Environment & Safety
BP suspended from new US government contracts
The move has an immediate impact on BP. The suspension will prevent the company from buying new oil-drilling leases or other government contracts until the company can provide sufficient evidence that it meets federal business standards, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday.
Norway orders BP to implement safety measures
Norway's PSA said that fire protection for the main substructure and process equipment on the Ula P processing platform were inadequate and passive fire protection needed to be installed. Such protection would slow a fire from spreading and protect the steel structure of the platform from deformation.
AFPM files petition for 2013 biodiesel volumes
The rule increased the volume of biomass-based diesel from 1 billion to 1.28 billion gallons.
California business group files suit against state 'cap-and-trade' scheme
The California Chamber of Commerce has filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate California’s "cap-and-trade" auction, arguing that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) exceeded the authority granted to it under state law (AB 32) in establishing the revenue-raising program.
LSB Industries to cut output at Alabama ammonia plant after pipe rupture
The company said early estimates point to a three- to five-month outage at the ammonia plant, depending on lead times for repair parts. Until then, the Cherokee Nitrogen facility can produce a limited amount of nitric acid and ammonium nitrate solution from purchased ammonia.
Two missing, 11 injured in US Gulf platform blast
Black Elk Energy CEO John Hoffman said the explosion was set off when sparks from a torch the workers were using to cut a line on the platform hit a storage tank, which then exploded. Five workers remain in hospitals, while two have been released. No fatalities have been confirmed.
BP to plead guilty to felonies, pay $4.5bn in Gulf oil spill settlement
Federal prosecutors also filed criminal charges against three employees of BP over the disaster, including two engineers who were on the drilling rig when it exploded.
Methanex wins environmental approvals for plant relocation in Louisiana
The approval represents a key milestone for the project. With air permits now in place, construction on the Geismar site can commence, according to the company. Dismantling activities in Chile have progressed and the project remains on track to produce methanol by the end of 2014.
PdVSA to restore Amuay refinery output this year
PdVSA has on multiple occasions missed targets for resuming normal operations at Amuay. Reuters reported earlier that the company is waiting for replacements for parts that were damaged in the blast, which, once installed, will restore Amuay to pre-explosion processing levels.
Foster Wheeler to consult on China carbon capture, transportation program
The World Bank has launched an analytical and advisory assistance program in China in order to build the country’s understanding of, and capacity for, application of carbon capture and storage (CCS). Foster Wheeler’s scope of work is expected to be completed in June 2013.
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- Pertamina is looking to import > 200,000/month of 90-octane gasoline 6/23
- Japan will mitigate potential gasoline price spike, prime minister says 6/23
- Linde to invest $400 MM to build the world-scale air separation unit 6/23
- AVTL to develop ammonia terminal in Pipavav, India 6/20
- Chevron seeks buyers for 50% stake in Singapore refinery 6/20
