Middle East
Sabic, Shell to expand Saudi petrochemical venture
Sabic said the two companies will jointly conduct studies for a styrene monomer propylene oxide, or SMPO, project and a polyols project before making a final decision. The firms said they also agreed to explore international petrochemical opportunities beyond Sadaf and Saudi Arabia.
Sudan reaches agreement with China's CNPC to revamp Khartoum refinery
A deal to revamp the 100,000 bpd Khartoum refinery was reached over the weekend during talks between Sudanese Petroleum Minister Awad Ahmed Al Jaz and CNPC vice president Wang Dongjin. The refinery is a joint venture between the Sudanese government and CNPC.
US to overtake Saudi Arabia as top oil producer, says IEA
A shale oil boom means US production will pass that of Saudi Arabia by 2020, the IEA says, in a radical shift that could greatly transform energy supplies and geopolitics. The assessment is in stark contrast with last year, when the agency envisioned Russia and Saudi Arabia vying for the top position.
Equate restarts major Kuwait ethylene glycol unit following July fire
The unit was successfully restarted ahead of schedule, the company said in a statement. Through the cooperation of its world-class workforce, EQUATE successfully restarted the unit at an earlier date than the previously announced mid-November target,” the company said.
Kuwait to tender new refinery, clean fuel projects by early next year
The new refinery will be located in Kuwait's Al Zour region while the clean fuel project will involve a major upgrade of existing refineries in Mina Abdullah and Mina Al Ahmadi. KPC awarded two firms consultancy contracts for the projects and the other tenders for construction will soon be issued.
Shell names Fluor downstream engineering partner for Europe, Middle East
Under terms of the agreement, Fluor will provide design, project and construction management, home-office and site-based engineering services. The agreement includes an option to be extended for another five years and opportunities to include Shell's upstream projects and other geographic regions.
Relief valve and flare action items: What plant engineers should know
This article can help the plant engineer review the concerns developed by the design engineer. Implementing field modifications without performing such a review is costly and exposes a facility to unjustified risks.
Surviving and thriving in era of enhanced OSHA PSM audits
The US agency is developing special emphasis programs to target specific industries, notably refining and chemicals, with owners facing rigid inspections and stiffer fines.
Update on the greenhouse gas regulation by the US EPA
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began regulating the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) on January 2, 2011. Its long-awaited GHG controls guidance document, PSD and Title V Permitting G..
Consider new technologies to raise diesel yield in bottom-of-barrel products
The debate continues over adding a new delayed coker vs. a residue hydrocracker upstream of an existing delayed coker.
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- BASF adds ISCC EU certification to certified biomass-balanced methanol portfolio 11/19
- Siam Cement to invest an additional $500 MM in Long Son chemical complex 11/19
- LanzaJet produces first jet fuel from ethanol at a commercial scale 11/19
- Ducor Petrochemicals, Blue Circle Olefins partner to create a fully circular supply chain for polypropylene 11/18
- World's first: Air Liquide’s innovative technology converts ammonia into hydrogen at industrial scale 11/18
