Americas
Brazil announces stimulus package for ethanol, petrochemical producers
The Brazilian government is hoping that lower taxes on the country's sugarcane ethanol and petrochemical industries will help boost the competitiveness of exports.
Crosstex to build Louisiana NGL fractionation unit, picks UOP technology
Under the deal, UOP will build and install the UOP Russell fractionation equipment that is designed to extract ethane and propane -- highly in demand as petrochemical feedstocks for producing ethylene and propylene, two building blocks for plastics -- from mixed natural gas liquids (NGL) streams.
US monthly oil demand nudges up; gasoline down
Despite the modest rise of about 100,000 bpd, demand was the second lowest in March since 1997, the API said. Demand for gasoline, the most widely used petroleum product in the country, fell 2.3% in March to a 13-year low of 8.4 million bpd. First-quarter gasoline use was off 1.7% from a year earlier.
Praxair to supply planned NWR refinery in Alberta with new air separation unit
The North West Redwater refinery is scheduled to start up in 2016. The NWR gasification process will consume oxygen to produce hydrogen, which is used to upgrade bitumen into diesel and other higher value hydrocarbon products. Initially, the refinery will convert 50,000 bpd of bitumen.
Praxair installs new emissions control technology at Valero Oklahoma refinery
Praxair says its proprietary CONOx system is a practical, low-capital cost technology for refiners searching for a way to reduce emissions. It also allows refiners more flexibility to modify the operation of the FCC unit as needed while ensuring FCC limits are always being met.
China bank to fund proposed West Canada refinery
British Columbia-based media mogul David Black has been touting what he says will be among the 10 largest refineries in the world. He envisions refining oil from Alberta's oil sands at the $25 billion facility and exporting it from the Pacific port of Kitimat, B.C., to markets in Asia.
Dyno Nobel picks KBR for Louisiana ammonia plant construction, technology
The 800,000 tpy ammonia facility will be designed using KBR’s Purifier technology, which has a documented track record of safe and reliable operations and offers the lowest energy consumption in the industry, according to company officials. The contract award is valued at approximately $600 million.
Ammonia tank sparks massive Texas explosion
The West Fertilizer Co. plant caught fire and exploded late Wednesday, killing up to 15 people, injuring at least 160 and destroying dozens of homes and businesses. The facility was located close to homes and an apartment complex, where many of the injuries occurred, according to reports.
Experts work to find cause of Texas fertilizer blast
It's not clear what occurred at the West facility. The fire which preceded the blast could have heated up the storage tanks and set off the explosion. For now, though, "that is still speculation", officials say.
Atlas Pipeline adds Texas gas processing plants with Teak Midstream deal
Atlas Pipeline CEO Eugene Dubay said Teak Midstream's assets are new, highly efficient and are located in the heart of one of the most prolific plays in North America. The assets being acquired include two cryogenic processing plants and 265 miles of high-pressure, rich gas-gathering lines.
- U.S. firms to develop Syria energy masterplan after Trump lifts sanctions 7/18
- Russian seaborne diesel exports for July 1–15 fall 6% month-on-month 7/18
- INEOS invests £30 MM to slash emissions at Hull site by 75% 7/18
- 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
- Oil prices rise after new EU sanctions on Russia 7/18
