Europe
Dresser-Rand targets small-scale LNG technology
Dresser-Rand believes Expansion’s patented process is the first technology to provide a cost-effective, small-scale LNG production method with capacities as low as 1,500 gpd—far smaller than any other LNG production system commercially available today, according to the company.
Fiatech and PCA lead charge for unified industry interoperability activities
Fiatech and the POSC Caesar Association (PCA) have endorsed unifying all industry-wide ISO 15926 interoperability initiatives under the name iRING.
European butadiene producers plot exports to US
The newfound love for shale gas in the US is leaving their petrochemicals industry in the dark, as crude oil feedstock for butadiene production goes out of vogue, and Europe is reaping the benefits. Indeed, US butadiene consumers are increasingly relying on foreign imports, says the report.
Dow Chemical to shut 20 plants, cut 2,400 jobs
Dow's CEO Andrew Liveris says the cutbacks demonstrate a resolve to tightly manage operations, particularly in Europe, while mitigating the impact of a "slow-growth environment". With the moves, Dow expects to save $500 million in annual operating costs by the end of 2014.
Cyprus approves Noble Energy to build expandable onshore LNG plant
The facility would initially have a capacity of 5 million tpy, but it will be expandable, according to John Z. Tomich, Noble's country manager for Cyprus. The new LNG plant could handle growing gas volumes from the Eastern Mediterranean region as well as additional production from Israel.
French union calls for 24-hour worker strike at all refineries, oil terminals
The workers at all the refineries in the country will walk out Nov. 5 to protest against the order of a local court to liquidate the refinery of Petit-Couronne, on the northern French coast, which belonged to insolvent Swiss-based refiner Petroplus SA, unless a buyer for the plant appears by then.
ExxonMobil, UOP to upgrade production technology for Bosnian refinery
The refiner will combine UOP’s Unicracking hydroprocessing solutions with EMRE’s distillate and lubricant de-waxing technologies. The complex will upgrade more than 45,000 bpd of kerosene, diesel and vacuum gas oil feedstock into high-quality diesel and jet fuels.
Rosneft to buy entirety of Russian TNK-BP venture
A Rosneft takeover of TNK-BP would bring the Russian state's control over oil production to nearly 50% and mark a major milestone in Mr. Putin's reassertion of Kremlin control over the strategic oil sector, much of which was sold off in the privatizations of the 1990s to well-connected tycoons.
EU proposes to reduce use of food-based biofuels
The European Commission is proposing to limit the share of energy from food crop-based biofuels to no more than 5% of the total energy used in the transport sector in 2020. That represents roughly the current amount of food crop-based biofuels used in EU transport fuels.
Sudan in talks with Essar Energy, other companies to upgrade two refineries
The minister said Sudan aims to double the capacity of one of the refineries from 25,000 bpd and increase capacity of the other refinery to 50,000 bpd, up from 15,000 bpd. He didn't give any timeline.
- OCI Global completes $1.9-B sale of OCI Methanol to Methanex Corporation 6/30
- Partnership for sustainability: Pekutherm and POLYVANTIS launch circular economy initiative 6/30
- Lloyd’s Register signs strategic collaboration with DAI Infrastruktur for green ammonia Project Ra 6/30
- Alleima expands product portfolio for the urea industry with SAF™ 2906 6/30
- UK's Lindsey oil refinery insolvent, 420 jobs at risk 6/30
- Irving Oil reports normal operations after fire at Saint John refinery (Canada) 6/30
