Americas
Solvay commissions new methane recovery facility at US trona mine
The methane recovery system (MaRS) captures methane liberated during the mining process that would otherwise be vented directly into the atmosphere and instead directs it to either be incinerated, or piped to the trona processing facility to recover the thermal energy via combustion.
Buffett firm cuts Conoco stake, buys into Phillips 66
The Houston-based refiner finds itself in a current upswing in the refining space as low natural gas prices help keep costs lower to run hydrocrackers that make gasoline. Average second-quarter refining margins for refiners improved by nearly $6/bbl above the first quarter.
Western Refining settles N.M. emissions violations
The settlement stems from excess sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants emitted by Western's refinery in Gallup, New Mexico, between July 2009 and March 2012. Western also agreed to upgrade equipment at the 20,800 bpd refinery to lower emission levels.
Global refined oil product demand to lag supply over next two years - IEA
More than 1 million bpd of new refining capacity is likely to come online this year, and a further 1.3 million bpd in 2013, compared with 400,000 bpd in 2011. The additions to capacity will grossly outpace demand growth for oil products, which the IEA estimates will average 800,000 bpd this year.
BP to pay $13mn to settle most Texas City refinery safety violations
The settlement comes after BP resolved all but 30 of the violations the government cited, many stemming from OSHA's contention that BP did not provide enough safety system instructions to workers. OSHA said the additional violations will be settled or sent to litigation by the end of the year.
Shell picks Jacobs for engineering on Canada mine
The Jackpine Mine is one of two mines at Shell's Albian Sands site near Fort McMurray, Alberta. Officials did not disclose the contract value. Jacobs will deliver a portfolio of projects involving conceptual engineering of new technologies to consolidate tailings and meet environmental requirements.
IHI buys Kvaerner US downstream engineering unit
The EPC Center Houston is an engineering and construction business focused on the delivery of LNG terminals and oil and gas processing facilities in North America. Since 2004, the center and Japan's IHI have cooperated as joint venture partners on several projects, thus enabling a smooth transition.
EPA to make 'necessary' US biofuel credit changes
The comments from EPA officials, made in prepared testimony for a House hearing, were the agency's first public commitment to make changes to the program. Oil refiners, which are required to buy the credits, have faced millions in fines and added costs as a result of buying phony credits.
Chevron sees improving US refining margins in Q2, but weaker international
US-based Chevron expects significantly stronger downstream earnings in the 2012 second quarter, buoyed by improved refining margins in the US and gains on asset sales. However, international refining margins declined over the same period, the company said.
BP targets wind, biofuels within alternative energy
Katrina Landis, CEO of BP's alternative energy business, said at a gathering of the Atlantic Council in Washington that the company is ahead of schedule in its investment plans. BP projects biofuels will make up 30% of the gasoline pool by 2030 and sees cellulosic ethanol as the energy to watch.
- IHI, Vopak to launch ammonia terminal project in Japan 7/11
- India's BPCL plans to shut Bina refinery unit for 15-day maintenance in August 7/11
- Soaring electric truck sales deal new blow to diesel use in China 7/11
- Russia`s Tatneft launches new hydrocracking unit on TANECO refinery 7/11
- IEA: Global oil market may be tighter than it looks 7/11
- India must boost its petchem output to counter China's dominance, Reliance says 7/11
