Refining
Novozymes pressured by weak US biofuels market
Bioethanol production and profitability has been hampered by the drought in the US, which has pushed up the prices for corn, the main ingredient in the production of biofuel. Additional pressure has been added by a decline in overall fuel consumption in the US, the Novozymes executive said.
BASF joins collaboration to develop bio-acrylic acid
BASF, Cargill and Novozymes recently signed an agreement to develop bio-based technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable feedstocks. The annual global market volume of acrylic acid is around 4.5 million tons, with a value of $11 billion at the end of 2011.
Syntroleum secures EPA registration for renewable gasoline blendstock
Dynamic Fuels LLC, Syntroleum Corp.'s joint venture with Tyson Foods, has been granted Part 79 registration for its renewable gasoline blendstock 10 by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
US equipment finance sector shows rapid growth, survey says
New business volume grew 16.5% in the equipment finance industry in 2011, according to the 2012 Survey of Equipment Finance Activity (SEFA) released by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association.
EPA to propose US biofuel fraud fix by end of 2012
Refiners and oil importers are required to buy certain amounts of fuel made from plants every year under a 2005 law designed to reduce US oil imports. But the market has been in turmoil since last year, when it became clear that some companies were selling fraudulent numbers.
Flash fire injures contractors at BP Indiana refinery
When the fire ignited, the three injured contractors were performing maintenance work on a 105,000 bpd hydrotreater, according to news agency Reuters. BP said the three contractors were in stable condition at a local hospital. Two were being treated for burns and one for smoke inhalation.
Shell picks Jacobs as European downstream services provider
Under a five-year deal, Jacobs will perform work ranging from feasibility studies and small plant modifications to discrete projects for major Shell refining and chemical sites.
Calumet to buy gasoline, middle distillates producer Montana Refining
The deal should close in the 2012 fourth quarter. Montana Refining owns and operates a 9,800 bpd refinery in Great Falls, Montana. The refinery has a complexity rating of 9.3, with crude oil feedstocks sourced primarily from Canada. It produces gasoline, middle distillates and asphalt.
Tesoro buys BP refinery, logistics in California for $2.5 billion
Upon regulatory approval, Tesoro will acquire the 266,000 bpd Carson refinery near Los Angeles along with a related logistics network of pipelines and storage terminals.
US safety board launches full investigation into Chevron refinery fire
A CSB team with seven investigators arrived at the refinery last Wednesday and has since been conducting witness interviews and reviewing documents at the site. Important issues include understanding why the pipe that later failed was kept in service during a late 2011 maintenance turnaround.
- Fertiglobe, Covestro and TA’ZIZ sign MoU to explore strategic ammonia collaboration 2/9
- S-Oil signs nearly $4-B PE marketing deal with SABIC 2/9
- Indonesia's Pertamina launches $7-B natural resources processing initiative 2/9
- Digital Exclusive: Innovative grassroots CDU-VDU configuration—Pioneering energy efficiency and net-zero pathways in modern refineries 2/9
- Update: Union agrees to U.S. refineries contract, averting nationwide strike 2/9
- Schneider Electric unveils EcoStruxure™ Foxboro software defined automation 2/9
