Americas
USW staff at Marathon’s Galveston Bay refinery reject final contract offer
The United Steelworkers (USW) Union rejected Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s final contract offer for the Galveston Bay, Texas refinery.
US crude output rose to 42-year high in March
March inventories are at the highest level in 85 years, and the production of natural gas liquids also set a record for the month.
Celanese, Mitsui mull extra Texas methanol plant
The potential methanol unit at Bishop would have an annual capacity of 1.3 million tons and would leverage the design benefits of the Clear Lake unit that is currently under construction.
Rice students win BP’s engineering prize for water treatment in refineries
The Rice students, who prevailed over competitors from six other US universities, developed a plan that would grow microalgae capable of utilizing waste nutrients in order to purify refinery wastewater.
GPA ’15: US LNG wave spurs new contract pricing
A new era in contract pricing will see Henry Hub gas-based pricing for US exports. Alternative arrangements for LNG contracts include direct investment in LNG export assets.
NuStar, Mexico’s Pemex to expand transborder naphtha shipments
Under the terms of the 10-year agreement, which extends a previous 10-year agreement, naphtha produced at Pemex’s Reynosa-Burgos Complex in northern Mexico is transported via the NuStar Burgos-Valley pipeline system to NuStar’s terminal in Edinburg, Texas.
Mitsubishi unveils $1B Trinidad methanol project
The project, scheduled for completion in June 2018 and to start up by October 2018, would have a capacity of 1 million tpy of methanol and 20,000 tpy of dimethyl ether (DME).
Flint Hills awards $300M construction package to KBR to expand Corpus refinery
Under the deal, KBR will provide construction management and direct hire construction services for the modification and expansion of the Corpus Christi West refinery site.
Phillips 66 picks Elliott to supply compressor train for Sweeny refinery
The project will enable the refinery to meet the requirements set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Tier 3 clean fuels standards, according to Phillips 66.
ABB opens new automation office in Louisiana
The office will provide services and support for ABB’s automation and power portfolio including control systems (System 800xA, Symphony Plus, and heritage control systems), instrumentation, analytical products, low voltage drives, and power systems and products.

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- Vietnam to make switch to ethanol-blended fuel in move to boost U.S. imports 8/27
- Sherwin-Williams launches single-coat high-performance Acrolon 680 for industrial and marine assets 8/27
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- First of five pyrolysis reactors delivered to the tire recycling plant in Uddevalla 8/27