Environment & Safety
US judge dismisses obstruction charge against BP executive over Gulf spill
The blow-out took place in April 2010, resulting in 11 deaths and in the worst offshore oil spill in US history. The executive had said the estimated flow was about 5,000 bpd, but internal BP documents from the time showed the company believed the rate was likely much higher.
Canadian Prime Minister Harper takes Keystone XL lobbying campaign to US
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper took his case for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline to the United States, burnishing Canada's environmental credentials and saying the arguments for the project are "overwhelmingly on the side of approval."
Brazil environment leaders join Petrobras to appeal refinery work stoppage
Petrobras was informed that a federal judge suspended environmental licenses granted by INEA for the refinery under construction in Rio de Janeiro state. The judge ruled that IBAMA had jurisdiction over licensing the project, forcing a halt in construction until IBAMA issued new licenses.
Carbon capture technology becoming cost effective
The Cost Reduction Task Force, which authored the report, found that carbon capture and storage technology could be a viable option for the UK government in meeting its carbon reduction targets. The report estimated that CCS technology could soon generate electricity at a breakeven cost.
Brazil suspends Petrobras environmental licenses for Comperj refinery
Petrobras says it is evaluating all possible measures related to the halt, which would stop work on one of the company's largest projects. The Comperj refinery will have installed capacity to process 165,000 bpd of crude oil when it enters operation in April 2015, with a second phase coming by 2018.
Marathon cleans up diesel spill at Indiana pipeline
Cleanup is currently under way in Indianapolis after about 500 bbl of diesel fuel leaked there from a Marathon Petroleum pipeline last week. The "vast majority" of product has been recovered, and the affected section of pipe has been cut out and sent for testing.
Texas, California top US states for CO2 emissions from energy industry
Nearly half of the Lone Star State's 663 million metric tons of CO2 emissions came from petroleum fuels in 2010, according to a Energy Information Administration report. Coal and natural gas use and operations in the state contributed roughly a quarter each of the rest.
Diesel leaks from Marathon pipeline in Indianapolis
The pipeline wasn't flowing at the time of the leak due to a lull in market demand, Marathon spokesman Shane Pochard said, but it was still pressurized with diesel in it. The company believes the leak occurred slowly over time and wasn't due to a sudden break or external forces.
CITGO Pipeline wins top API small operator award for occupational safety
This award is among the industry's top honors and is reserved for companies that demonstrate excellence in safety. The award is presented to companies with the lowest Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable injury and illness incident rates for employees and contractors.
EPA seeks improvement on Keystone XL review
The EPA gave the US State Department's review of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline a 'C' grade, adding that there is "ample time and ability" to upgrade the analysis.
- CNOOC completes construction on $2.9-B, 1.8-MMtpy integrated complex in east China 8/22
- bp's Whiting refinery (U.S.) continues to flare days after severe thunderstorm 8/22
- Bachmann introduces latest version M-Target for Simulink 8/22
- U.S. to rule on biofuel waivers, but big oil refiners may need to wait 8/22
- Chinese independent refiner Hongrun buys Canadian, Brazilian crude 8/22
- Ukrainian attack suspends Russian oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia 8/22
