Downstream Oil Industry Research Articles

Surface Plasmon Resonance for Crude Oil Characterization

In this work, crude oil characterization based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is demonstrated. Oil characterization plays a crucial role in both the upstream and downstream oil industry. The application of SPR to these opaque, high index fluids is made possible here using infrared light (λ = 1550 nm) for which crude oil is largely transparent, coupled through a high-index prism. Bitumen–toluene mixture tests show a measurement sensitivity of 74° RIU–1 and a limit of detection below 1% toluene. Seven crude oils from around the world are differentiated with refractive indices (RIs) spanning 1.44–1.56, with a sensor limit of detection of 0.0006 RIU. These results indicate a significant potential for SPR as a non-intrusive, fast, and simple technique for crude oil characterization applicable to reservoirs, surface facilities, and pipelines.

A Theoretical Approach to Risk Evaluation in Connection with Oxygen Releases

Oxygen–enriched combustion offers several advantages, including higher combustion efficiency (Hu et al., 2001) and higher CO2 concentration in the flue gas, allowing an easier and cheaper CO2 separation from the gas itself (Hu et al., 2000). In addition, oxygen combustion is considered in the IPCC list as a category of CCS options for large point source emitters. Oxygen enriched process can be adopted to enhance sulphur recovery in the effluent stream adopting modified Claus processes in refineries. According to international historical data, accidents involving gas pipelines still happen and often result in severe consequences. This implies that measures need to be adopted in order to adequately quantify and thereby to mitigate the risks. In relative terms, the problem of HazMat pipeline risk assessment does not come with hazard analysis, or the estimation of failure frequency, but with the calculation of the consequences. In this paper, we consider the peculiar case of oxygen instantaneous or continuous releases from a pipeline and consequent evolving scenarios. A novel modelling approach to risk evaluation is elaborated starting from the rather common situation of a pipe-way where several gas/liquid lines are localized, in a rather congested industrial area. As an applicative case-study, it is considered a downstream oil industry where the possibility of replacing the air feeding to Claus plant with oxygen enriched line is investigated, with the aim of enhancing sulphur recovery yield. This technical option from one side can be seen as an approach to process intensification, from the other side poses obvious safety issues.

From a survey on accidents in the downstream oil industry to the development of a detailed near-miss reporting system

A historical analysis with statistical investigation on accidental events in the oil industry from the beginning of the XX century till now, was performed in order to identify historical trend and go deeper into accident causes. The classification methodology was developed referring to three headings, namely plant/process, environment and organization and trying to go deeper into the analysis of the causes of the accidents reported and understand more of what is probably behind the accidents. The accident types and severity were studied, plotting the accumulated frequency–fatality curve for each item. In the subsequent applicative phase, we applied a similar classification approach to near-misses directly collected over nine years observation in a large downstream oil firm. The historical analysis was extended on each section of the refinery, paying a careful attention to all causes and consequences of the event. Data were structured for analyzing trends and identifying possible precursors of unwanted events. According to the step-by-step approach we try to evidence how immediate causes of a near-miss could be linked in some kind of causal chain to underlying causes that should be controlled by middle or higher management, or are part of the corporate safety culture.

Downstream Oil and Gas Merger Performance of Total Ghana Limited

Mergers and Acquisitions are used to foster expansion in all industries in the world. However, Total Ghana Limited dominates the merger activity in the Ghanaian downstream oil and gas industry. Using the DuPont Model developed in late 1919, the merger indicates value to shareholders but the emerging upstream oil and gas industry may increase the competition to reduce the potential hold on the market by Total Ghana Limited.

Transportation and distribution management in downstream oil industry

In this work, an integrated model is proposed for connecting oil refiners which produce fuel products at different locations. In this model, we are going to manage the distribution costs via reorganising distribution centres and their linkages to markets. Furthermore, the refineries and distribution centres need to support each other during fuel storage and transportation to overcome the demands. Therefore, the import and export schedule should be focused as a main part of the supply-network. Particularly, the proposed integrated model should be applicable for the nationwide fuel suppliers. This model should not only be beneficially helpful in the economic affairs but also observe and delineate the interactions between the different components of the business. The efficiency and value of the MIP model has been tested with a real-life problem including ten refineries and four varieties of fuel products.

New global player appears for high integrity connections

Securamax, a manufacturer of pipe connector and flow control products has re-launched itself as a global organisation, SMX International, with a new corporate identity, new structure, and an expanding range of pressure connection and flow control products to the upstream and downstream oil and gas industry worldwide.

Acclimatization, Resistance, and the Philippine Downstream Oil Industry

This essay analyzes the popular culture of acclimatization and resistance in the Philippine downstream oil industry as a result of the latter’s deregulation. An objective of deregulation is to acclimatize consumers to frequent price changes mainly due to fluctuations in world crude prices and the peso-dollar exchange rate. Since the start of deregulation in 1996, the mainstream media have played a significant role in promoting a culture of acclimatization but this was not through an objective assessment of the impact of downstream oil deregulation and the analysis of arguments for and against deregulation. Instead, the mainstream media generally assumed the irreversibility of downstream oil deregulation as may be gleaned from interviews, documents reviews, and selected photographs analyzed in this study. The culture if resistance, on the other hand, is promoted by those opposed to deregulation. There are calls to nationalize the downstream oil industry and interest groups have resorted to creative ways to get their message across.

Supporting supply chain planning and scheduling decisions in the oil and chemical industry

In the downstream oil and chemical industry, planning and scheduling are resource-intensive, complex, rolling processes. Decisions are taken at different stages within the supply chain (supply, manufacturing and distribution) and at different levels in the management hierarchy (planning, scheduling and operations). They differ in business scope, time horizon & resolution, data certainty & accuracy, process detail and optimizing mechanism. Aligning each step of this complex process is critical to competitive advantage. Decision support tools must therefore be provided within a coherent framework, including mechanisms which allow consistent economic and operational steering, taking due account of available (real-time) information on actual operations and market economics. At the strategic and global planning level for a network of manufacturing plants, decisions have to be taken on feedstock procurement & distribution, utilization of production capacities, utilization of modes of transport and demand allocation. Not only existing capabilities have to be considered, but also new opportunities in all areas have to be evaluated. The resulting mathematical programming model is a mixed-integer non-linear programming (MINLP) model: integer aspects arise because of e.g. fixed costs/investment costs, tiered pricing and cargo costs. Non-linear relations are mainly caused by multiplication of quantity and economic variables. In the presentation, the various strategic planning problem areas, the contents of the MINLP aspects and the implemented solution approach will be further elaborated. The use of such models during the aforementioned (strategic) decision-taking process yields substantial benefits not only in economic terms but also in an improved understanding of the interactions between the various components of the business.

Logistics Planning in the Downstream Oil Industry

Strategic logistics chain planning is of great importance within the downstream oil industry. Logistics networks originate at refineries and terminate at the final delivery point — the customer. Types of bulk transportation used and the main product classes are described. The business decisions which need to be addressed are stated. A corresponding model is formulated partly in mathematical and partly in qualitative terms. The cost of road vehicle delivery to customers is modelled. The business risks associated with changes to the logistics infrastructure are indicated.

Logistics Planning in the Downstream Oil Industry

Logistics Planning in the Downstream Oil Industry

Logistics Planning in the Downstream Oil Industry

Logistics Planning in the Downstream Oil Industry

The EEC Downstream Oil Industry in 1993

Over the last 15 years traditional state intervention in the downstream oil industry has decreased in the 12 countries of the European Community, making way for increased competition. This has come about partly as a result of the influence of the Commission of the European Community, which has taken part in the setting of common aims for member-countries concerning oil (e.g., reductions in refining capacity, increases in imports of refined products, harmonizing oil taxation). However, this movement has not been entirely to the satisfaction of the petroleum companies, who believe that oil is still handicapped by discriminatory policies in its competition with other energy forms .