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Americas

Motiva picks KBR to build coker for refinery expansion in Port Arthur, Texas

KBR announced that its subsidiary Roberts & Schaefer (R&S) has been selected to construct a petroleum coker (pet coke) material handling system for Motiva’s refinery expansion project in Port Arthur, Texas.

Plains to build 300,000 bpd pipeline from Eagle Ford shale to Corpus Christi

Plains All American Pipeline plans to build a 130-mile, 300,000 bpd crude oil and condensate pipeline, a marine terminal facility and 1.5mn bbl of storage capacity to service growing Eagle Ford shale production in south Texas.

US refiner Sunoco acquires controlling interest in Ohio refined products pipeline

US refiner Sunoco has acquired a controlling interest in Inland Corp., a firm which consists of an active 350-mile refined products pipeline and related facilities in Ohio that service multiple Ohio refineries and terminal markets.

Margins surge for US inland refiners as Cushing crude bottleneck leads to WTI discount - study

US refinery margins surged in the first quarter, led mostly by inland refineries amid historically low prices for WTI-priced inland crude oils relative to waterborne alternatives, according to a study released on Tuesday from consulting firm Baker & O’Brien.

EPA delays implementation of new US industrial boiler regulations

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) postponed the implementation of new air pollution rules for boilers, saying it wants more feedback from the public and industry.

Orascom JV acquires idled ammonia-methanol plant in Texas, production to restart

Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) announced Monday that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Netherlands-based OCI Nitrogen, acquired an integrated ammonia-methanol plant located in Beaumont, Texas. OCI acquired the plant through a joint venture with Janus Methanol, named Pandora Methanol, in which OCI holds 50% plus 1 share, it said.

Sasol selects S&B as EPC contractor for US ethylene tetramerization plant

Sasol has selected Houston-based S&B Engineers and Constructors (Houston, Texas) as its engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm) contractor to build its recently-announced ethylene tetramerization plant in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Refineries remain operational along Mississippi after opening of Morganza Spillway

Refineries along the Mississippi River remained operational on Monday following the opening of several bays off the Morganza Spillway in Louisiana. It marks the first time the Morganza has been used since 1973, as US officials are seeking to take pressure off the swollen Mississippi with flood waters rushing downstream.

Kinka Kikai valves certified as low emission

All valves manufactured in Kinka Kikai’s South Korea facilities are now certified as “low emission” after passing the stringent API 622 testing at 50 ppm.

IEA lowers estimate for 2011 oil demand growth

The International Energy Agency (IEA) lowered its projection for global oil demand growth in 2011, falling by 190,000 bpd, or 0.2%, from an earlier estimate.