Americas
US LNG exports to help Asian buyers, threaten Australian producers
Gas buyers in Japan and Korea are expected to benefit most from potential LNG exports, while Australian producers and European wholesalers could be under pressure.
KBR to construct Invista nylon retrofit in Texas
KBR is providing construction services for Invista next-generation nylon technology project in Orange, Texas. Under the contract, KBR will provide pre-construction and multi-discipline construction services for mechanical, equipment settings, structural steel, electrical and instrumentation.
Enbridge offers online training to first responders on pipeline emergencies
The online training program features 3-D, interactive graphics to help first responders better visualize response to pipeline incidents. Content includes the basics of gas and crude pipeline operations, how to safely handle products transported by pipelines and emergency response tactics.
Phillips 66 aims to refine only US, Canadian crudes
Phillips 66 said it boosted the share of discounted crude produced in the US and Canada that its refineries process to 68% of its feedstock, up from 60% last year. The company said relatively cheap oil from shale and Canadian sources is central to the company's midcontinent refineries.
Valero looks to boost refinery processing capacity for light, sweet crudes
Valero said it was spending about $500 million for new equipment at its refineries in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas, to increase their light, sweet crude refining capacity by a combined 160,000 bpd. The company was also planning to ship more crude oil from Texas to its refinery in Quebec City,
OCI to expand Texas methanol, ammonia complex
The debottlenecking project will increase methanol capacity by 25% to 875,000 tpy. It will also raise ammonia capacity by 15% to 292,000 tpy. OCI said it will adhere to the "highest safety standards in the industry" during its expansion operations, which are expected to conclude in late 2014.
Union workers threaten strike at ExxonMobil refinery in Baytown
About 850 union employees could halt work on June 15 at the 584,000-bpd refinery unless new contract language is agreed to. The USW has raised concerns about safety in Baytown since June 2011, after a worker suffered burns on 25% of his body because of a problem with a steam vent valve.
ICA Fluor wins work to expand DuPont titanium dioxide plant in Mexico
ICA Fluor will be responsible for the construction, construction management and material management services for the TiO2 production facility. It is scheduled for completion in 2015.
Imperial Oil starts up Kearl oil sands production
Located in the Athabasca region of northeastern Alberta, production from Kearl's initial development is expected to reach daily production of 110,000 bbl by late this year. Expansion will add another 110,000 bpd by late 2015, and the project has the potential to produce a capacity of 345,000 bpd by 2020.
Air Products to supply LNG heat exchangers for Maryland liquefaction plant
Air Products will supply its LNG proprietary C3MR liquefaction technology and equipment to a joint venture of IHI E&C International and Kiewit. It will be installed at Dominion's major liquefaction project, to be constructed at the site of Dominion's existing Cove Point LNG import terminal in Maryland.

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