Americas
PolyOne expands polymer innovation centers in US, China, South Korea
PolyOne says its investment to upgrade the centers will further serve the needs of customers interested in collaborating to solve product and performance challenges, while accelerating their speed to market.
US raises mandate for alternative diesel fuel usage
Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board, said the decision "will allow biodiesel plants across the country to invest and expand" and "sends a strong signal that the US is standing firm behind its commitment to strengthen energy security and break dependence on petroleum."
Mexico's Pemex chooses Bechtel for technology at new Tula refinery
The $12.54 million contract awarded to Bechtel is for the design-and-licensing costs for a coker plant with a capacity of 166,000 bpd, Pemex said. The new Tula refinery is being built near a current Pemex refinery and is designed to increase the production of low-sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel.
TPC to restart idled Texas dehydrogenation unit
The project includes the refurbishment and restart of dehydrogenation assets at TPC's Houston site. The dehydrogenation will provide isobutylene feedstock for TPC’s performance products and fuels business, the company said, including MTBE, polyisobutylene, high-purity isobutylene and diisobutylene.
Phillips 66 chooses west Houston site to build new global headquarters
Phillips 66 is working on a design and intends to begin construction when plans are finalized and permitting is in place. The campus will include office space, conference and training facilities, along with wellness and dining options. Once ground is broken, construction should take between 24-36 months.
IEA sees high refinery activity boosting fuel supply
The Paris-based energy watchdog, which represents major oil-consumer nations, expects refiners to process around 75.7 million bpd of crude in the third and fourth quarters, 1.3 million bpdmore than in the last quarter of 2011. Behind the output rise is unexpectedly high production in developed economies.
Investigation into Chevron refinery fire in California finds thinned pipe wall
An inspection of a 4-foot segment of a pipe leading from the refinery's crude distillation unit showed its walls were 1/16 of an inch thick, down from its normal 5/16 of an inch, said Daniel Horowitz, spokesman for the Chemical Safety Board, an independent agency that probes refinery accidents.
Orascom picks KBR to design Iowa ammonia plant
The plant will be the first world-scale ammonia plant built in the US in nearly 25 years. The plant will be designed using KBR’s Purifier technology, which has demonstrated higher reliability than conventional designs and offers the lowest proven energy consumption in the industry, according to project officials.
Tyco signs global agreement with Shell to provide pressure relief valves
The five-year agreement covers Crosby and Anderson Greenwood direct acting and pilot-operated pressure relief valves, line block relief valves and supporting services for all of Shell's global operations. During 2011, Tyco was also selected by Shell to provide butterfly valves in a similar arrangement.
Sasol eyes growth in North America, exit from Iran
Sasol's CEO said the company has a “huge strategy” in North America. In Louisiana, it is looking at building an $8 billion to $9 billion gas-to-liquids plant that would produce 96,000 bpd of mostly diesel. It is also looking at a 48,000 bpd plant in Alberta, Canada that would cost about $8 billion.
- TotalEnergies extends its fuel price cap policy in France until the end of April 4/7
- Navigating the montan wax challenge with renewable alternatives for polymers 4/7
- AFR selects Axens as technology provider for Texas (U.S.) refinery 4/7
- Iran has attacked Saudi Arabia's Jubail petrochemical complex, IRGC says 4/7
- Iran's Marvdasht Petrochemical complex attacked by US and Israel 4/7
- Fluor awarded engineering and design contract for America First Refining's refinery in South Texas 4/7
