Americas
US chemical group aligns with Indian oil industry to improve process safety
This communication may lead to joint meetings and conferences and peer review of each other’s publications. Leaders of both organizations say such cooperation is critical to incorporating process safety into companies’ management systems to prevent the recurrence of existing and former problems.
China to overtake US as largest oil importer
OPEC, whose members supply more than one in three barrels of crude consumed worldwide, said rising Chinese imports were backed by increased throughput at the country's refineries. The group quoted recent analysis saying China's oil imports could top 6 million bbl this year.
Foster Wheeler to study ICV proposal in Chile for substitute natural gas
The new facility intends to include several key units, including air separation, partial oxidation for syngas production, syngas treatment, acid gas removal, methanation and solid sulfur production. Foster Wheeler says its scope of work is expected to be completed by mid-2013.
Phillips 66 plans new NGL fractionator in Texas
Phillips 66 is pursuing development of a 100,000 bpd natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionator to be located in Old Ocean, Texas, close to the company’s Sweeny refinery.
Argentina storm sparks fire at YPF La Plata refinery
YPF said the fire started after flooding caused by a major rain storm cut electricity to the entire refinery. YPF said its personnel and firefighters from two nearby cities managed to bring the blaze under control in the early-morning hours. The company said there were no casualties.
TransCanada eyes East pipeline for Alberta crudes
TransCanada has been mulling the plan publicly for months, amid a growing glut of oil in Western Canada that has depressed prices. The plan involves converting part of an existing gas pipeline, TransCanada's Mainline network, for crude-oil service, and building about 870 miles of new pipeline.
Valero sees costs outweighing benefits for new US gasoline pollution rules
Valero spokesman Bill Day said the company expects to spend $300 million to $400 million building new equipment to remove sulfur from gasoline and to expand existing facilities. He said the company expects to incur additional operating costs each year, and those have yet to be determined.
Arkansas officials to probe Exxon pipeline spill
The attorney general's office is investigating the causes of ExxonMobil's ruptured pipeline that spilled thousands of gallons of oil into a small town neighborhood last week.
Shale energy resources driving resurgence for ethylene industry
The abundant supply of North American shale energy resources is proving to be not only a boon for exploration and production (E&P) companies and energy consumers, but it is also changing the profitabi..
North American olefin producers riding the shale gas wave
With the prospect of abundant low-cost ethane, several producers have announced intentions to build new ethylene capacity.
- Allied Biofuels signs PIA with Uzbekistan to advance $6-B biofuels refinery project 4/10
- Nufarm strengthens strategic collaboration to support long term growth in biofuels production 4/10
- Pertamina and CRecTech sign MoU to explore pilot biogas-to-biomethanol facility in SEZ, Indonesia 4/10
- Shell Chemicals and Syensqo partner to deliver low-carbon ethylene oxide solutions 4/10
- HAMR Energy’s nationally significant fuel projects selected for Australian Government’s Investor Front Door Pilot 4/10
- HD Hyundai Heavy Industries builds world's first ammonia-powered vessel 4/10
