Dr. James G. Speight is a consultant, author, and lecturer on energy and environmental issues at CD & W Inc., Laramie, Wyoming, USA. He previously served as CEO and Chief Scientific Officer at the Western Research Institute.

Feedstock Properties. Refining Processes. Refining Chemistry. Distillation. Thermal Cracking. Catalytic Cracking. Deasphalting and Dewaxing Processes. Hydrotreating and Desulfurization. Hydrocracking. Corrosion in Refineries. Refining and the Environment. Conversion Factors. Glossary Page. Index.

Petroleum refining involves refining crude petroleum as well as producing raw materials for the petrochemical industry. This book covers current refinery processes and process-types that are likely to come on-stream during the next three to five decades. The book includes (1) comparisons of conventional feedstocks with heavy oil, tar sand bitumen, and bio-feedstocks; (2) properties and refinability of the various feedstocks; (3) thermal processes versus hydroprocesses; and (4) the influence of refining on the environment.