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Americas

Honeywell to upgrade control, safety systems at Suriname refinery

The upgrade is being designed and implemented within the context of the Suriname refinery expansion project, which will double the capacity and expand significantly the range of products and fuels, with a special focus on the domestic transportation market. Financial details were not disclosed.

Freeport LNG in talks with Shell to export gas from US Gulf Coast

If the deal is signed, the LNG facility could be operational by 2018 or 2019. A spokesman for Shell confirmed that it was in negotiations with Freeport. Freeport still needs to obtain licenses from both the Department of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission before the LNG facility can be built.

US bars Enbridge from Wisconsin pipeline restart

The U.S Department of Transportation issued a corrective order against Enbridge for the Wisconsin spill, saying the Calgary energy infrastructure company must conduct new tests on the integrity of the pipeline as well as bring in an independent expert to investigate the company's pipeline maintenance plan.

CB&I to buy engineering major Shaw Group, seeks energy diversification

CB&I believes that combining the two companies will create “one of the most complete energy-focused technology, engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, maintenance, and associated services companies in the world”. The acquisition is expected to close in early 2013.

Enbridge cleaning up Wisconsin oil pipeline spill

The incident is being investigated by US regulators, and comes at a sensitive time as the company moves ahead with controversial expansion plans two years after a larger spill from a Michigan pipeline. Enbridge said it exposed the damaged pipe in Wisconsin and moved most of the contaminated soil.

TransCanada gauges interest in Alaska LNG project

TransCanada's project was initially planned as an over-land pipeline to ship North Slope gas to the continental US by 2020. But the glut of natural gas from shale basins in the US has led Alaska Governor Sean Parnell to voice support for an alternative plan to super-cool the gas and ship it overseas to Asia.

US chemical group sees flat July, dull growth ahead

Data showed production-related chemistry indicators were mixed at best. In addition, trends in plastic resins used in consumer and institutional applications have softened and overall trends suggest slowing US exports. The preliminary July data from the CAB remained steady at 88.5.

TransCanada wins final permit to build Gulf leg of Keystone XL pipeline

With the extension, the company says Gulf Coast refiners can access cheaper domestic production and avoid paying a premium to foreign producers, thereby reducing costs.

Gasoline profits decline for European refiners amid weak demand - analysts

Massimo Vacca, head of investor relations at Italy's Saras, said the recent rise in crude prices and in gasoline stocks had contributed to the squeeze on refiners' profits. Profits on gasoline in Northwest Europe have nearly halved to $10.73/ton from $19.23/ton, the lowest level in over two months.

Smithfield CEO calls for US to cut ethanol mandate

In addition to a temporary waiver of the mandate, Congress should pass a bill that would lower the federal Renewable Fuels Standard when US corn supplies fall below a certain threshold, Smithfield CEO C. Larry Pope wrote. A waiver would ease requirements that refiners blend ethanol with gasoline.