Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Gas Processing/LNG

Sinopec sees unprofitable downstream operations amid rising oil prices

Sinopec said its refining operations posted losses in January and February and that it expects the downstream operations to remain unprofitable if oil prices keep going up. Chairman Fu Chengyu told reporters the firm would accelerate the development of its natural gas business.

Energy Transfer completes Southern Union merger

US natural gas pipeline firms Energy Transfer (ETE) and Southern Union have successfully completed the previously-announced merger of Southern Union with and into Sigma Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETE. The $7.9bn deal was first announced in June 2011.

Air Products acquires Xebec adsorption technology

Air Products has acquired advanced adsorption technology assets for its generated gases product lines from Xebec Adsorption. Air Products said it purchased the technology, intellectual property and know-how related to structured adsorbents, beaded adsorbents, and rotary valves.

US oil demand down in February as consumers switch to natural gas - API

Total US petroleum deliveries fell 2.3% this February compared with February 2011, pulled down by a decline in residual fuel oil (40.2%) and other oil (liquid petrochemical feedstocks, naphtha and gasoil) deliveries. The steep decline in residual fuel demand related to users switching to natural gas.

Refining deals up sharply in 2011 amid shedding of global assets

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

Refiners realigned their corporate strategies in 2011, with many shedding refining assets and others choosing to exit the sector altogether, according to a new report.

Shell, CNPC to collaborate on shale gas in China

Shell has signed the first-ever production-sharing contract to explore, develop and produce shale gas in China, a move that fits in with China's overall strategy to bring technical and operational know-how to the development of its untapped reserves of the unconventional fuel.

SNC-Lavalin wins management work in Venezuela for PDVSA gas projects

SNC-Lavalin has signed a project management contract with PDVSA for the Delta Caribe Oriental Project. SNC-Lavalin will supervise the work of contractors who will be providing engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning for offshore and onshore gas facilities.

Enterprise to expand NGL fractionation in Texas

Enterprise Products said Tuesday that it plans to construct two more natural gas liquid (NGL) fractionators at its complex in Mont Belvieu, Texas, giving it 150,000 bpd of additional fractionation capacity. The process of obtaining the necessary permits is already underway, the company said.

Linde to supply air gases for Chinese chemicals producer Dahua

Technology company The Linde Group has been selected to supply air gases to chemicals producer Dahua Group on Songmu Island in Dalian, Northeast China. Under the terms of this on-site agreement, Linde acquires the customer’s two existing air separation units (ASUs) in Dalian, and will operate these.

Air Products inks liquid gases supply deal in China

Air Products has signed a long-term contract with Henan Xinlianxin Fertilizer (Xinlianxin), under which it build, own and operate an air separation unit (ASU) and integrated gas liquefier in Henan Province, China. The Air Products ASU and liquefier are to be onstream in 2013. Financial terms were not disclosed.