Environment & Safety
Ammonia tank sparks massive Texas explosion
The West Fertilizer Co. plant caught fire and exploded late Wednesday, killing up to 15 people, injuring at least 160 and destroying dozens of homes and businesses. The facility was located close to homes and an apartment complex, where many of the injuries occurred, according to reports.
Experts work to find cause of Texas fertilizer blast
It's not clear what occurred at the West facility. The fire which preceded the blast could have heated up the storage tanks and set off the explosion. For now, though, "that is still speculation", officials say.
IEA warns of no progress on clean energy goals
The IEA estimates that a cut in the carbon emissions per unit of energy of more than 60% is needed to prevent global average temperatures rising by more than two degrees Celsius in the long term, and maintaining current levels would yield a temperature increase of six degrees Celsius.
ExxonMobil refinery fire in Beaumont injures 12
Six injured workers were taken to local hospitals for treatment, with three receiving critical burns. The unit where the fire occurred was shut down for maintenance at the time of Wednesday's blaze.
Exxon offers to buy homes near Arkansas spill site
The move is part of Exxon's response to the rupture of the Pegasus pipeline, which on March 29 spilled about 5,000 bbl of oil into streets and yards of the community. Crews were still at work this week cleaning some areas, and none of the residents of 22 evacuated homes have yet returned.
US investigators blame Chevron over Richmond refinery fire
The investigators found Chevron didn't apply safer design principles at the California refinery and also didn't fix a corroded pipe that ruptured and caused a fire and vapor cloud. The August fire at the 245,000 bpd refinery near San Francisco burned for hours, sending thick, black smoke over the San Francisco Bay.
UOP technology to remove acid gases for Petronas floating LNG in Malaysia
The PFLNG 1 facility, designed to extract natural gas from offshore wells and liquefy and store it for later transport, will use UOP's Amine Guard FS process to remove carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) feed streams. The FLNG unit is scheduled to start up by the end of 2015.
GPA awards midstream companies on work safety, environmental excellence
Member companies that submitted their 2012 safety statistics were considered for the first and second place awards available within three award divisions, with divisional eligibility being determined by the number of work hours submitted. US-based and non-US companies are recognized separately.
KBR wins pipe fabrication work from Shell Canada for oil sands CO2 capture
KBR says it will support Shell’s effort to maximize off-site modularization for this project by providing pipe spool fabrication and module assembly for pipe, process, equipment and building modules. The scope also includes the fabrication of several unique and innovative vertical modules.
Shell pipeline spills oil into Houston-area bayou
Shell clean-up crews were working to clear the crude out of Vince Bayou, a waterway that connects to the Houston Ship Channel, which leads into the Gulf of Mexico, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Steven Lehman. The spill was contained but the total amount of oil was still being verified.
- Transition Industries signs agreements for the Pacifico Mexinol Project, an ultra-low carbon chemical production facility 7/3
- Bangkok Airways introduces SAF on commercial flights 7/3
- EcoCeres secures SAF contract with British Airways to help reduce carbon emissions 7/3
- Air Liquide to invest up to $200 MM in Louisiana, U.S. to support industrial growth 7/3
- MOL completes the acquisition of LBC Tank Terminals 7/3
- BHP awards charter contracts for two ammonia dual-fueled vessels 7/3
