Americas
Shell, thyssenkrupp partner on sulfur-enhanced technology for urea
Combining Shell Thiogro’s sulfur-enhanced urea technology with UFT’s fluid-bed granulation process will enable the largest urea plants in the world to produce granulated sulfur-containing urea.
High gasoline demand leaves US refiners with surplus of distillates
To meet gasoline demand from motorists, refiners have to process increased volumes of crude, leaving them with unwanted stocks of hard-to-sell distillates and other products.
CF opens new US urea ammonium nitrate plant
This is the second new plant to be commissioned and started-up as part of CF’s capacity expansion projects in North America. It is the largest operating single-train UAN plant in the world.
Spraying Systems to host Houston technology forum for chemical processors
The forum will feature new technology demonstrations, including computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling simulations in 3D, which give attendees a new perspective on what really happens with fluid flow inside their pipes, ducts and vessels.
US gasoline, distillate stocks fall as run rates rise
Refinery crude runs rose by 414,000 bpd and refinery utilization rates rose 2 percentage points to 90.4% of total capacity, the highest rate seasonally since 2005.
Colombia’s Ecopetrol seeks $2 billion from CB&I over refinery costs
Ecopetrol has said bad management at CB&I increased spending on the project by $4 billion, or double the original price tag. Ecopetrol filed the suit before the International Chamber of Commerce.
US, Indian gasoline demand boosts outlook for oil
Hedge funds have turned very bullish about the outlook for oil prices based on indicators showing strong gasoline demand in the US and India.
INEOS prepares mothballed UK ethane cracker for US shale feedstocks
INEOS says it recently completed successful operational trials at the Grangemouth plant as it prepares to receive shale gas ethane from the US as petrochemical feedstock.
CPChem to expand Texas polyalphaolefins plant
Construction will begin in April 2016, Chevron Phillips says, with completion and startup expected by mid-2017. The expansion will support up to 135 construction and engineering jobs.
US investigates Brazil’s Odebrecht, Braskem over naphtha contracts
Local daily Valor Economico said the Justice Department was focusing its investigation on whether the companies violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in naphtha supply contracts.
- UPM unlocks new bio-based markets as Leuna biorefinery produces its first commercial product 12/19
- Stamicarbon awarded technology licensing contract for new urea plant in Eastern China 12/19
- Ford takes $19.5-B writedown on EV business 12/19
- Babcock & Wilcox awarded $40-MM contract for advanced wet gas scrubbing technology at Canadian petroleum refinery 12/19
- Aarti Industries secures methanol and toluene feedstock supply through multiple long-term contracts 12/19
- bp picks first outsider CEO Meg O'Neill after abrupt Auchincloss exit 12/19
