Americas
European butadiene producers plot exports to US
The newfound love for shale gas in the US is leaving their petrochemicals industry in the dark, as crude oil feedstock for butadiene production goes out of vogue, and Europe is reaping the benefits. Indeed, US butadiene consumers are increasingly relying on foreign imports, says the report.
BP cancels plan for Florida cellulosic ethanol plant
While ending its pursuit of commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production in the US, BP continues to invest in and operate its world-class biofuels research facility in San Diego, California, and a demonstration plant in Jennings, Louisiana, to further develop next-generation biofuel technologies.
BP plugs leak from underwater containment dome after Gulf oil sheen
With US Coast Guard approval, BP deployed remotely operated vehicles and successfully installed a 750-lb cap over an opening on the cofferdam known as the stovepipe and secured it in place with clamps. Initial inspections of the cap and plugs have observed no oil droplets.
NRI wins American Bureau of Shipping approval on pipeline repair systems
The ABS is responsible for the classification and verification of marine vessels and offshore structures for compliance with regulations for design and construction, along with a periodic survey. Over the past year, NRI completed the full ABS process, which includes application, evaluation and assessment.
Dow Chemical to shut 20 plants, cut 2,400 jobs
Dow's CEO Andrew Liveris says the cutbacks demonstrate a resolve to tightly manage operations, particularly in Europe, while mitigating the impact of a "slow-growth environment". With the moves, Dow expects to save $500 million in annual operating costs by the end of 2014.
Dow unveils new elastomers project for US Gulf
Dow says the production facility, when operational in 2016, will leverage its investment plan to increase ethylene and propylene production in the US Gulf Coast and will connect US operations into feedstock opportunities available from increasing supplies of US shale gas.
NGL profitability weakens amid rising US supply
Prices for natural gas liquids (NGLs) have dropped precipitously this year amid growing supplies, weakening margins for a key driver of US shale development. But extracting NGLs, such as ethane, propane and butane remains more attractive than producing dry natural gas, the report says.
TransCanada reopens Keystone after safety tests
The restart of the 590,000-bpd line comes two days after originally scheduled. TransCanada last week idled the line, which delivers heavy crude oil from Canada to refineries in the US Midwest, after finding an unspecified "anomaly" in Missouri. Additional tests are scheduled.
Air Products launches US Gulf hydrogen network
Air Products had operated two hydrogen pipeline systems in Texas and Louisiana before joining them with a new 180-mile segment. The new GCCP network is now able to provide hydrogen to customers along the 600-mile pipeline span from over 20 hydrogen production facilities.
Valero looks to sell two California refineries
Valero, one of the largest US refiners, operates a 78,000-bpd refinery in Wilmington outside Los Angeles and a 132,000-bpd refinery in Benicia, in the San Francisco Bay area. Together the plants represent about 10% of the company's US refining capacity. Valero has not yet put a price tag on the refineries.
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