Environment & Safety
US EPA rejects claims of flawed climate science
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday denied 10 petitions challenging its 2009 determination that climate change is real, is occurring due to emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities and threatens human health and the environment.
New CO2 capture technology to be tested in Japan
JGC, INPEX and BASF announced today that they have entered into an agreement to jointly carry out demonstration tests on a new technology for effectively capturing and recovering CO2 contained in natural gas. The tests are to be carried out starting in August at INPEX’s Koshijihara natural gas plant in Nagaoka, Japan.
Frontier Oil reports fire at Cheyenne refinery crude unit
Frontier Oil Corp. experienced a fire yesterday at approximately 5:40 a.m. MDT in the crude unit at its refinery in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The fire was extinguished within approximately one hour by refinery and city fire personnel.
NOAA: Past decade warmest on record
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminsitration (NOAA) released a report today that says “the scientific evidence that our world is warming is unmistakable.” More than 300 scientists from 160 research groups in 48 countries contributed to the report, “which confirms that the past decade was the warmest on record and that the Earth has been growing warmer over the last 50 years.”
Tenaska chooses Fluor's carbon capture technology
Tenaska has chosen Fluor's Econamine FG Plus carbon capture technology for use at the company's proposed Tenaska Trailblazer Energy Center being developed near Sweetwater, Texas.
New oil spill containment system planned by major oil companies
A plan to build and deploy a rapid response system that will be available to capture and contain oil in the event of a potential future underwater well blowout in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico was announced today by Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell.
Senate Democrats give up on climate change legislation
The Washington Post is reporting that Senate Democrats have given up the push for comprehensive climate change legislation.
New edition of electrical safety code of practice published by the Energy Institute
Model Code of Safe Practice Part 1 is a guide for anyone involved in the manufacture, supply, and management of certified Ex equipment used in hazardous areas. It provides up to date guidance on the selection, installation, inspection and maintenance of explosion protected Ex electrical and non-electrical apparatus, primarily used in both the onshore and offshore petroleum industry.
Criterion Catalysts & Technologies opens manufacturing facility in Louisiana
Criterion Catalysts & Technologies L.P., officially opened its catalyst manufacturing facility in Port Allen, Louisiana. The event featured dignitaries including Louisiana Economic Development (LED) S..
Neste Oil sells its Sines plant in Portugal
Neste Oil Portugal S.A.,has sold its ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) in Sines, Portugal, to Repsol Polimeros LDA. The acquisition price was not disclosed.

- Brazil's Petrobras to invest $4.8 B in integration between Reduc refinery and Boaventura complex 7/8
- Braskem completes first sale of circular polyethylene in South America 7/8
- bp's 440,000-bpd refinery in Whiting, Indiana (U.S.), reported flaring due to operational conditions 7/8
- UK's insolvent Lindsey oil refinery secures some crude supply to keep running for now 7/8
- Brazil's energy minister hints at possible fuel price cuts 7/8
- Marathon Galveston Bay refinery (U.S.) hydrotreater to remain shut until September 7/8