Lummus Technology globally launches new technological upgrade for FCC systems

Lummus Technology globally launches new technological upgrade for FCC systems

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lummus Technology announced the launch of its Micro-Jet Flex feed injectors, a new technological upgrade for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) systems, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

This next generation FCC feed injector provides a host of performance benefits, including lowering pressure drop, reducing droplet size, accelerating feed vaporization and increasing a unit's range of operation.

"Refiners are consistently looking for improved performance and ease of serviceability, while minimizing operational issues such as erosion and mechanical deficiencies," said Todd Vogt, Vice President and Managing Director, Refining and Gas Processing, Lummus Technology. "When we designed the Micro-Jet Flex system, we focused on how to reduce or eliminate these roadblocks, while improving operators' yields and minimizing operational challenges. We are excited to launch this innovative product and implement it at our customers' facilities around the world."

In addition to its comprehensive technology portfolio, Lummus offers proprietary equipment, including feed injectors, to support its customers throughout the lifecycle of their assets. Lummus' earlier feed injectors consistently achieve superior yields of valuable light products when they replace conventional injectors. The new Micro-Jet Flex feed injectors improve upon the original system, the highly successful Micro-Jet Plus feed injectors, delivering improved characteristics including optimal angle, correct exit velocities and thorough feed/catalyst contact necessary to maximize the performance of the unit.

As MRC reported before, earlier this month, Lummus Technology achieved successful plant acceptance from Formosa Chemicals and Fibre Corp. for the company's cumene and phenol plant expansion in Ningbo, China. The expansion was to an existing 450 kMTA cumene and 300 kMTA phenol plant, which now has a 600 kMTA cumene and 400 kMTA phenol capacity.

Phenol is largely used to produce bisphenol A (BPA), which, in its turn, is used in the production of plastics such as polycarbonate (PC) and epoxy resins.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall estimated consumption of PC granules totalled 50,300 tonnes in the first half of 2021 (excluding imports and exports to/from Belarus), compared to 47,300 tonnes a year earlier. Demand increased by 6%.
MRC

Total and Air Liquide plan to decarbonize production in Normandy

Total and Air Liquide plan to decarbonize production in Normandy

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Total and Air Liquide are joining forces to decarbonize hydrogen production at TotalEnergies’ Normandy platform in France, said the company.

This project will enable in time for the supply to TotalEnergies by Air Liquide of low-carbon hydrogen by relying on Air Liquide's hydrogen network in Normandy and the implementation of a large-scale CO2 capture and storage solution (CCS). In line with the objective of both companies to get to net zero by 2050, this ambitious project is part of a sustainable development approach which will help develop a low-carbon hydrogen ecosystem in the Axe Seine in Normandy, progressively supported by technologies such as CCS and electrolysis.

Under a long term contract agreement, Air Liquide will take over and operate the 255 tons-per-day hydrogen production unit at the TotalEnergies platform in Normandy. Connecting the unit to Air Liquide’s hydrogen network will enable to optimize its performance and, ultimately, develop the world’s first low-carbon hydrogen network. The network already includes a hydrogen production facility in Port-Jerome equipped with Air Liquide’s CryocapTM carbon capture solution since 2015. Air Liquide is considering adding a large-scale unit to produce renewable hydrogen via electrolysis.

As per MRC, TotalEnergies (formerly Total), through its Belgian subsidiary Lampiris, signed a corporate power purchase agreement with Air Liquide for the supply of 50 GWh/year of renewable electricity for 15 years, reported S&P Global with reference to the company's statement July 26. TotalEnergies will source the power from an offshore wind farm in the Belgian North Sea, it said in a statement. Air Liquide will use the electricity to power industrial and medical gas production sites in Belgium, avoiding around 270,000 mt of CO2 emissions over the course of the contract, TotalEnergies said.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,176,860 tonnes in the first half of 2021, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.

TotalEnergies is a broad energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables, and electricity. Its 105,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, clean, reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.
MRC

Gazprom increased gas production and supplies over 8.5 months

Gazprom increased gas production and supplies over 8.5 months

MOSCOW (MRC) -- According to preliminary data, Gazprom produced 357.7 billion cubic meters of gas in the first 8.5 months of 2021, which is 17.8 per cent (or 53.9 billion cubic meters) more than in the same period of last year, said the company.

Gazprom ramped up its domestic supplies from the gas transmission system by 14.8 per cent (or by 21.3 billion cubic meters) over said period of 2021. As many as 25 Russian regions are already receiving heat supplies, almost a week earlier than last year.

The Company increased its gas exports to the countries beyond the FSU to 138.6 billion cubic meters. Gazprom continues to keep the amounts of its gas supplies near the all-time high level (141.3 billion cubic meters for the same period of 2018). This is higher than the figure for the same period of 2020 by 17.4 per cent (or by 20.6 billion cubic meters).

Specifically, Gazprom increased gas supplies to Turkey (+157.7 per cent), Germany (+35.8 per cent), Italy (+15 per cent), Romania (+347.6 per cent), Serbia (+125.9 per cent), Poland (+11.4 per cent), Bulgaria (+52.3 per cent), Greece (+12.8 per cent), and Finland (+19 per cent).

Gas supplies to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline continue growing and are regularly exceeding the daily contractual obligations of Gazprom.

According to Gas Infrastructure Europe, the level of reserves in European underground gas storage facilities remained the lowest in many years as of September 13, 2021. The negative difference between the current inventories and last year's level is 22.8 billion cubic meters of gas. Only 62 per cent of the total amount of gas that was withdrawn in the last heating season has been replenished.

As for Ukraine's UGS facilities, the negative difference versus last year is 30.6 per cent (or 8.2 billion cubic meters of gas). Gazprom is actively injecting gas into Russian UGS facilities. The daily average indicator for the first half of September is 325 million cubic meters.

As per MRC, Gazprom and the industrial gases major Linde signed an agreement of intent for Ust-Liga gas processing complex cooperation. The document outlines the main terms and conditions of a prospective EPSS contract providing for engineering services, equipment supplies, and maintenance of gas processing and off-site facilities, Gazprom informed in its statement.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,176,860 tonnes in the first half of 2021, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.
MRC

Colonial Pipeline resumes operations on Line 1, whereas Line 2 remains shut after Hurricaine Nicholas

Colonial Pipeline resumes operations on Line 1, whereas Line 2 remains shut after Hurricaine Nicholas

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Colonial Pipeline, the nation's largest fuel line, has resumed operations on its Line 1 refined products pipeline, while Line 2 remains down because of power outages caused by Hurricane Nicholas, reported S&P Global with reference to the company's statement Sept. 14.

"Colonial Pipeline has begun receiving product from shippers impacted by power outages in the Houston-area," Colonial said in an update on the T4 shipper bulletin. "As a result, we have resumed operations on Main Line 01 -- based on volume availability. Main Line 02 remains down, but we will resume operations once product is made available."

Lines 3 and 4 are operating normally, the company said.

Colonial Pipeline is a major supplier of refined products for the East Coast, carrying 1.5 million b/d of gasoline products from Houston to Greensboro, North Carolina, on Line 1 and 885,000 b/d of refined products on Line 2 from Greensboro, North Carolina, into New York Harbor.

US Atlantic Coast gasoline and diesel inventories are tight, which has already largely been priced into the market. However, any extended pipeline outages would be bullish for the New York-delivered NYMEX refined products.

USAC gasoline inventories have fallen 16.6 million barrels since late June to 54.1 million barrels, putting stocks at 15% below the five-year average, US Energy Information Administration data shows.

Nicholas made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near the eastern part of the Matagorda Peninsula at about 1:30 am EDT on Sept. 14, and has since been downgraded to a tropical storm.

Atlantic Coast gasoline sources said that there were no supply concerns currently regarding the shutdown of the two lines.

So far no Houston-area refiners have reported problems with operations because of the tropical storm.

As MRC wrote before, in early September, 2021, Colonial Pipeline restarted its main gasoline and distillate lines after it shut the lines as a safety precaution ahead of Hurricane Ida.

We remind that the fourth-largest US refiner Phillips 66 said earlier this month that it put the smaller of its two Louisiana refineries up for sale amid continued losses and an uncertain future for motor fuels. The company is holding talks with a potential buyer on the sale of its 255,600 barrel-per-day (bpd) Alliance refinery in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, according to two people familiar with the matter. The identity of the potential buyer could not immediately be learned. US refiners have closed or sold oil processing plants as the COVID-19 pandemic slashed demand for gasoline and jet fuel, generating losses for the industry.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,176,860 tonnes in the first half of 2021, up by 5% year on year. Shipments of exclusively low density polyethylene (LDPE) decreased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 727,160 tonnes in the first six months of 2021, up by 31% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased. Supply of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) subsided.
mrcpalst.com

PP imports to Ukraine decreased by 7% in January-August

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Ukraine's polypropylene (PP) imports totalled about 82,700 tonnes in January-August of this year, down 7% year on year.
Only some grades of propylene copolymers imports have grown, according to MRC's DataScope.

August PP imports to Ukraine decreased to 10,900 tonnes from 12,200 tonnes a month earlier, local companies decreased their purchasing of homopolymer PP. Overall imports of propylene polymers reached 82,700 tonnes in January-August 2021, compared to 88,700 tonnes a year earlier. The main decrease in imports accounted for homopolymer PP, while imports of some propylene copolymers increased.

Structure of PP supplies over the reported period looked as follows.

August imports of propylene homopolymers to the Ukrainian market decreased to 8,000 tonnes due to limited export quotas from the Middle East and Russian producers, while a month earlier this figure was about 9,300 tonnes. Thus, overall homopolymer PP imports reached 61,400 tonnes in the first eight months of 2021, down by 10% year on year.

Last month's imports of block copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) were about 1,200 tonnes, compared to 1,100 tonnes in July, a small increase in supplies of injection moulding PP block copolymers was seen. About 8,100 tonnes of PP block copolymers were imported in the eight months of this year, compared to 8,800 tonnes a year earlier.

August imports of statistical copolymers of propylene (PP random copolymers) virtually remained at the previous month's level, totalling 1,500 tonnes. Total PP random copolymer imports to Ukraine reached 10,900 tonnes in the first eight months of the year, compared with 10,200 tonnes year on year.

Overall imports of other propylene copolymers totalled slightly over 2,300 tonnes over the stated period.

MRC