Petrochemicals
Sasol to use Univation PE process technology on Louisiana liquids project
The 450,000 tpy linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) swing polyethylene plant will be capable of producing a broad product portfolio, the company says, including metallocene LLDPE. Univation is a joint venture comprised of Dow Chemical and ExxonMobil.
Dow Chemical awarded $318 million from Kuwait over failed K-Dow venture
In December 2008, Dow said Kuwaiti officials informed it the Persian Gulf country was scrapping a deal under which the state-owned petroleum firm was to pay Dow Chemical $7.5 billion for a 50% stake in several chemical plants. Dow intended to use that money to help finance its purchase of Rohm & Haas.
US ethylene costs drop as downed plants restart
Ethylene price stability in recent weeks following the earlier, more dramatic price movements, suggests a more balanced supply/demand picture for the chemical. The 68-cent ethylene price seen in late January was the highest level since May 2012 and was the pinnacle of an uninterrupted price increase.
Process safety management: Going beyond functional safety
Operating companies are increasing efforts to reduce the risk of catastrophic events such as the release of toxic, reactive or explosive chemicals that can damage the environment or plant assets.
Optimize feed treatment for polypropylene process
To realize full activity from polymerization catalysts, feed streams need to be as clean as possible from all contaminants and catalyst poisons. A very low level of even a single catalyst poison can reduce catalyst activity drastically.
Louisiana group plans to build largest methanol plant in North America
The $1.3 billion facility will convert 163,000 million British thermal units of natural gas into 5,000 tpd of methanol. The new plant is "emblematic of the reindustrialization of the US based on low-cost energy feedstocks in the form of natural gas," said Simmons & Co. International analyst Bill Herbert.
Advanced Refining to sell hydrocracking catalysts for Chevron Lummus
Under the agreement, ART will be the worldwide provider for hydrocracking and lubes hydroprocessing catalysts. CLG will continue to focus on its world-class technology development, licensing, design, and revamp of hydrocracking, lubricant base oil, resid hydrotreating, and resid hydrocracking plants.
Toyo wins deal to build Indonesia ammonia plant
The plant is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2015. The project plans to produce ammonia as a feedstock for downstream chemicals such as fertilizer, acrylonitrile, caprolactam and ammonium nitrate using natural gas produced from the Senoro and Toili gas fields in Central Sulawesi.
Oxea starts construction on China derivatives plant
The Nanjing plant will produce specialty esters, phthalate-free plasticizers and other oxo derivatives for the local market. Oxea expects the new plant to be mechanically complete at the end of 2013.
QP, Shell award FEED to Fluor for Al-Karaana petrochemicals project
The scope being considered includes a world-scale steam cracker, with feedstock coming from natural gas projects in Qatar; a 1.5 million tpy mono-ethylene glycol plant using Shell’s proprietary OMEGA technology; a 300,000 tpy linear alpha olefins unit; and a 250,000 tpy oxo-alcohols unit.
- ABB Ethernet-APL flowmeters to support digitalization at a large petrochemical complex in China 7/2
- Axens acquires Methanol-to-Propylene technology, expanding its SAF portfolio 7/2
- Lighthouse Green Fuels completes FEED for UK SAF project 7/2
- XRG acquires additional equity interest in Trains 4 and 5 of the Rio Grande LNG project (U.S.) 7/2
- Nigeria becomes first OPEC member to join IEA as associate member 7/2
- Trump biofuel goals hit reality as U.S. plants lag 7/2
