| The Doctoral Internship provided an environment in which to solve downstream engineering optimization problems of major significance and simultaneously evaluate downstream technology, petroleum regulatory policy, and strategic issues that influence the optimal economic behavior of the petroleum industry.;The Ethylene Refrigeration Upgrade was a tactical optimization project in which the author conceptualized the process design and acted as lead engineer, taking the project to the point of installation and startup. The Ethylene Refrigeration Upgrade was successful in debottlenecking the refrigeration system and reducing pressure losses, thereby permitting greater refrigeration throughput and higher production of ethylene in the Olefins Plant. The Ethylene Refrigeration Upgrade provided a solid underpinning for the second optimization project--the Olefins Plant Linear Program (LP) Upgrade.;The LP Upgrade was a strategic optimization project that consisted of first, revising the LP product yields and separations coefficients to more correctly reflect plant performance and second, developing structural improvements in the LP to permit approximation of non-linear processes. Completion of the LP Upgrade has resulted in improved forecasting accuracy of the model, broadened flexibility of model operations, and improved model reliability in terms of feedstock selection and product planning.;The LP Model Upgrade was an individual effort completed solely by the author, whereas successful completion of the Ethylene Refrigeration Upgrade involved contributions from a broad spectrum of personnel.;Optimal economic activity within the broader context of the petroleum industry is strongly influenced by innovation in process technology, government regulatory policy, and industrial strategy. |
