Refinery Operations is a biweekly newsletter focusing on refinery operations, maintenance, automation, safety and reliability. Its editorial content is of relevance to process, operations, automation and maintenance engineers with technical and managerial responsibilities in the refinery. Readers interested in subscribing should click on the “Subscribe” tab for more details. Site licenses and special rates are available for engineers employed in a refining facility.

The Editor, Rene G. Gonzalez, is a chemical engineer by academic training, having previously worked as a process engineer in the refining industry. Throughout the year, Refinery Operations provides its refinery readers with a range of articles, updates and direct links to technical literature and white papers that include catalytic and thermal based processes, product recovery, rotating equipment, metallurgical, refractory, instrumentation and control, regulatory and compliance, and safety-related procedures. For submission of technical articles, please click on the “Contact Us” tab for further instructions. Also, competitive advertising rates for online advertising and publication advertising are available. Please click on the “Advertising” tab for further information.

Because the way a refinery is operated has historically coincided with cycles of profitability and losses, compounded by more rigorous regulatory enforcement and adherence to environmental concerns, it is important to keep refining professionals up to date with these complexities. While the most experienced refinery professionals may emphasize that refineries throughout the world generally share the same operating challenges, they can also point out the specific factors that make each refinery unique, such as conversion of an FCCU from partial-burn to full-burn operation, or revamping an existing hydrocracker to hydrotreating service.

It is therefore the intent of Refinery Operations and related webinars, process “wall maps” and special reports to make its readers cognizant of evolving refinery operating practices. Input from technology licensors and equipment suppliers will also be archived on our website for those refinery professionals researching for specific types of information.

Process improvements and changes typically affect the way a refinery is operated, thereby affecting profitability. Energy consumption, run lengths, product yields, safety and other performance objectives are affected by the improvements in catalysts and reactors, thermal processes and many supporting units, such as sulfur recovery units, are all discussed in detail throughout the year. For these imperatives, we ask that you feel free to contact us at any time with your concerns.

Rene G. Gonzalez/Editor/Refinery Operations