Environment & Safety
Explosion injures one worker at Irving Oil refinery in New Brunswick, Canada
The accident happened Wednesday just before midday Atlantic Daylight Time when a tank undergoing maintenance became overpressurized. The fire service was called but soon downgraded its presence to one fire crew to act in a “monitoring role,” a spokesman for the service said.
Chevron inspection missed suspected pipe at Richmond refinery
Chevron says a corroded pipe segment that may have caused the recent fire was not included in a prior inspection and could have been unusually susceptible to corrosion.
EPA launches criminal probe into Chevron refinery emissions in California
The investigation into whether Chevron routed sulfur dioxide and other pollutants to bypass the refinery's air emissions monitoring system is the latest black eye against the company's 245,000 bpd refinery. The company is still dealing with the aftermath of an August fire at the plant.
Petrobras charged with crimes in refinery oil spill
The oil leak contaminated the Iguacu River, Guanabara Bay and swamps surrounding the refinery with oil, residues and chemicals, the prosecutor's office said. Officials were also charged with interfering with an investigation conducted by Rio de Janeiro state environmental regulators.
Total Safety joins top winners in US safety awards
Nominees had to demonstrate support from management and employee involvement in the company’s safety and health program as well as provide innovative solutions to safety challenges. Total Safety CEO David Fanta said his company was “truly honored” and gave credit to employees.
Death toll rises to 29 after Pemex gas compression plant fire in Tamaulipas
The fire broke out in the late morning at a gas-reception center located on a highway that runs from the northern city of Monterrey to the border city of Reynosa. The facility receives natural gas and condensates from the Burgos production complex for transfer to its gas and petrochemical division.
Fire at Pemex gas plant in Mexico kills 10 workers
Pemex said the fire broke out late in the morning and was contained just after midday. Rescue teams shut down the valves at the reception station and Pemex sent a special team of firefighters to control the blaze. Pemex said Tuesday afternoon that it had confirmed 10 deaths as a result of the accident.
Phillips 66 restarts all Alliance refinery units after Hurricane Isaac outage
The 247,000 bpd refinery was taken offline during the approach of Isaac, which made landfall in southeast Louisiana Aug. 28 as a Category 1 hurricane and caused flooding at the refinery. Phillips 66 said Saturday it had restarted some unspecified units at Alliance.
Investigation into Chevron refinery fire in California finds thinned pipe wall
An inspection of a 4-foot segment of a pipe leading from the refinery's crude distillation unit showed its walls were 1/16 of an inch thick, down from its normal 5/16 of an inch, said Daniel Horowitz, spokesman for the Chemical Safety Board, an independent agency that probes refinery accidents.
Shell proceeds with Alberta oil sands CO2 capture
Starting in late 2015, Quest will capture and store deep underground more than 1 million tpy of carbon dioxide produced during the bitumen processing, reducing direct emissions from the upgrader by up to 35%. Shell Canada owns 60% of the joint venture, which also includes Chevron and Marathon Oil.
- INEOS to invest €250 MM in Lavera cracker modernization project in France 11/19
- BASF adds ISCC EU certification to certified biomass-balanced methanol portfolio 11/19
- Siam Cement to invest an additional $500 MM in Long Son chemical complex 11/19
- LanzaJet produces first jet fuel from ethanol at a commercial scale 11/19
- Ducor Petrochemicals, Blue Circle Olefins partner to create a fully circular supply chain for polypropylene 11/18
- World's first: Air Liquide’s innovative technology converts ammonia into hydrogen at industrial scale 11/18
