Americas
Phillips 66, Conoco accused of violating California hazardous waste laws
In a civil lawsuit, the state accused the companies of tampering with leak detection devices, and failing to test secondary containment systems and maintain alarm systems, among other violations. Conoco said the California lawsuit "is [Phillips 66's] issue on which to comment, not ours."
Transocean pays $1.4bn to settle US Gulf oil spill
Transocean was the owner of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that exploded in April 2010, killing 11 workers and triggering the largest offshore spill in US history. It will plead guilty to one criminal misdemeanor violation of the Clean Water Act for failing to properly monitor the well at the time of the blowout.
Environmental groups to seek suspension of Shell permits in Arctic region
The request comes after a drilling rig owned by Shell broke free of a tug boat late last week and then wedged itself on rocks off Sitkalidak Island. Environmental groups say the accident demonstrates how risky it is for oil companies to operate in the icy, foggy and often stormy conditions near Alaska.
Shell drilling rig accident in Alaska could jeopardize future Arctic oil projects
Shell had said it would invest $5bn to explore for oil and gas in the Arctic, but extreme weather has riddled the project with accidents and missed schedules and could raise the hackles of environmentalists. That in turn might hurt Noble Corp. and others seeking to expand exploration in the region.
US votes to reinstate biodiesel tax incentive
The $1/gal incentive was first implemented in 2005, though Congress has allowed it to lapse twice. It will be reinstated retroactively to Jan. 1, 2012, and to the end of 2013.
Calumet completes acquisition of NuStar refinery, terminal near San Antonio
The acquired assets include a refinery in San Antonio, Texas with crude oil throughput capacity of approximately 14,500 bpd. The refinery produces ultra-low sulfur diesel, jet fuel, specialty solvents, reformates, naphtha and vacuum gas oil. The aggregate deal price was $115 million.
Optimize LNG boil-off gas systems for regasification terminals
Depending on LNG composition, N2 content and plant operating mode, an operating pressure of 7 barg to 8 barg was found by the study to be the optimum pressure range.
Viability of GTL for the North American gas market
New developments in FT technology will enable economically viable gas-to-liquids (GTL) facilities at a smaller scale, compared with existing industrial facilities.
Molecular sieves in gas processing: Effects and consequences by contaminants
The principles of adsorption on molecular sieves are easy to understand, but practice sometimes reveals traps to avoid.
Improve evaluation of brittle-fracture resistance for vessels
This article discusses a new approach and spreadsheet tool for engineers that can be used to provide operating pressure limits as a function of vessel-metal temperatures.
- 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
