Americas
Foster Wheeler to study ICV proposal in Chile for substitute natural gas
The new facility intends to include several key units, including air separation, partial oxidation for syngas production, syngas treatment, acid gas removal, methanation and solid sulfur production. Foster Wheeler says its scope of work is expected to be completed by mid-2013.
Phillips 66 plans new NGL fractionator in Texas
Phillips 66 is pursuing development of a 100,000 bpd natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionator to be located in Old Ocean, Texas, close to the company’s Sweeny refinery.
Argentina storm sparks fire at YPF La Plata refinery
YPF said the fire started after flooding caused by a major rain storm cut electricity to the entire refinery. YPF said its personnel and firefighters from two nearby cities managed to bring the blaze under control in the early-morning hours. The company said there were no casualties.
TransCanada eyes East pipeline for Alberta crudes
TransCanada has been mulling the plan publicly for months, amid a growing glut of oil in Western Canada that has depressed prices. The plan involves converting part of an existing gas pipeline, TransCanada's Mainline network, for crude-oil service, and building about 870 miles of new pipeline.
Valero sees costs outweighing benefits for new US gasoline pollution rules
Valero spokesman Bill Day said the company expects to spend $300 million to $400 million building new equipment to remove sulfur from gasoline and to expand existing facilities. He said the company expects to incur additional operating costs each year, and those have yet to be determined.
Arkansas officials to probe Exxon pipeline spill
The attorney general's office is investigating the causes of ExxonMobil's ruptured pipeline that spilled thousands of gallons of oil into a small town neighborhood last week.
Shale energy resources driving resurgence for ethylene industry
The abundant supply of North American shale energy resources is proving to be not only a boon for exploration and production (E&P) companies and energy consumers, but it is also changing the profitabi..
North American olefin producers riding the shale gas wave
With the prospect of abundant low-cost ethane, several producers have announced intentions to build new ethylene capacity.
High-pressure polyethylene: Reemergence as a specialty chemical or not?
The analysis results indicate that, while investment capital for new plants favors LLDPE, plant profitability—which is a function of product slate (revenue) and cost—is, in many cases, higher for LDPE plants.
HPI Focus: New vs. debottlenecking projects
As most owners do not have adequately skilled engineering teams to study these scenarios, engaging an experienced, qualified engineering contractor to support the conceptual study is often warranted.
- 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
