Americas
API sees lower US oil, gasoline, distillate demand
The US used the lowest volume of oil in 17 years in November, the API trade group said. With the exception of May, US oil use has fallen year-on-year in each month so far in 2012. Eleven-month demand is down 2.1%, or around 400,000 bpd, from the same period a year earlier.
Cheniere taps Bechtel to engineer LNG expansion at Louisiana export site
Cheniere said it intends to give Bechtel a notice to proceed with construction for the third and fourth liquefaction trains upon achieving acceptable financing arrangements and making a final investment decision. Construction for the third and fourth trains is expected to begin in the first half of 2013.
Chemical executives cite fiscal cliff, economy as biggest concerns
The new KPMG poll finds 41% of US chemical business executives believe in the current macro-economic environment, the top concern is the ongoing fiscal cliff crisis.
PolyOne buys US composites company Glasforms
The purchase marks PolyOne's entry into advanced composite technology, an adjacency consistent with the company's strategy of providing specialty solutions that deliver customer value. With a purchase price of $34 million, PolyOne said it expects the deal to be accretive to earnings in 2013.
PPG acquires US industrial coatings firm Spraylat
The acquisition furthers the capabilities of PPG’s industrial coatings business for both liquid and powder coatings. Spraylat coatings products are used in industrial markets such as automotive parts, architectural powder coatings, transportation,and general industrial niches.
KBC inks multi-year consulting, software contract with Ecuador refinery
As part of the contract, EP PETROECUADOR will take a five-year license for KBC's process and energy modelling software tools, including the full Petro-SIM suite, to optimize the operation of the refinery. KBC says it will work with EP to improve its core work processes and support systems.
KBR wins Kentucky engineering work to install air emissions control systems
The project is part of Kentucky Utilities’ investment plan to install environmental upgrades to reduce air emissions across its generating fleet, including a $600 million investment for the addition of air emissions controls at its Ghent plant. Each system includes a pulse-jet fabric filter to capture particulate matter.
Emerson unveils valve, instrument recycling plan
Using bins provided by Emerson, the recycling effort provides free pick up and shipment from the plant site to the Instruments & Valve Services recycle center, rapid evaluation of valve and instrument cores, and prompt payment with an itemized transaction report.
Motiva finds chemical leak to CDU of expanded Port Arthur refinery
Motiva will again have to shut down a crude distillation unit at its expanded refinery segment in Port Arthur, Texas, that had been restarted after about six months of repairs.
Total inks 20-year deal to buy LNG from Cheniere export project in Louisiana
The pact - along with additional indications of interes - allows Cheniere to move ahead with the development of the fifth train. The company's LNG-export project at its Sabine Pass operation initially was designed and permitted for as many as four modular LNG trains. A sixth train also is being considered.
- Iran's Revolutionary Guards say they targeted petrochemical facilities in the Gulf 4/6
- Damietta Green Ammonia completes pre-FEED for $873-MM, 150,000-tpy green ammonia facility 4/6
- EIB and Eni sign €500-MM in financing for new biorefinery in Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi 4/6
- India's Reliance buys Venezuelan oil directly from PDVSA 4/6
- Japan to boost intermediate chemical imports amid tighter naphtha supply 4/6
- Five EU countries call for windfall tax on energy companies 4/6
