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Americas

Kinder Morgan expands gas treating business with SouthTex Treaters acquisition

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners has signed a definitive purchase and sale agreement to acquire SouthTex Treaters, a leading manufacturer, designer and fabricator of natural gas treating plants that remove CO2 and H2S. The cost is approximately $155 million.

Algenol begins construction on Florida bio-refinery

Algenol Biofuels has broken ground on construction of its pilot-scale integrated bio-refinery, which will include the first large-scale deployment of Algenol's patented Direct To Ethanol technology to produce ethanol directly from carbon dioxide, sunlight and salt water using blue-green algae in patented photobioreactors (PBRs).

US September oil demand up 2.5% from 2010 - API

At 19.9 million bpd, total US petroleum deliveries (a measure of demand) rose 2.5% in September compared with September a year ago, according to figures released on Friday from the American Petroleum Institute (API). While motor gasoline demand was up only slightly by 0.3%, distillate demand reached a record for the month, the trade group said.

US oil, gas industry invests $71 billion in technology to reduce greenhouse gases - study

Kyle Isakower, vice president for regulatory and economic policy with the American Petroleum Institute (API), says that between 2000 and 2010, the US oil and natural gas industry invested $71 billion in technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, far more than the federal government ($43 billion) and almost as much as the rest of private industry combined ($74 billion).

Hydrocarbon Processing forecasts 2012 global HPI spending to rise to $222 billion

Spending for the hydrocarbon processing industry is expected to exceed $222 billion next year, up 1.1% over 2011 spending, according to information released on Friday at Hydrocarbon Processing magazine's 38th annual HPI Forecast and Breakfast.

Pacific Ethanol to provide operations, maintenance support for ZeaChem US biorefinery

US-based renewable fuels company Pacific Ethanol has agreed to provide operations, maintenance and accounting services for ZeaChem's 250,000 gal/year cellulosic integrated biorefinery in Boardman, Oregon.

LANXESS, BioAmber to partner on bioplasticizers

European specialty chemicals producer LANXESS and sustainable chemicals firm BioAmber have partnered to develop succinic acid-based plasticizers that are both renewable and phthalate-free, the companies announced on Thursday.

US oil drilling increased 16% in third quarter - API

US oil well drilling activity continued to increase in the third quarter of 2011, according to the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) quarterly well completion report for the 2011 third quarter. The report estimates that 6,379 oil wells were completed in third quarter 2011, a 16% increase from year-ago levels.

Global motion control market improves amid strong semiconductors, automotive - study

The worldwide market for general motion control systems increased by a double-digit percentage since 2009, according to a new ARC Advisory Group study. Suppliers who endured as much as 50% declines in business during the downturn reported a tremendous rebound in shipments, the study says. This renewed growth, first felt in Asia, progressively extended to Europe and North America as well.

Enterprise seeks shippers for proposed Texas NGL pipeline expansion

Enterprise Products has started the open season for Skelly-Belvieu Pipeline Co., a joint venture partially owned and operated by an Enterprise affiliate, in which it is seeking shipper support for a proposed expansion of the 570-mile Skelly-Belvieu natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline.