operations

Braskem, Mexico hold talks on ethane as bribing probes take center stage

Aug 18, 2020

Pemex’s ethane output plunged since Braskem-Idesa started operations, slashing ethane deliveries and accumulating contractual fines that Braskem wants to collect. However, contract scrutiny intensified after the July 2020 extradition of a former Pemex CEO,...

Covid-19 brought sudden productivity hikes to chemical operations

Jul 7, 2020

While Covid-19 has been mostly associated with negative impacts, particularly on decreased product demand as well as project deferments, the productivity increase is an unexpected positive side.

Tight margins to speed up need for digitalization after Covid-19 proved value

Jun 22, 2020

The need for savings to face shrinking margins should speed up digitalization efforts by oil and petrochemical companies after Covid-19 helped prove the value of past investment.

American plants running at reduced rates in second quarter

May 26, 2020

The running rates reduction comes amid a sharp decline in resin prices like polyethylene (PE). Experts believe the ongoing weakness may linger for an undetermined period.

DuPont sees production benefits from new turnaround process

Jun 24, 2016

Initiating company-specific best practices and streamlining its turnaround processes over the last few years has allowed DuPont’s Manufacturing Center in Mobile, Alabama to dramatically improve its turnaround scope management system and start up all its...

Early plant monitoring lowers risk of soaring repair costs

Dec 16, 2015

Repairing broken equipment and functional failures at petrochemical plants could cost companies as much as 20 times more than fixing defects and operational deficiencies early during process operations, according to a reliability and integrity manager at one...