Americas
US LNG exports pave way to Asian spot market
Japanese liquefied natural gas buyers see US government approval on export projects to non-FTA countries as a step forward in the creation of an LNG spot market in Asia.
US judge dismisses obstruction charge against BP executive over Gulf spill
The blow-out took place in April 2010, resulting in 11 deaths and in the worst offshore oil spill in US history. The executive had said the estimated flow was about 5,000 bpd, but internal BP documents from the time showed the company believed the rate was likely much higher.
WEC unveils new South Texas refinery project
The Whitetail refinery site was chosen to take advantage of production from the nearby Eagle Ford Shale play, according to WEC officials. This is the first of several planned operations by WEC in the region.
Canadian Prime Minister Harper takes Keystone XL lobbying campaign to US
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper took his case for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline to the United States, burnishing Canada's environmental credentials and saying the arguments for the project are "overwhelmingly on the side of approval."
US approves Freeport LNG export application
Subject to an environmental review and final regulatory approval, the Texas facility is authorized to export to non-FTA countries at a rate of up to 1.4 Bcfd for the next 20 years.
Brazil environment leaders join Petrobras to appeal refinery work stoppage
Petrobras was informed that a federal judge suspended environmental licenses granted by INEA for the refinery under construction in Rio de Janeiro state. The judge ruled that IBAMA had jurisdiction over licensing the project, forcing a halt in construction until IBAMA issued new licenses.
HollyFrontier reports unplanned outages at Kansas, Wyoming refineries
HollyFrontier disclosed that unplanned outages at two of its refineries will reduce its crude throughput in the 2Q by about 7.5% from what it had been expecting. HollyFrontier spokeswoman Julia Heidenreich said the company felt the event was material and should be reported to shareholders.
Pemex to triple US gas imports with new pipeline
The gas supply problem is expected to be alleviated with the Los Ramones project, a pipeline that will carry gas from southern Texas to the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, which is a hub for the Mexican auto industry. Pemex plans to release bidding rules next week for the longest part of the pipeline.
UOP to provide technology for Ascend on-purpose propylene project in Texas
The Ascend propane hydrogenation (PDH) project will be located at a site near Houston, according to regulatory filings. This marks the 14th Oleflex project that UOP has announced since the beginning of 2011, and the company's seventh Oleflex project in North America since the technology was developed.
Brazil suspends Petrobras environmental licenses for Comperj refinery
Petrobras says it is evaluating all possible measures related to the halt, which would stop work on one of the company's largest projects. The Comperj refinery will have installed capacity to process 165,000 bpd of crude oil when it enters operation in April 2015, with a second phase coming by 2018.
- Mitsubishi Chemical Group invests in Licella Holdings, oil conversion technology using supercritical water 7/18
- BASF and Equinor sign 10-yr natural gas supply agreement 7/18
- Shell Catalysts & Technologies, Technip Energies sign global alliance agreement for carbon capture delivery 7/17
- KBR wins FEED contract for KEPPT’s fertilizer facility in Iraq 7/17
- EIA: U.S. crude stockpiles fall as exports rise; fuel demand drops 7/17
- Uruguay SAF project gains momentum with Velocys Onboard as FT licensor 7/17
