Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Americas

TransCanada plans new Alberta pipeline, terminal

TransCanada said that it has reached binding shipping agreements allowing it to move forward on plans for a pipeline and terminal facility in Alberta that will help link Canadian crude oil resources in the province to markets in eastern Canada and the US. The projects would cost a combined $893 million.

Petroperu to focus on Talara refinery upgrade after backing off Repsol bid

Petroperu was looking at taking a minority stake in the Repsol assets, although business groups fiercely opposed any deal, saying the government would be taking too great a role in the economy.

GE buys small-scale LNG technology company Salof

Privately-held Salof is known for its cryogenic plant design and fabrication for small LNG and CO2 applications. GE, a leader in large-scale LNG technologies, said it recently launched LNG solutions with a significantly smaller footprint and capacity that are complementary to Salof’s offerings.

REG acquires Soy Energy biodiesel refinery in Iowa

REG plans to repair then restart the refinery and further upgrade the plant in the future. The acquisition would increase REG’s biodiesel production capacity to 257 million gal/year. REG currently owns seven active biodiesel refineries in five states, including nearby plants in Newton and Ralston, Iowa.

Dow picks Fluor for engineering on planned Texas ethane cracker, PDH unit

Fluor’s scope includes the engineering, procurement and construction of a propane dehydrogenation unit, an ethane cracker, and associated power, utilities and infrastructure facility upgrades to support each unit. The facilities will be built at Dow's Oyster Creek facility in Freeport, Texas.

Kinder Morgan to expand Sweeny Lateral pipeline to Phillips 66 refinery

KMP Products Pipelines president Ron McClain said the expansion provides Phillips 66 with a flexible option to move more crude and condensate out of the Eagle Ford shale to its refinery in Sweeny.

US ethylene costs sink to four-month low in April

Contributing to the recent softening price trend in ethylene was the subdued trade in polyethylene, ethylene's largest plastic derivative. Weaker prices for crude oil and other energy components left export buyers wondering if US prices for polyethylene would move lower.

Exxon cleans up Pegasus pipeline spill in Missouri

A resident notified the company that oil had stained the pipeline. Exxon is investigating the cause of the incident. The Pegasus pipeline has been out of service since March 29, when a breach in the line led to thousands of barrels of oil spilling into a residential neighborhood in Mayflower, Arkansas.

Avoid hidden costs of suction-specific speed in pumping

ITT Goulds Pumps: Bailey, J.  |  Bradshaw, S.

More than 30 years ago, a landmark study observed a relationship between suction-specific speed and the probability of pump failure that changed the way pumps are selected. This observation created th..

Rerating rotating equipment optimizes olefins plant performance

Elliott Engineered Solutions: Renard, D.

Rerating your installed compressors and steam turbines can become a cost-effective, time-saving solution for increasing throughput without having to invest in new equipment.