Europe
Chevron warns of weakening downstream results
Chevron expects 2011 fourth-quarter downstream earnings to be down significantly from the third quarter amid lower margins and refinery input volumes. In the US, Gulf coast refining margins fell substantially in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter, the company said.
Shell picks Jacobs to engineer tunnels project for German refineries
Jacobs Engineering Group was awarded a contract from Shell to provide project management and engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm) services to support a tunnels project for refineries in Rhineland, Germany.
LyondellBasell to shut two polypropylene lines in Germany
LyondellBasell will shut down two polypropylene (PP) lines in Wesseling, Germany, by mid-2012, seeking to reduce costs and maintain its competitive position.
US refiners may profit from Petroplus closures in Europe
Analysts say refiners could see new opportunities as Europe's largest independent refiner and wholesaler of petroleum products shuts down three of its five refineries.
Repsol shuts FCC unit at Petronor refinery in Spain amid poor margins
Repsol has shut the FCC unit at its 220,000 bpd Petronor refinery in Spain because of dismal refining margins in Europe, Petronor said in a statement. Repsol's Petronor refinery is in the Somorrostro valley, 20 kilometers from Bilbao in northern Spain.
Technip extends subsea services pact with Statoil
France-based engineering major Technip was awarded a two-year extension within its Statoil frame contract for diving, pipeline repair, contingency and modification services. The yearly revenue under the contract is expected to be in the range of €50-80 million.
BP slammed by Norway regulator for Valhall fire
BP has been ordered to take immediate steps to address a number of "serious breaches" of regulations in connection with a fire on its Valhall platform last year, Norway's offshore safety authority said Thursday. No people were injured in that incident, although the safety body said that under slightly different circumstances it could have escalated and led to the loss of life.
Foster Wheeler buys German scrubbing technology firm Graf-Wulff
Global engineering and construction major Foster Wheeler has completed the purchase of Graf-Wulff GmbH, a German company that designs, manufactures and installs circulating dry ash flue gas scrubbing technology for all types of boilers in the power and industrial sectors.
PPG closes deal for European coatings group Dyrup
PPG Industries has completed its purchase of Denmark-based coatings company Dyrup A/S from its owner, public holding company Monberg & Thorsen. Dyrup, a European producer of architectural coatings and specialty products, had 2010 sales of approximately €190 million ($270 million).
Parker Hannifin to supply instrumentation for Shell
Global motion and control technology group Parker Hannifin has signed an agreement with Shell to supply instrumentation valves, manifolds, process-to-instrument valves, fittings, tubing, protective enclosures and related products. Financial terms were not disclosed.
- BASF supports European 1,4‑butanediol supply security through increased production in Ludwigshafen 2/16
- Vitol backs proposed $3-billion LNG power plant for South Africa's Durban port 2/16
- HAMR Energy receives additional funding for low-carbon liquid fuels projects 2/16
- NASCAR names POET official bioethanol partner: Becomes first major motorsports series to utilize zero-carbon bioethanol 2/16
- ExxonMobil starts third advanced plastics recycling unit at Baytown complex 2/16
- Geoinform, subsidiary of the MOL Group, signs strategic cooperation agreement with Baker Hughes 2/16

