Environment & Safety
US shale study finds no clear link between fracking, water contamination
Initial findings from a study on hydraulic fracturing in shale gas development suggest no direct link to reports of groundwater contamination. The project leader offered early observations from the study at a briefing in Fort Worth, attended by local government officials, regulators and energy company executives.
US delays Keystone XL pipeline until after 2012
President Barack Obama called Thursday for further study of the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline, putting off a final decision until after the 2012 elections and triggering both praise and criticism on Capitol Hill. TransCanada Chief Executive Russ Girling said the company remains confident the pipeline will be approved.
IEA unveils 2011 World Energy Outlook, says policy changes needed to cut emissions
Without a bold change of policy direction, the world will lock itself into an insecure, inefficient and high-carbon energy system, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned as it launched the 2011 edition of the World Energy Outlook (WEO). "Governments need to introduce stronger measures to drive investment in efficient and low-carbon technologies," said IEA executive director Maria van der Hoeven.
Nalco wins top safety award at Louisiana chem site
Sustainability services firm Nalco said that its plant in Garyville, La. was honored by the Louisiana Chemical Association (LCA) with a 2011 SAFE (Serious About Fostering Excellence) Award for facility's environmental and safety performance and community outreach efforts.
US extends offshore leases for deepwater drilling
The Obama administration recently extended nearly 1,400 deepwater oil and gas drilling leases in an effort to offset production delays caused by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the subsequent five-month ban on new offshore drilling.
BP inks $50mn settlement to resolve claims from Texas City refinery blast
BP has agreed to pay $50 million to the state of Texas to resolve air pollution allegations related to the March 2005 explosion at its Texas City refinery, according to a statement from Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. An explosion and related fires erupted at BP’s Texas City refinery in March 2005, claiming 15 lives and injuring more than 170 workers.
GE launches innovative heat recovery system for Canada complex
The world's first commercial ORegen waste heat recovery system, an innovative technology developed by GE Oil & Gas, enables a gas turbine to produce extra power without any additional emissions or fuel consumption and no water use.
Cabot wins sustainability award at Illinois complex
Cabot Corp. has been named a 2011 sustainability award winner 2011 by the Illinois governor’s office for outstanding performance at its Tuscola, Ill., fumed metal oxides facility. Cabot Tuscola earned the recognition for significant accomplishments in recycling, reduced water and electricity usage, and packaging efficiency, the company said.
Shell receives certificate for safe CO2 award
Risk-management services firm DNV recently issued the world's first certificate of fitness for a carbon dioxide (CO2) storage development plan to Shell's Quest carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Canada.
Dow Chemical wins top award of US safety council
In recognition of its achievements in workplace safety, community service, environmental stewardship and responsible citizenship, Dow Chemical was awarded with the 2012 Green Cross for Safety Medal from the US National Safety Council, announced on Monday at the 2011 NSC Congress and Expo in Philadelphia.
- TotalEnergies extends its fuel price cap policy in France until the end of April 4/7
- Navigating the montan wax challenge with renewable alternatives for polymers 4/7
- AFR selects Axens as technology provider for Texas (U.S.) refinery 4/7
- Iran has attacked Saudi Arabia's Jubail petrochemical complex, IRGC says 4/7
- Iran's Marvdasht Petrochemical complex attacked by US and Israel 4/7
- Fluor awarded engineering and design contract for America First Refining's refinery in South Texas 4/7
