Europe
Repsol looks to Argentina for YPF compensation
The chairman of Spanish oil major Repsol said the company hopes to arrive at an agreement with the Argentinean government for the nationalization of Repsol subsidiary YPF in April. Argentina seized control of YPF after accusing Repsol of not investing enough in the unit.
Aramco picks Técnicas Reunidas for engineering on Saudi refining projects
Técnicas Reunidas will build a hydrocracker plant and a diesel hydrotreater facility for an upcoming 400,000 bpd refinery and marine terminal project that Saudi Aramco is developing at Jazan, in the kingdom's southwest on the Red Sea coast. The facilities are scheduled to be operational by 2017.
LyondellBasell to restore idled German LDPE line
Startup of the new line, out since January 2012, is targeted for mid-2013. The Wesseling LDPE line has historically been used to produce LDPE grades for healthcare applications. The company says restoration of this LDPE line will enhance its ability to supply an important market.
Pertamina may buy LyondellBasell French refinery
The LyondellBasell refinery is under restructuring and its refining units are being mothballed through to the end of 2013 after the company was unable to find a buyer. The refinery would be the third to stop operations in France over the past years amid low demand in the region.
BASF to build emissions catalysts plant in Poland
Construction of the new 40,000 square meter facility – BASF’s largest in Europe – will begin before the end of 2012. The plant will start production in the first quarter of 2014. Additional expansion will follow, raising the total investment volume for the project to approximately €150 million.
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.
- Industry collaboration brings new insights on corrosion under insulation 7/1
- IMI secures major contract to supply wireless vibration monitoring solution in Omani refinery 7/1
- KBR, ReVentas partner to scale polymer dissolution technology to recycle polyethylene and polypropylene 7/1
- Yara to reallocate capital from abandoned $2.9-B Louisiana Clean Energy complex project 7/1
- Schneider Electric to acquire Cognite in $3.1-B all cash deal 7/1
- BASF and Carlyle complete coating transaction, an enterprise value of €7.7 billion 7/1
