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Europe

India oil product demand to slow in months ahead

The EIA's monthly forecast is broadly in line with domestic projections. Summer energy demand recently peaked, and it will likely fall off over the next few months, barring unforeseen contingencies. The government has announced plans for $1 trillion in infrastructure investments over the next five years.

EU chemicals output shows monthly, yearly decline

Monthly data for May 2012 showed a 0.7% decline compared with May the year prior, according to figures from trade group Cefic. Industry confidence also deteriorated in May, based mainly on a strong weakening in managers' expectations for the months ahead.

Invista acquires Europe, Mideast licensing rights to PTA, PET technologies

In 2000, the ownership of intellectual property and licensing rights for the region transferred to a regional joint venture company established by INVISTA’s and La Seda’s predecessors. Until Wednesday, licensing had required collaboration between the two companies.

Jacobs wins South Africa sulfuric acid plant work

Under the terms of the deal, Jacobs is designing the equipment and process for two final acid towers. The company is also designing and fabricating a proprietary anodically-protected sulfuric acid cooler, which will be manufactured at Jacobs' facility in Pickering, Ontario. Financial terms were not disclosed.

UOP technology chosen to boost yields at Romania synthetic rubber plant

Energy Bio-Chemicals will use UOP’s KLP process to purify butadiene, a monomer used to produce synthetic rubber, at the company's CAROM Onesti styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) facility. The project is part of a modernization investment program to upgrade butadiene installation and increase production.

Linde forms European LNG venture for marine fuels

The 50/50 venture company is due to start its operations in the latter part of 2012, officials said, with headquarters in Hamburg. The venture will set out to establish an LNG supply chain and to provide reliable, safe and environmentally-friendly fuel to ship owners and operators.

EU approves Gunvor purchase of former Petroplus refinery in Germany

The 100,000 bpd Ingolstadt refinery is one of the best-performing European refineries, according to Gunvor, with a strong regional footprint in Germany’s Bavaria region. Gunvor is familiar with and trades the crude oils processed by the Ingolstadt refinery, it said, enabling greater efficiencies for the plant.

Modernize your compressor lube- and seal-oil systems

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Bloch, Heinz P.

Each pipe or control line should be traced to its origin, the design intent must be well understood, and all owner-purchaser questions answered by the vendor-manufacturer.

Utility piping: Why over-engineering is inefficient

Victaulic: Wilkerson, G.

Grooved mechanical piping can offer improved constructability, speedy expansion, retrofit and turnaround, and also reduce safety risks. It is a quality pipe-joining method.

Consider new developments for variable-speed electric motors

WorleyParsons Services: Almasi, A.

New challenges, recent developments, the latest mechanical issues and main reliability factors for large variable-speed electric motor drivers in HPI plants are presented here.