Environment & Safety
US officials approve Shell oil spill plan for Alaska
US officials have approved an oil-spill plan for Royal Dutch Shell as the company looks to begin drilling in the Arctic, saying that Shell has demonstrated its ability to respond to potential spills in icy waters despite protests from environmental groups. Shell still has to obtain drilling permits from the Interior Department.
Enbridge discovers eastern Michigan pipeline leak
Enbridge Energy is investigating the cause of a pipeline leak in eastern Michigan, according to a government filing made pubic Thursday. Enbridge said it discovered a small amount of oil Thursday in the soil near the town of Sterling in Arena County, according to the company's filing with the National Response Center.
Shale gas study concludes no link with fracking, water contamination
Hydraulic fracturing of shale formations to extract natural gas has no direct connection to reports of groundwater contamination, based on evidence reviewed in a new study.
BP upgrades dividend as Gulf oil spill trial looms
BP raised its dividend on the strength of improved earnings, but reiterated that it would only settle upcoming litigation related to the 2010 Gulf oil spill if certain minimum conditions are met. CEO Bob Dudley said the company's "bias has always been towards settlement, but only at a fair and reasonable price."
HP Viewpoint: The promise and reality of energy independence
The governance of energy by our federal government is broken, dysfunctional and unfixable in its current form, according to the author.
HP Viewpoint: Transportation and alternative fuels in Asia
The region is facing tremendous pressure to develop a radically different energy and power mix.
HP Viewpoint: Clean fuel challenges for refiners
Operating companies are looking to new technology and innovation to provide practical solutions for meeting market demands and creating shareholder value.
HP Insight: Government, environment and taxes, oh my!
In this issue of HPInsight, the global hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) still battles some very familiar and present day challenges, such as economic cycles, feedstock spikes, government over reg..
ExxonMobil licenses technology on oil sands steam injection to Baker Hughes
ExxonMobil has awarded the first license for its patented steam injection system and production method to Baker Hughes to improve the efficiency of in-situ oil sands projects. The technology provides more effective regulation and distribution of steam in long horizontal wells.
Shell CEO says Arctic focus on Alaska, Greenland
Shell’s plans to drill for oil and gas in the Arctic region will be centered on Alaska and Greenland, though the Anglo-Dutch major is also eyeing Russia's far north as an exploration frontier, said CEO Peter Voser. Vast hydrocarbon reserves are believed to lie off the coast of Greenland.
- Uniper and AM Green sign long-term offtake agreement for up to 500,000 tpy of renewable ammonia from India 1/12
- Indonesia president inaugurates Balikpapan refinery upgrade worth $7.4 B 1/12
- Carlyle, Chevron-Quantum partnership among frontrunners for Lukoil assets 1/12
- Brazil's diesel imports hit record in 2025 amid local production decline 1/12
- Vitol to load first diluent cargo under Venezuela supply deal last weekend 1/12
- Maersk explores more ethanol use for green fuel to cut reliance on China 1/12

