Americas
Editorial Comment: Petrochemical project announcements top $80 B since 2014
Although new petrochemical project announcements have fallen over the past 3 yr, the global petrochemical sector will continue to see strong growth through the end of the decade.
Through the looking glass: How US EPA regulations are changing the way we visualize methane leaks
In mid-2016, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published Regulation 40 CFR, Part 60, Sub-part OOOOa, commonly known as QuadOa. This regulation has propelled optical gas imaging (OGI) firmly into the mainstream, and presents a major shift in the way fugitive emissions are regulated and the technologies that can be used.
Calculate gasoline RVP seasonal change giveaway economics
Despite high demand and depressed refining margins, the US is in the midst of a glut of gasoline. This predicament is causing a rush to convert summer gasoline into cheaper winter gasoline, in the hope that using cheap butane and higher Reid vapor pressure (RVP) specs will increase refining profits.
Fluor completes construction of Dow Chemical’s ethylene production facility
IRVING, Texas – Fluor Corporation announced that it has safely finished the mechanical construction of The Dow Chemical Company’s new ethylene production facility in Freeport, Texas on schedule.
AIChE ’17: Ethylene Producers Congress
SAN ANTONIO -- Run in parallel with the AIChE Spring Meeting, the Ethylene Producers Congress is self-contained with its own exhibition area right outside the large ballroom that hosts the four-day meeting. The event began the Sunday evening before with their own reception, but didn’t have featured lunch speakers during the week, allowing participants to network during daily two-hour lunch breaks.
ExxonMobil Chemical to expand global hydrocarbon fluids capacity by 250 Mtpy
HOUSTON -- ExxonMobil Chemical Company, a division of ExxonMobil Corporation, announced that it is expanding the capacity of its global hydrocarbon fluid assets by more than 250 Mtpy at its world-scale petrochemical sites in Antwerp, Belgium; Baytown, Texas; and Jurong Island, Singapore.
Catalytic cracker working fully at Isla refinery of Venezuela's PDVSA
ORANJESTAD (Reuters) -- The catalytic cracker at Curacao's Isla oil refinery, operated by Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, is fully working, refinery workers said on Thursday.
Environmental groups sue Trump administration for approving Keystone pipeline
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Several environmental groups filed lawsuits against the Trump administration on Thursday to challenge its decision to approve construction of TransCanada Corp's controversial Keystone XL crude oil pipeline.
Hit by Venezuela shortage, Cuba to restrict premium gasoline sales
HAVANA (Reuters) -- Cuba will stop selling premium grade gasoline except to tourists starting Saturday due to a fuel crunch affecting Venezuela, its oil-rich ally and key trading partner.
AIChE ’17: 13th Global Congress on Process Safety
SAN ANTONIO -- Run in parallel with the AIChE Spring Meeting, GCPS also draws a large attendance and a significant number of exhibitors. Now in San Antonio for 2017, the plenary session AGILE award keynote address was “Chemical Engineers Can Do Anything” by John Televantos of Arsenal Capital Partners.

- CNOOC completes construction on $2.9-B, 1.8-MMtpy integrated complex in east China 8/22
- bp's Whiting refinery (U.S.) continues to flare days after severe thunderstorm 8/22
- Bachmann introduces latest version M-Target for Simulink 8/22
- U.S. to rule on biofuel waivers, but big oil refiners may need to wait 8/22
- Chinese independent refiner Hongrun buys Canadian, Brazilian crude 8/22
- Ukrainian attack suspends Russian oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia 8/22