Americas
Global refinery runs to improve in months ahead
Growth in demand could give European refiners, struggling from lackluster regional demand, export opportunities - in particular, gasoline to the US Northeast, the IEA says.
Airgas wins fleet safety award from US gas group
Airgas received a fleet safety award from the Compressed Gas Association (CGA), the US industrial and medical gas industry’s standard-setting organization for the promotion of safety standards and safe practices. It was the third straight year Airgas was presented with the award.
White House forms oversight panel for gas policy
The White House announced the formation of a high-level working group designed to coordinate the government's oversight of natural gas drilling and the much-scrutinized drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing. A recent boom in production has provided ample cheap natural gas in the US.
Enterprise forms partnership to build NGL pipeline from Colorado to Texas
Enterprise Products, Anadarko Petroleum and DCP Midstream agreed to build a new NGL pipeline that will start in the Denver-Julesburg Basin in Weld County, Colorado, and extend 435 miles to Skellytown, Texas. Enterprise will build and operate the pipeline, which begins service in the 2013 fourth quarter.
Bayer to acquire Arkema polycarbonate sheet unit
Bayer MaterialScience has agreed to acquire the polycarbonate sheet business of Arkema, which includes the company’s Tuffak line of products used in such markets as aerospace, transportation and heavy equipment. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Fluor named North America engineering partner for BASF chemical projects
BASF has chosen Fluor as its engineering partner for chemicals capital projects across North America. The deal includes include conceptual and front-end engineering and design (FEED), detailed engineering, procurement, project management and construction management services.
Trends in the downstream market
Hydrocarbon Processing recently sat down with Dick Heusinkveld, Vice President of New Equipment at Dresser-Rand to discuss emerging trends in the downstream market, and the approach Dresser-Rand is taking in response.
Dresser-Rand HOSS compressors help secure energy supply
Underground storage facilities are crucial to the security of energy supply, and a key to balancing the supply and demand in natural gas consumption between the summer and winter months. Additionally, natural gas in storage also functions as insurance against unforeseen accidents or natural disasters.
Searching for ways to further reduce noise in the oil and gas industry
It comes as no surprise that employees working in oil and gas drilling, servicing and refining around the world are all exposed to higher decibel levels than most workplaces, considering various compressors, pumps, furnaces, blowers, extractors, and other equipment placed on rigs and in refineries.
Sunoco Logistics plans WTI crude pipeline from west Texas to Gulf
Sunoco Logistics Partners is seeking customers for a proposed pipeline that would transport crude oil from West Texas to the Gulf of Mexico, the third such pipeline the company has proposed since February. The pipeline should be operational by 2013, the company said.

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