Gary Farrar
Contributing Editor
A 3 year look at cost indexes for six selected equipment items used in refining construction operations shows that valves and fittings increased the greatest. They rose to 2,163.6 in third-quarter 2010 from 1,994.4 in first-quarter 2008 (see table below).
The table tracks Nelson-Farrar indexes for these items of equipment during 2008-10.
Four other classifications show more modest increases. Bubble trays rose to 1,716.1 from 1,596.7 during the 36-month span. Tube stills increased to 654.8 from 624.2. Nonmetallic building materials showed an index gain to 1,088.6 from 1,018.3. Fractionating towers showed a 72-point rise, increasing to 1,382.0 from 1,308.2 in the 3-year period.
Tanks and pressure vessels showed a mild gain during the data compilation period. The beginning index value was 1,108.5, while the final value was 1,136.8.
