Feature articles

The global refining sector is having to carefully evaluate its options in order to sustain profitability, particularly when deciding on greenfield investments against a backdrop of volatile oil prices and the need for higher levels of health, safety and environmental performance, writes Suleyman Ozmen, Refining and Chemicals Licensing General Manager, Shell Global Solutions International.

The world’s energy system is set to undergo significant changes. The next 50 years will see an energy revolution and considerable turbulence along the way.

The oil and gas industry is at heart a people business. Scientists and technicians have years of experience that are harnessed to boost productivity of existing fields and to develop new resources.

Refiners are facing more challenges today than ever before as a result of growing demands from multiple stakeholders.

Energy fuels economic activity and growth. Hydrocarbons are expected to provide the foundation of the world’s energy for the remainder of this century. Consequently, management of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions is a priority.

Refiners are facing more challenges today than ever before as a result of growing demands from multiple stakeholders. Global demand for oil is rising and consumers continue to want performance and fuel economy while being increasingly concerned about their role in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

With energy demand forecast to double in the first half of this century and conventional sources diminishing, the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) continues to make an important contribution to meeting the energy challenge.

In response to increasing competition, Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) has formulated a robust plan to help the optimisation and modernisation of its operations, writes Charles Gent, Programme Manager at Shell Global Solutions.

Refining margins have recently been at all-time highs, but the industry faces much uncertainty and needs to prepare for a possible downturn. So says Derek Marshall, one of the heads of business development at Shell Global Solutions International B.V.

The Alliance Refining Company Limited has implemented a plant optimisation tool for the fluidised catalytic cracking unit of its Star Petroleum refinery in Rayong, Thailand, with the help of Shell Global Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.

Most process-industry companies pride themselves on their good safety records.

Energy fuels economic activity and growth. At present, hydrocarbons supply more than 80% of global energy needs, and they are expected to provide the foundation of the world’s energy for the remainder of this century.

The global market for biofuels is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades. Most analysts are predicting particularly strong growth fostered by second-generation biofuels.

Meeting the growing energy demand of the world will continue to be one of the main challenges facing the international oil and gas industry in 2008 and beyond.

Customized catalyst systems, state-of-the-art reactor internals, and outstanding technical cooperation help North Atlantic Refining, Ltd. to maximize profitability

Shell Global Solutions highlights some of the key issues the refining industry is facing

The International Energy Agency has forecast a 50% rise in energy demand over the first 30 years of this century and believes that most of this increase will be met by hydrocarbons.

On August 8, 2007 Shell Global Solutions and the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) signed a technical service agreement (TSA). The agreement was signed between Osama Al-Issa, Acting Managing Director (in the absence on leave of Chairman and MD, Sami Al-Rushaid) KNPC and Richard Wood, (Business Development Manager) Shell Global Solutions (Middle East).

Geert Van de Wouw of Shell Global Solutions takes a look at the European refining sector, highlighting some of the key issues the industry is facing

As we look forward to the second half of 2007, any list of key challenges for the oil, gas and petrochemical industries would almost certainly include the volume and complexity of new projects, demands for higher product quality and environmental standards, particularly with regard to CO2 [carbon dioxide] management, and last, but by no means least, continuous business improvement from current operations.