Refining
Tropical Storm Don shuts in 12% of Gulf oil output
Nearly 12% of offshore Gulf of Mexico oil production has been shut in as Tropical Storm Don churns toward the Texas coast, with an expected landfall late Friday near Corpus Christi. In total, 166,554 bpd in oil production has been shut in, or 11.9% of overall Gulf output, according to the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE).
Gulf oil, natural gas platforms shut in production as Tropical Storm Don targets Texas
Several oil and natural gas producers in the Gulf of Mexico began shutting in production and evacuating platforms on Thursday as Tropical Storm Don moves toward the lower Texas coast. Overall, the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 29% of US oil production and 13% of natural gas, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
US groups API, NPRA praise House passage of bill seeking Keystone XL Pipeline decision
The American Petroleum Institute (API) and National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) each issued statements of support after the US House of Representatives passed the North American-Made Energy Act, which seeks to speed up the permitting process for the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline.
PGI Energy inks deal to trade Saudi Aramco crude
PGI Energy has entered into a one-year allocation agreement with its limited joint venture partner Intertorco Europe S.A. as the exclusive trading desk for 6 million bbl/month of Saudi light crude oil from Saudi Aramco.
Hess signs three-year contracts to explore Iraq
Energy giant Hess has signed production sharing contracts (PSCs) with the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq for the country’s Dinarta and Shakrok exploration blocks.
Rare earths sales likely to triple by 2015 - study
World demand for rare earths is forecast to expand by 7.1%/year to 180,000 metric tons by 2015, according to a new study from US industry market research firm The Freedonia Group. In dollar terms, sales are expected to more than triple from $3.0 billion in 2010 to $9.2 billion in 2015.
Calumet to buy Wisconsin refinery from Murphy Oil for around $475mn
Murphy Oil has agreed to sell its 34,300 bpd refinery in Superior, Wisconsin, for $214 million plus the value of hydrocarbon inventory to refiner Calumet Specialty Products. The hydrocarbon inventory will be valued based on market prices at closing, the company said. The inventory was valued at approximately $260 million as of June 30.
Biofuels firm Gevo to build isobutanol processing demonstration plant in Texas
Renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels firm Gevo will work with a subsidiary of the Arabian American Development Co. to build a hydrocarbon processing demonstration plant at their facility just outside of Houston in Silsbee, Texas.
Süd-Chemie starts work to build cellulosic ethanol plant in Germany
Specialty chemicals firm Süd-Chemie has begun construction at Straubing in southern Germany of a €28mn plant to produce cellulosic ethanol from agricultural waste materials.
Statoil to supply ethane for NOVA Canada cracker
NOVA Chemicals has signed a memorandum of understanding with Statoil to secure a long-term supply of ethane from the Marcellus Shale basin. Financial terms were not disclosed.
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- Topsoe’s advanced technology selected for a SAF and renewable diesel project in Uruguay 12/29
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- Prysmian and Versalis partner on new, innovative chemical recycling process 12/29
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- Orlen takes control of key petrochemical unit in deal with Synthos 12/29
