Americas
Study: US demand for engineering plastics to rise steadily through 2019
Replacement of metal parts with engineering plastics will continue to drive growth, as will new technological advancements that allow engineering plastics to penetrate new applications.
Enterprise raises LPG export capacity at Houston Ship Channel terminal
Enterprise Products today announced the completion of an expansion project at its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) export terminal at the Houston Ship Channel.
REG shuts Louisiana biorefinery after recent fire
While preliminary damage assessments are still ongoing, the damage appears to be contained to a limited area of the production facility. The company’s current expectation, subject to change, is that it should take 2-4 months to restore operations.
KMG Chemicals acquires US valve lubricants, sealants group Val-Tex
Located in Houston, Val-Tex is a preferred provider of cost-effective valve lubricants primarily to the oil and gas storage, pipeline and gas distribution markets.
Total lists capacity for new Texas ethane cracker
Construction on the cracker could start in June 2016, the company said, with operations starting three years later. The project would include seven ethane-cracking heaters.
Shell completes ethylene unit upgrade, expansion at Singapore complex
Royal Dutch Shell has completed a revamp of its Singapore ethane cracker. The olefins unit is part of Shell’s integrated refinery and petrochemical complex.
US plastic resins output surges over 2014 levels
US production of major plastic resins totaled 6.1 billion pounds during February 2015, an increase of 6.8 percent compared to the same month in 2014, according to statistics released by the ACC.
Top seven causes for lost olefin production
Long-term trends in production losses, showing total loss production measured in seven biennial studies, are discussed in this article to determine if these losses are increasing or decreasing over time.
Use vapor distributors to improve fractionation column performance
Vapor distribution has often been neglected in fractionation columns. Although the importance of liquid distribution is well understood and has been a consideration in column design from the early sta..
Bolivia expands petrochemical capability with Bulo Bulo ammonia complex
The Bulo Bulo ammonia-urea facility will be Bolivia’s first petrochemical venture. This new facility is expected to produce sufficient urea/ammonia supplies for domestic demand and will provide surplus product for export.

- IHI, Vopak to launch ammonia terminal project in Japan 7/11
- India's BPCL plans to shut Bina refinery unit for 15-day maintenance in August 7/11
- Soaring electric truck sales deal new blow to diesel use in China 7/11
- Russia`s Tatneft launches new hydrocracking unit on TANECO refinery 7/11
- IEA: Global oil market may be tighter than it looks 7/11
- India must boost its petchem output to counter China's dominance, Reliance says 7/11