Environment & Safety
Gulf oil, natgas production returns to normal after Tropical Storm Don
As of midday Monday, evacuations are over for platforms and rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, with nearly all shut-in oil and natural gas facilities having resumed operations, according to the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE).
Tropical Storm Don shuts in 12% of Gulf oil output
Nearly 12% of offshore Gulf of Mexico oil production has been shut in as Tropical Storm Don churns toward the Texas coast, with an expected landfall late Friday near Corpus Christi. In total, 166,554 bpd in oil production has been shut in, or 11.9% of overall Gulf output, according to the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE).
Dow reaches $2.5mn settlement with US agencies over Michigan pollution claims
The Midland, Mich. operations of Dow Chemical have reached a proposed comprehensive settlement agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), the company said on Friday. The agreement encompasses air, water, and waste issues identified during an inspection that was conducted over a 20-month period between August 2005 and March 2007.
Praxair to collaborate on environmental research with top China university
Industrial gases major Praxair has entered into a long-term environmental research collaboration with the State Key Lab of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse Study at Tongji University in Shanghai.
Gulf oil, natural gas platforms shut in production as Tropical Storm Don targets Texas
Several oil and natural gas producers in the Gulf of Mexico began shutting in production and evacuating platforms on Thursday as Tropical Storm Don moves toward the lower Texas coast. Overall, the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 29% of US oil production and 13% of natural gas, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Rare earths sales likely to triple by 2015 - study
World demand for rare earths is forecast to expand by 7.1%/year to 180,000 metric tons by 2015, according to a new study from US industry market research firm The Freedonia Group. In dollar terms, sales are expected to more than triple from $3.0 billion in 2010 to $9.2 billion in 2015.
DuPont buys US solar technology firm Innovalight
US-based chemicals major DuPont has acquired Innovalight, a company specializing in advanced silicon inks and process technologies that increase the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells.
QSolar doubles photovoltaic panel output in China
QSolar Ltd. has added a second production line for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in its manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China. The addition of the second line doubles the production capacity from the 20MW/year (about $30 million/year) to 40MW/year (about $60 million/year).
Corning to expand China clean air products plant
The board of directors for glass maker Corning approved a capital expenditure plan of $170 million to further increase capacity at its clean air products plant in Shanghai, China.
Safety progress in Gulf of Mexico drilling should lead to more US permits - API
The US oil and natural gas industry has significantly improved offshore safety, according to Erik Milito, group director of upstream and industry operations at the American Petroleum Institute (API), in testimony delivered this week to the US Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard.
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