The awards are instituted by CIOL (Cybermedia India Online Ltd., which is India's leading & first IT portal addressing the information needs of the IT community) in association with Dataquest magazine...
Winds of Change to Bring Unconventional Energy to the Fore
Looking to the future, Wood Mackenzie says that by 2025 unconventional oil is expected to supply more than 20 percent of global demand. Unconventional gas is likely to be at least as important with the study forecasting it will account for over 40 percent of US gas supply by 2010...
Wind energy manufacturing: massive parts meet mass production
Automation breakthroughs aim to double throughput, with reduced labor and improved quality...
Stainless Steel meets the tougher conditions in Oil & Gas Industries
From years, the Oil& Gas industries are using a lot of carbon steel. However, in response of the increases of the corrosion severity in service conditions, of the emphasis on cost efficiency and life of field solutions, the stainless steels are more and more often considered as better solutions as the traditional carbon steel alternative. The benefits of using stainless steel include superior corrosion resistance, excellent mechanical properties, greater ecological sensitivity, economical advantages, for topside construction; oil flow and storage applications...
A Fresh Look at Client-Contractor Relations
Taking a contractor's perspective, Arunabha Sen discusses the challenges in Award and Execution of EPCI Projects in India...
Siemens to Engineer Selective Waste-Gas Recirculation Systems for Posco Sinter Plants
Siemens VAI Metals Technologies received an order from the Korean steel producer Posco for the provision of engineering and supervisory services in connection with the installation, operation and maintenance of a selective waste-gas recirculation system for each of two sinter plants located at the company’s Pohang Works. The contract value is a single-digit million-euro figure...
GAIL approves Rs. 8,000 crore investments for pipelines
GAIL (India) Limited has approved an investment of Rs. 8,000 crore for setting up of new pipelines and augmenting capacity of an existing pipeline. The investment was approved in the Company’s Board meeting held last week. This was announced by Dr. U D Choubey, Chairman and Managing Director, GAIL at a media briefing here today. Others present at the briefing were Shri R K Goel, Director (Finance) and Shri R D Goyal, Director (Projects), GAIL...
Major Challenges For Deepwater Operators
The challenges facing the industry as deepwater operations search farther and deeper for new discoveries continually push the limits of technology and economics. One of the prime challenges experts cite is to have flow assurance. And non productive time (NPT) is a major associated risk with all these challenges. Offshore World Bureau reports...
Indian Offshore Industry
Indian Offshore industry has a very bright future ahead and growing E&P activities in Indian offshore field has attracted many foreign E&P companies to enter the market and make huge investments and this scenario will continue...
Unlocking Industry Potential
As the offshore sector faces its most challenging period yet, it is essential that service providers develop a culture of innovation to unlock industry potential...
Dismantling Obsolete Offshore Installations
Stanislay Patin reports on the environmental impact of the offshore oil and gas industry...
Sakhalin II gears up for full production
The last major offshore gas well is being completed at the Lunskoye platform in Russia's sub-Arctic Sea of Okhotsk preparing the way for full production capacity of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at Sakhalin II, one of the world's largest integrated oil and gas projects. Production at Sakhalin II's first LNG unit got under way in March 2009 with a flawless start-up programme. Completion of the final gas well - Russia’s largest - is a vital step towards starting operations at its second LNG unit. Full capacity of 9.6 million tonnes a year is expected to be reached in 2010...
Gastech 2009 Highlights Eco-Certified Products
GE Oil & Gas, a world leader in oil and gas advanced technology equipment and services showcases extensive range of eco-certified products and latest technologies at Gastech 2009, the largest international conference and exhibition for the LNG, LPG and natural gas industries being held from May 25 to 28 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre...
Halliburton wins three engineering achievement awards
Technology recognized for innovation, problem-solving and potential to improve environmental performance, safety, and profitability...
Continuous Improvement: Thinking outside the box eliminates nonproductive time
Thinking outside the box by M-I SWACO Environmental Solutions Supervisor Donald Anderson saved client BP 20 hours of nonproductive time (NPT) and nearly half a million dollars. "Along with the Azeri M-I crew on board the rig, Donald's contribution constitutes the embodiment of the 'Customer Focused, Solutions Driven' core value of M-I SWACO," said Azeri M-I ES Operations Manager Edgardo Hernandez. "It sets an example for the rest of us and contributes to the company’s position as the leader in integrated Drilling and Environmental Solutions, Wellbore Productivity and Production technologies in Azerbaijan and worldwide."...
Indian Offshore Industry: Rising Opportunities or Mounting Threats
Offshore Exploration plays an important role from drilling to refining and is vital to our economy, but there have been many major accidents. B.N. Prasad traces the threats in the industry's path and comes forward with a few suggestions...
Demystifying Peak Oil Theory
If comments from Alan Greenspan's memoir (published in 2007) - "I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil - is a foretaste for what was to come, then the oil-led nuclear wars could well convert to reality Sir Albert Einstein's fear: "I do not know how the Third World War will be fought but I do know that the Fourth World War will be fought with sticks and stones." ...
Taking the ghost out of the machine
The refining and chemical process industries have been rocked by some widely publi-cised incidents in recent times. To help reduce the number of accidents, DNV uses a risk-based approach through the isrs7 tool...
Petrotech 2009 Dazzles Amidst Tough Times
Eleven overseas ministers, 273 exhibitors and a contingent of 4000 speakers and delegates converged for Petrotech 2009 at Delhi. Asia's biggest Oil & Gas Industry organised by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd was held during 11th to 15th January 2009 ...
Logistics Pound of Flesh Become Dearer to Trade Each Year
Indian economy has shown exemplary growth during the past decade and there has been a considerable increase in the demand of oil and gas. Primarily, 45 percent of India's energy requirements are met by oil and gas. Mittravinda Ranjan and Mousumi Ghoshal of Offshore World provide an update on India's Oil & Gas industry ...
ONGC Takes Over Imperial Energy
In what has been touted as the biggest takeover bids by ONGC, it has taken control of Imperial Energy PLc, a London-listed company that has most of its oil assets in Russia at a valuation of $3 per barrel of oil reserves. This, ONGC officials say, is half the valuation of global companies with reserves of the size of Imperial...
Fanning New offshore wind technology
A new wind farm of 400 MW capacity,located 130 kilometers from the coast in the North Sea, has been launched.The farm will be linked to the German Power Grid.The windfarm is expected to save carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions of 1.5 million tons per year by avoiding the need for additional fossil-fuel generation...
China's new gas deal with India
China has planned to sign a 30-year agreement with India .The agreement is going to be made between the countries to import natural gas from fields lying in offshore Myanmar where India's state-owned companies have 25 per cent stake...
India Must Chase Oil Vigorously
Ravi K. Mehrotra is an industry veteran and head of Foresight Limited, London, General Agents for International Shipping, Oil Drilling and Oil Exploration companies. This enlightening article traces India's Oil & Gas situation and puts forth a few enlightening suggestions...
New Dimensions to Accelerate Indian Exploration Ventures
Dr.V.K.Rao is currently Advisor (E&P/Gas Business), Reliance Natural Resources Limited. He has over thirty-five years experience in the Oil and Gas Exploration & Development Sector. Dr. Rao has served at ONGC, DGH, GAIL and Reliance ADA Group previously. He has been Head of NELP and CBM Rounds in Directorate General Of Hydrocarbons under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, covering five rounds of NELP and CBM Rounds. Through this illuminating piece, Dr. Rao shares his experiences on Exploration ventures in India and overseas and suggests a few innovative concepts towards accelerating exploration ventures in India...
World's most advanced Wireless Technology 33 Safety & critical control system
Monitor, Inc. is pioneering a revolution in wireless communication solutions for the monitoring and control of remote assets in oil and gas applications worldwide. Their low-power systems deliver high-capacity data acquisition and significantly reduced exposure of field personnel at previously unachievable low costs. In some cases, these systems can reduce capital operating expenses (CAPEX) by over 50 percent...
Oil and Gas Industry in India - A Review
There can be no better topic than to discuss and debate on the present global crude oil and gas scenario particularly with respect to India. Those of us engaged in the oil and gas industry will have come to know that India's performance and record has been far from satisfactory. I view this with a great deal of pain and disappointment. The Government of India formed the ONGC in 1958 with the sole purpose of achieving self-sufficiency in crude oil production. Regrettably, over the past 50 years, our crude oil production has remained almost stagnant, hovering around an average of 31 Million Tonnes...
HSE in Exploration & Production
Exploration & Production (E&P) industry is known to offer amongst the most hazardous work environments. So, as a corollary, this industry is also one of the most regulated industries. Because of the nature of work here, every operation is hazardous and people working in the industry have to be extra vigilant at all times. Even routine operations have the potential to turn hazardous and prone to the external and internal effects...
National Oil Companies on a Trot
The growth in the oil and gas sector and the subsequent growth in the global service sector have led to the growth of many National Oil Companies (NOCs) worldwide. The scenario of providing services in the oil and gas sector has completely changed over the past years. The NOCs have increased significantly in number as well as power, which has been a debatable issue for the International Oil Corporations (IOCs) as well as the homegrown service providing companies for the oil and gas sector ...
OSEA2008 achieves best-ever showing
Following the show's 80 per cent growth in exhibition space from the previous event in 2006, OSEA2008 - Asia's largest oil and gas exhibition and conference - closed today with 20,542 attendees, a robust 47 per cent increase from the previous event. 35 per cent of attendees were from overseas...
Logistics Pound of Flesh Become Dearer to Trade Each Year
Indian economy has shown exemplary growth during the past decade and there has been a considerable increase in the demand of oil and gas. Primarily, 45 percent of India's energy requirements are met by oil and gas. Mittravinda Ranjan and Mousumi Ghoshal of Offshore World provide an update on India's Oil & Gas industry ...
End of Easy Oil - But there are Solutions
Fluctuation of commodity prices has been one of the main challenges, says Weatherford International's Vice President Middle East & North Africa Anas Al Chalabi. He says the situation has affected their long term contracts with their clients thus making it difficult to quote offers for their products and services. He said that they were addressing this challenge by negotiation in the new and existing contracts to add escalation clauses linked to price indices in order to offset the effects of fluctuating commodity prices ...
Open Path Gas Detection
Jean Berthold, the CMO and co-founder of Senscient, is known throughout the gas detection and analysis industry with extensive experience developing promotional sales and marketing strategies and the long term development of customer relationships and the effective hiring, training and motivation of talented and capable distribution partners
Regulators for Water-Glycol control fluid in subsea systems
Deep-sea exploration has become a major focus area for the Oil & Gas industry to meet the growing demand. Sub sea production systems become a lot advanced during the past decade for reliable performance and safe operation during any kind of unexpected failure to avoid dangerous occurrences. Water glycol based sub sea control fluids are specifically designed to meet requirements of both direct and multiplexed electro hydraulic systems over very long distances for deep-water exploration ...
RFID takes Everyday Life By the Storm
Where is RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) used really? Well, practically everywhere is what you would say. The technology is there. It's really up to you to think of a way that you could use it beneficially ...
Oil & Gas Industry at Crossroads
Demand for oil and gas has reached new heights. Crude oil prices reached $147 per barrel during the summer. The major oil and gas companies announced several multi-billion dollar projects to improve and develop production. On the other hand the raw material production, engineering and construction markets have suffered from a shortage of all types of resources including talented professionals ...
Act Now to Strengthen Global Economy
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for the creation of an early warning system to rescue the tottering global financial system and said Gulf Oil Producers should play a crucial role in this field. He was speaking at Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference 2008 ...
Oil Industry faces skills shortage
The biggest challenge that the energy production sector is facing today is perhaps not technology or the huge finances that are required but the availability of skilled manpower. The problem is not new though and has been around over the last 25 years or so and the bad news is that experts reckon that it is only going to get worse in the coming years ...
Enhanced Safety
Sea transportation has always been a challenge for the offshore operations. Though the helicopters have been the conventional mode of transportation for transferring crew, vessels too are used to transport spare parts and crew to the offshore platforms. The vessels require to be stationed in the landing area but carrying out the task safely is very difficult especially during the rough weather conditions ...
Shipping Partners Global Warming Solution
Oil tankers are environment friendly, energy-efficient and effective in terms of minimizing greenhouse-house gas (GHG) emissions according to experts. Backing up this claim, a study reveals that one litre of fuel on a modern VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) moves one tonne of cargo more than 2,800 kilometres. This is more than twice as far as 20 years ago. Again, the average carbon footprint in terms of CO2 per tonne-kilometre of each of the world's oil tankers is less than one tenth of that of a heavy truck and less than one hundredth of that of an aircraft ...
India: An emerging refining hub
The on-going development in port facilities, river transportation, and pipeline network, combined with the refining industry's ability to process a wide range of crude types and qualities, place India's major refiners in an excellent position to continue leading the country as a major refining hub...
We are currently evaluating the prospects in the Indian oil & gas market
Trelleborg is a world leader in subsea engineering/ architecture related products/ technology for offshore oil & gas sector. The company's production facilities are located in UK, Norway and US. With a strong work force of more than 22,000 employees, the group has market leading brand recognition. The $3.4 billion company with presence in around 40 countries in six continents has 100 production plants across the world. The company offers engineering materials for the most demanding current and future applications. "We are currently evaluating the short term and long-term prospects in the Indian oil & gas market as a whole to allow us to determine our plans for future development of sales in the region," said Richard Beesely, Business Development Manager of Trelleborg in an interview to Balakrishnan Nair...
Recent developments in refining technology in India & diving gases
This article summarizes recent developments in oil refining processes, addressing topics ranging from basic applications to the implementation of viable operations that meet environmental and economic stipulations...
Strategic crude oil reserves: An overview
This is an objective analysis on the oil & gas sector in India along with detailed information on the exploration, production and other processes. It gives a detailed overview of the opportunities, challenges and critical success factors for the growth of the industry ...
Managing risk in a volatile market
India is currently the world's sixth greatest oil consumer, accounting for more than 3% of world�s total annual petroleum consumption. About 30% of India's energy needs are met by oil, and more than 60% of that oil is imported. Hence the business is full of risks. This article delves on minimizing risk by managing crude oil feedstock resource ...
Fuelling today's energy solutions
Offshore production applications present unique automation and power challenges. Harsh conditions, space limitations, safety concerns and reliability, are distinct platform-management requirements. All must be taken into consideration when designing and upgrading systems. Rockwell Automation's solutions offer tremendous value to critical offshore production platforms ...
Professional manpower for oil and gas sector
With oil revenues and margins being considerably favorable over the past couple of years, the oil companies - National Oil Companies (NOCs) as well as International Oil Companies (IOCs) - are looking towards long-term business goals and wider investment opportunities. Unfortunately this investment-opportune time has coincided with a marked dearth of skilled and professionally qualified and experienced manpower, worldwide. The NOCs and IOCs need to come up with short-term as well as long-term solutions aimed at ensuring that a steady stream of capable workforce is available to them. For this they need to implement site-specific and region-specific remediation. For meeting the short-to-medium term needs of a specialized engineering discipline, a fast-track process of recruitment of technical and professional staff from India was developed and implemented with reasonable success ...
Process engineering of bio-diesel plant
Process know-how for the production of bio-diesel (Fatty Acid Methyl/ Ethyl Ester (FAME / FAEE)) is being studied in laboratory, pilot plant and commercial scale. The feedstock studied and used was waste vegetable oil from restaurants, acid oils from vegetable oil refineries, fish oil, soap solutions, jatropha, Karanja & crude palm oil. The commercial scale production was 6 lakhs bulk liters of biodiesel of ASTM D-6751-02 standard. The process parameters like mole ratio, catalyst concentration, mixing of reactants, kinetics, mass transfer etc is optimized ...
Indian natural gas: On a fast track
Over the years, natural gas has emerged as an environment friendly and high efficient fuel ...
Natural gas: Global fuel of choice
Natural gas is emerging as a vital domestic resource, which can fuel the economy. Increasing demand for hydrocarbons in established markets like the United States and in emerging markets like India and China has significantly increased the global demand for natural gas ...
Developments in safe use of industrial & diving gases
This article delves into industrial and diving gases by making specific recommendations relating to safe standards, which should be used. It is aimed primarily at offshore and inshore/inland commercial diving operations ...
LNG at doorstep
IOC's project "LNG at Doorstep" is all set to revolutionize the way natural gases are transported across the country ...
National Gas Grid When India will complete the project?
The upcoming National Gas Grid, set up by GAIL (India) Ltd, connects LNG import locations along the west coast with high consumption areas in northern, central and western India. It will also transport the recent natural gas discoveries (Krishna Godavari Basin, east coast) to markets in southern and western India ...
Space saving flow meters
The self conditioning V-Cone offshore flow meter from McCrometer (USA) requires a pipe straight-run that is up to 70 per cent less than other meters resulting in reducing pipe material cost and installation labour costs automatically. Easy to locate and easy to install, the versatile V-Cone is ideal for new equipment designs, expansion projects or retrofits requiring new meters ...
High-performance Synthetic Lubricant: A cost-effective approach
AWG used conventional, mineral-based oils to lubricate each of its Solar T-1000 turbines. The mineral oil caused several problems at the facility, including deposit build-ups, which ultimately led to bearing failures and the need for regular system overhauls. After switching to Mobil SHC 824 synthetic oil, the frequent system overhauls resulting from bearing failures, the excess time and costs needed for turbine maintenance and parts replacements are a thing of the past ...
From test separator to MPFM technology: Improvements in well testing and production monitoring
Multiphase flow meter is a non-nuclear, versatile and designed for true field conditions providing accurate, real-time measurements of oil, water and gas flows simultaneously without separation of the phases ...
NELP-VII will lead to entry of experienced operators in E&P activity
Under the seventh round (NELP-VII) around 57 blocks, the highest number of exploration blocks ever offered under NELP, are on offer for exploration of oil & gas. The total area of these blocks is about 0.171 million sq km. The offered blocks comprise 19 deepwater blocks, 9 shallow water blocks and 29 onland blocks. The road shows, data rooms and purchase of data packages to promote NELP VII have evoked tremendous response. NELP-VII is expected to see more intense competition among bidders than NELP-VI and earlier rounds. This intense competition will lead to entry of experienced operators in the field of E&P activity ...
We are making every effort in facilitating investments and consequent exploration
V K Sibal, Director General of Hydrocarbons, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Concept selection is critical for deepwater project success
Selecting the right development systems involves assessment of the usual list of physical circumstances. Consider all options and prioritize them based on costs, commercial/technical risk, schedule, execution and potential biases. ...
Production of oil and gas from ultra deepwater
The high costs of operating and maintaining offshore production systems is making satellite subsea production an increasingly attractive prospect. This trend is accelerated by the existence of an expansive platform and pipeline infra-structure to which satellite wells can be rapidly tied back ...
The quest for 'Green Energy'
The sources of fossil fuels, however, are not inexhaustible. Rampant and increasing use of them is leading to their fast depletion. They are becoming increasingly expensive with time. This has led to the search for alternative energy sources, polluting but abundant or, hopefully, abundant and non-polluting, and ideally, renewable. Biogas, or methane obtained from biogas, biomass, etc, are polluting, but are abundant or renewable. ...
The Indian hydrocarbon sector on fast track
With India's energy needs projected to grow by 40% in the next five years, the future is indeed full of promise for the Indian hydrocarbon sector. But it has certain glitches. Has the price volatility in line with global trends in the oil & gas sector dampened the growth prospects of the Indian economy? Not withstanding growing interest in exploration of Indian basins in the past few years, with private and multinational companies joining in, will India's march towards self-sufficiency in crude oil remain a distant dream? The Ocentex 2008 International Conference held in Mumbai during February 15-17 provided the answers. ...
Maritime India: Seize the moment
While the conferences at the Shipping & Marine Expo 2008 served as a platform for exchange of ideas and technologies, the exhibition helped both the domestic and international exhibitors to display their state-of-the-art technologies and exchange inovative ideas under one roof...
Bio desulphurisation of natural gas in three-phase fluidized bio reactor using thiobacillus dentrificans
Natural gas from the well head may contain a number of undesirable components that must be reduced to acceptable levels prior to distribution and sale. The most common in the gas industry is the removal and disposal of hydrogen sulphide (H2S). The present continuous studies are undertaken to develop an effective anaerobic desulphurization process of hydrogen sulphide from natural gas using three-phase fluidized bed bioreactor. ...
Refinery/petrochemicals integration: Past, present and a look into future
There is also a growing acceptance that climate change due to global warming could have radical effects on all aspects of the hydrocarbon chain. This paper questions the potential effect on the petrochemical and refi nery interface, if some of the changes discussed come to fruition. It also discusses the ways in which refi nery/petrochemicals synergies can be realized.
Reciprocating compressors for process gas applications
Gases behave quite differently at different pressures and temperatures and with different gas compositions. Hence, it is very essential to know the thermodynamic behavior and gas properties for a selection of correct metallurgy for the compressor components.
“We are geared up to challenges of meeting the ever increasing domestic LPG demand”
The Indian oil & gas sector: Energizing the future economic growth
Viewed from all angles, the hydrocarbon sector is very crucial for determining the energy security of our country. Today, in India, around 45% of the total energy needs are met by the oil and gas sector and this is likely to continue for the next two decades or more, along with increase in the usage of natural gas over the commonly used liquid hydrocarbons...
“Our motto is think big, think fast and think ahead”
Offshore services - Issues & challenges
NELP has brought new challenges and unexpected opportunities in deepwater exploration. And with this buoyancy comes exciting times for the offshore services. Companies that support these activities provide logistical support, ports and terminals services, drilling and diving services, construction and even hiring of rigs.
Besides a huge amount of investments, the offshore service providers should constantly explore ideas and implement plans, which allow them to maintain their reputation to meet the increasing needs of exploration and production
Settling out pressure calculation in centrifugal compressor loop
In order to reduce the consequence of fi re hazard due to fi re in compressor area, remote operated, fi re safe, shut down valves (SDV) are provided both at inlet and outlet of compressor, handling fl ammable or toxic gases. This practice is recommended by most of technology licensors and plant safety agencies worldwide. In case of centrifugal compressor tripping due to any process upsets or fi re hazard, shutdown valves automatically closed to isolate the compressor from main plant area. Once the compressor gets isolated, the higher pressure gas trapped in the discharge side, leaks through clearance between casing and impellers and equalized with low pressure suction side, thus settles at a pressure higher than the operating suction pressure is called,“ Settling out pressure”. By defi nition, settling out pressure is the maximum pressure level which is reached within the compressor loop following centrifugal compressor tripping.
‘Specialist manpower’ provider for the oil & gas sector
Brunel Energy Group, with its worldwide operations currently outsources 5,000+ specialist for diverse industrial needs globally. More than 50 percent of the above resources are presently deployed by the Brunel Energy divisions for various upstream, midstream and downstream operation in the oil and gas sectors
Sowing the seeds of tomorrow
Biodiesel have properties comparable to petro diesel oil, they can be used to run diesel engines with little or no modifi cations. The medium scale trials have already been carried out in India. It has many advantages, the major being non toxicity, bio degradability, renewable, net revenue increase, rural employment, greenery, substantial reduction exhaust emissions and called the fuel of the future.
AFX technology achieves maximum propylene yield in FCC units
FCC units play an increasingly important role in meeting worldwide propylene demand, producing close to one third of total world supply in 2006. To help refiners better meet this demand, Albemarle has introduced the innovative AFX catalyst technology, designed specifically for operation at high propylene yield. This report describes the first commercial application of this remarkable new technology....
IBM project to take on alternative energy research
A project backed by IBM Corp called the World Community Grid, linking around 800,000 individual computers to one humongous supercomputer, has embarked on addressing environmental problems and other humanitarian research besides human disease...
"Developing alternate, efficient and accessible sources of energy will merit greater attention"
OP LLC, a Honeywell company, has been delivering cutting-edge technology to the petroleum refining, gas processing, petrochemical production and major manufacturing industries since 1914. In the ensuing decades, UOP engineers have generated thousands of patents, leading to important advances in process technology, profitability consultation, and equipment design...
Issues and challenges in oilfield services
The exploration and production (E&P) services segment is the backbone of oil and gas industry and plays a pivotal role in its progress. E&P is a prominent part of the energy industry where the upstream activities include acquiring, developing, exploiting, exploring and producing oil and gas in core areas of operation onshore and offshore. These resources are transferred to transportation facilities for further downstream processing such as refining and production of other derivative energy forms or products....
Innovations in oil and gas sector
The oil and gas processing industry operates under extreme conditions but the recent technologies have reduced the uncertainties and has contributed to making the oil exploration and production much more safer for the industry and environment. Also factors like globalization, increased efficiency demands and the need to conserve energy supply and environmental pressures has driven technology in coming years. In order to meet the needs of people, new innovations are made which can be applied in oil and gas sector to increase the productivity and reduce the maintenance costs...
Recycling : A key for energy and resource conservation
Recycling is the reprocessing of materials (waste) into new products. Recycling helps in preventing useful material resources being wasted and also reduces the consumption of raw materials. This also helps indirectly as reduction in energy usage and greenhouse gas effect. Recycling is a key concept of modern waste management and is the third component of the waste hierarchy...
Need-based logistics solution provider
Express Transport Pvt Ltd has been making vital contributions to the development of total logistics in the country. Founded in 1946, Express has grown today with distinguishing features and has set standards for quality in service. Express has achieved its objective to provide need-based logistics solutions for wide-ranging requirements and to align the resources of the organisation to maximise customer satisfaction by constantly enhancing and upgrading the quality of services offered to the customers. Express Transport is an ISO 9001-2000 certified company...
Focussed solar heat : A source of green energy
The temperature of a material placed in sunlight can be considerably increased by focusing, using lenses or reflectors. This can be directly used for air, water, or a high boiling non-corrosive liquid heating for heat transport and storage using insulated pipes and containers for future use. Such a liquid can be used for space heating, space cooling and refrigeration, and flame-less cooking, flowing through coiled metal tubes in an insulated oven...
Studies on biomethanation of water hyacynth
Kinetics of biogas produced during the anaerobic digestion of water hyacinth has been studied in a batch reactor. The role of methanogenic and non - methanogenic bacteria and effect of ultrasound on biogas generation has been studied...
GAIL - Unlocking new resources
Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) was set up with the mandate to process, transport and distribute natural gas and its products. The company, thus went into the business of natural gas, LPG liquid hydrocarbons and petrochemicals, the latter being value-added products...
"We want to bring in an era of clean fuel industrialization"
GAIL (India) Limited is India's flagship natural gas company, integrating all aspects of the natural gas value chain (including exploration & production, processing, transmission, distribution and marketing) and its related services. Says Dr U D Choubey, CMD, GAIL India, "in a rapidly changing scenario, we are spearheading the move to a new era of clean fuel industrialization, creating a quadrilateral of green energy corridors that connect major consumption centres in India with major gas fields, LNG terminals and other cross border gas sourcing points. GAIL is also expanding its business to become a leading player in the international market."...
Opportunities and challenges across the hydrocarbon value chain
India's unprecedented economic growth has resulted in vastly increased energy needs. This has created both great challenges and great opportunities for the oil and gas industry. Domestically, India is now opening its doors wide to foreign investment, in both the upstream and downstream sectors. The national oil companies along with private companies in both (upstream & downstream) have lined up huge expansion plans (both Greenfield & Brownfield). In this backdrop, Expomedia Events India is proud to present this unique event highlighting the various opportunities emerging from the rapidly burgeoning Oil & Gas industry in India...
New measurement method increases efficiency
The Fluxys lnG Peak Shaving in the back port of Zeebrugge (Belgium) dates from 1978. Here, liquid natural gas, supplied by trucks from the lnG terminal in the front port of Zeebrugge, is stored. When the gas demand is higher than the primary supply (through pipelines from norway and Great Britain or lnG tankers, such as the Methania), the "supply" in the lnG Peak Shaving is "heated" to 2°C and sent into the network.
Polyolester Synthetic Compressor Oil
High performance lubricant realizes long service life
Selecting the right lubricant for machinery operations positively impacts the plant’s bottom line. By sufficiently providing processing equipment with correct lubrication, companies can extend equipment life, increase productivity and avoid unnecessary repair work related to mechanical degradation. What should companies consider when employing a lubricant? The key is to look for a lubricant that meets the requirements of your plant operations. Shanghai Shidongkou Gas Making Company Limited understands the importance of selecting the right lubricant. The company converted to ANDEROL BDC 68 polyolester (POE) synthetic compressor oils to reap
Supply chain management solutions
The models developed with Honeywell’s solution covered the entire supply chain of IOCL from crude purchases at the refinery gate or ports to product distribution at the terminals
Methane digesters: A source of fuel
Biogas technology is an important option to meet the growing energy demand of the rural areas of the developing country. The most important factor in the favor of this technology is its environment friendliness as it helps effective utilization of waste and nutrients recycling. Biogas technology can be put to use at both community and domestic level. Biogas is the versatile source of energy, which can be used to meet several end uses such as lightening, cooking, bio-fertilizers, motive power (electricity) generation and fuel for automobiles. for plant growth such as
Spreading its wings overseas
The second largest exploration and production (E&P) company in India having more than 100,000 sq km of licensed areas for its exploration and production activities.
"E&P service business is another area of our strategic focus"
Oil India Ltd (OIL) is a leading natural gas and petroleum company in India under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of the Government of India. The company is engaged in the business of exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas, transportation of crude oil and production of liquid petroleum gas.
"Huge discoveries made in the NELP blocks have changed the global perception about the prospect of Indian basins"
V K Sibal, Director General of Hydrocarbons, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, before joining DGH, was director (personnel) in Oil India Ltd, an E&P Navratna company of India. Sibal joined Oil India Ltd in 1977 as a geophysicist and gradually rose to assume senior technical positions in the organization. He eventually became group general manager and was responsible for the entire exploration operations of Oil India Ltd. His initiatives during the tenure included induction of world-class cutting edge technologies for 2D, 3D seismic data acquisition, processing and interpretation besides integrating various connected disciplines. Subsequently, he joined the Board of Oil India Ltd as director (personnel) in 2003. An MS in physics in 1974 and a post-graduate in human resource management Sibal talks to Offshore World about the initiatives taken by the DGH boost the growth of the industry.
ANN & regression analysis based predictions of BOD5 & COD for refinery wastewater
Industrial wastewater quality is indicated by several physico-chemical and biological parameters. If a suitable correlation is established between them, some difficult and not instantaneously available parameters can be easily predicted. Such correlations are traditionally achieved by regression analysis. However, non-linear fluctuations are not easily represented by these correlations. Models based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) are fast emerging as an alternative tool to predict and forecast water quality parameters based on a well-defined set of training data that are easily available. The present study reports the correlations for BOD5 and COD with TOC for a refinery wastewater. Additionally, 12 ANN based models were developed to forecast the BOD5 and COD by considering other water quality indices as the input data. The results from this study indicate that ANNs are simple and reliable, under adequately trained conditions.
On-line, Real-time Corrosion Monitoring: Integrated with Process Control
The purpose of corrosion monitoring has changed dramatically from the early days of weight-loss-coupon exposure. As new technologies evolved, the accuracy of data and the relevance of the information to process control have improved. The benefits of on-line, real-time technologies include optimizing processes, reducing downtime and saving plant assets. This article describes the capabilities and application of such monitoring methods.
BIODIESEL FROM TRANSESTERIFICATION OF BIOLIPIDS
Biodiesel is a clean burning fuel, simple to use, biodegradable, non toxic fuel additive/ alternative fuel that contains no sulfur, aromatics and has in it 10% built in oxygen that helps in burning fully and dropping 50% emission in comparison to diesel fuel. Almost all biodiesel is produced using base catalyzed transesterification. Transesterification is crucial for producing biodiesel from biolipids. The transesterification process is the reaction of a triglyceride (fat/oil) with a bioalcohols to form esters and glycerol. Transesterification as it is the most economical process requiring only low temperature and pressure and producing a 98% conversion yield.
Comparative performance of conditioning agents
Laboratory scale studies were performed on sludge samples taken from outlet of thickener of wastewater treatment plant of IPCL: Baroda complex to study the filterability of sludge with and without conditioner addition
World petroleum industry: 150 years young
A historical documentation of the modern petroleum industry has been presented below. Many of the incidents noted have been gathered form the available archives of different countries. A gist of simultaneous development of Indian petroleum industry has been also sighted.
Biofuels are coming - How will this affect refiners?
This paper focuses on the impact of biofuels on the gasoline pool in Europe and summarises the changes in biofuels legislation across Europe and possible effect this will have on refiners.
"Fossil fuels will be dominant feedstock for chemicals & petrochemicals"
Sarthak Behuria, Chairman, IndianOil Corporation (IOC), chaired the session titled "Feedstock for chemicals & energy", during the Chemtech 2007 conference held recently from February 6-9, 2007, at NSE complex, Goregaon, Mumbai. Offshore World presents below his opening remarks made during the session
Biodiesel from transesterification of biolipids
Transesterification is crucial for producing biodiesel from biolipids.
Formation of petroleum: A new theory
Petroleum is the most important fossil fuel of praiseworthy uses. The organic theory envisaged that the formation of petroleum required several millions of years and this important commodity is consumed more than ten million times faster than it was formed. According to some versions of the abiotic oil theory, oil is continuously created in the earth's mantle in such amounts that the very concept of "depletion" is to be abandoned and, by consequence, that there will never be an "oil peak."
"We provide cutting edge solutions for supply chain industry"
Four Soft Limited is an enterprise solutions company that develops innovative software products, and provides IT consultancy services for the logistics and supply chain management marketplace. Promoted by technocrat entrepreneurs from different parts of the world, the company's state-of-the-art software development center, ......
"Nuclear is a safe alternative source of energy"
Magnum Uranium Corp, a Canada-based exploration company, is focused on the acquisition and development of a high-quality portfolio of uranium properties. At present, the company has excess of 7.5 million lbs of uranium hosted in uranium deposits in the United States, and a 416,000-acre exploration project in Canada's Athabasca Basin.
How to choose ball valve for alternative fuel service
The article throws light on the various criteria for choosing ball valve for alternative fuel service
Supply chain planning solution
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) met with success when it implemented Honeywell's supply chain planning solution for improving its supply and distribution efficiency
New theory of formation of petroleum. Reliability systems for petrochemical plants
The introduction of reliability systems into petrochemical plants is transforming traditional operating and maintenance practices. These systems offer great benefits including large financial savings as well as the prevention of a catastrophic pump failure, detection of a coolant leak and a doubling of meantime between failure for critical process fans
Embracing new technologies
The two-day Honeywell Automation user's group meet held in Mumbai recently saw a convergence of ideas on new technologies relevant to the oil and gas industry.
A phony peak oil theory
The concept of oil peak is strictly linked to a view that sees oil as a finite resource
`Offshore logistics segment is set for a huge leap'
Ashwin Chidambaram Muthiah, vice-chairman, Sical Logistics, heads the global operations of one of India's most eminent business families, the MA Chidambaram group - now into its third generation.
Do you really know your baseline from which to improve?
This paper discusses some practical tools and methodologies that can enable owners to establish solid and undisputed baseline performance against which realistic and workable improvement initiatives can be developed.
High integrity pressure protection system 25
High Integrity Pressure Protection System protects against over-pressurization by isolation of pressure source causing over-pressurization by quick closing ....
Pumps for liquefied natural gas
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is becoming an increasingly important energy source around the world. A key benefit of LNG is that after the natural gas has been liquefied at a very low temperature, large volumes can be shipped in tankers, essentially large floating thermos flasks, to regions outside the reach of conventional pipeline networks...
"We do not sell instruments, but provide solutions for research/analysis needs"
Marsap Services Pvt Ltd, a group company engaged in the business of analytical instruments for the past 25 years, represents world-class manufacturers of instruments for use in petrochemical, pharmaceutical, life sciences and biotechnology application.
An ideal partner for reliable performance
Sanjiv Bandivadekar, Deputy General Manager, Sales & Marketing, Hoerbiger India Pvt Ltd, has more than two decades of experience in sales, marketing & service of industrial products mainly diesel engines, compressors and therefore worked on different market segments of industry. A mechanical engineer, he has been earlier associated with reputed firms like Cummins and Sulzer.
"We view India as a key market in Asia"
David Coppin is Vice-President, Business Development, Aveva Asia Pacific. Aveva Group plc is one of the world's leading engineering IT solutions and services providers to the oil and gas, pulp and paper, power, chemical, pharmaceutical and shipbuilding industries.
Agricultural waste: Non-conventional source of energy
Today renewable energy sources contribute largely towards the total global energy. This article focuses on how agricultural wastes can be converted into energy sources by simple conversions. These conversions are bio-based experiments, which can be easily implemented
New theory of formation of petroleum
Oil production may reach its maximum limit within a few years and start a rapid decline afterwards. However, according to some versions of the 'Abiotic Oil Theory', oil is continuously created in the earth's mantle in such amounts that the very concept of "depletion" is to be abandoned and, by consequence, that there will never be an "oil peak." This article discusses the biogenic theory of petroleum formation in detail
