Americas
Phillips 66 reports emissions, plant repairs at Borger refinery in Texas
"The line going to Unit 34's SRU [sulfur recovery unit] incinerator is partially plugged with sulfur," Phillips 66 said in a filing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The company said that sections of that line will be heated in an effort to melt out the sulfur.
Petrobras confirms explosion at Texas refinery as worker suffers burns
The explosion caused extensive damage to a 35,000 bpd light cycle oil hydrotreater, also called a hydrogen desulfurization unit, which uses hydrogen to convert the oil into diesel and remove sulfur.
European refiners increasingly turn to light US oil
Many European refiners face the problem of not having run a US crude through their systems in living memory and, as such, are wary of doing so, even though the numbers might make economic sense.
Air Products breaks ground on world-scale steam methane reformer in Texas
The SMR will produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide to be supplied to customers linked to Air Products’ Gulf Coast Hydrogen and CO Pipeline networks. The new unit will begin operations in 2018.
Low oil plays uneven role in global gasoline prices
All countries have access to the same oil prices on international markets, but retail gasoline prices vary wildly, largely because of the taxes and subsidies imposed on them.
Rising US refinery runs lend support to oil prices
Analysts said that the minimal price movement on Thursday was due to bullish and bearish fundamentals offsetting each other.
US refiners struggle to export surplus distillate
The stagnation in distillate exports reflects sluggish world trade, the slump in mining, and a warm winter across much of the northern hemisphere, all of which have cut global demand growth.
Dow acquires Texas aniline plant from Chemours
The sale to Dow Chemical was for approximately $140 million in cash, according to the initial agreement, which was announced in November 2015.
Enterprise delays Texas PDH project to 2017
Commercial operations at the new plant in Mont Belvieu, Texas, are slated to begin during the second quarter. Enterprise previously expected the PDH unit to come online by the end of 2016.
ExxonMobil CEO eyes new acquisitions, forecasts lower capital spending
Exxon's oil and gas production rose 3.2% in 2015, as its downstream refining unit provided some insulation against the impact of falling oil prices on its upstream.
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- KBR’s methanol technology selected by Fikrat Al-Tadweer for the first biomethanol plant in Saudi Arabia 12/17
- Digital Exclusive: Root cause analysis on hydrochloric acid corrosion in a diesel hydrotreater unit 12/16
- Digital Feature: Enabling growth through strategic cost optimization for petrochemical and refining companies 12/16
- Rohm awards NextChem feasibility study for PMMA-polymer chemical recycling plant project 12/16
- Westlake to rationalize certain North American chlorovinyl and styrene assets 12/16

