Americas
Brazil to allow Petrobras to raise gasoline prices
The price increase of about 8% for gasoline at the refinery gate would help shore up Petrobras's finances ahead of the sale of Brazil's largest offshore oil discovery under new production-sharing deals.
Fluor agrees to design major gas-to-methanol project in Louisiana
Fluor was awarded an engineering and design services contract by South Louisiana Methanol for a potential 5,000 tpd methanol project. It would be built in St. James Parish.
Shale boom not cutting US polyethylene user costs
Despite the shale boom, the price of polyethylene in the US has generally risen over the past few years. The type most used typically costs around 75 cents/lb, up from an average of 64 cents in 2010.
Crude oil in Quebec rail disaster was mislabeled
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said its tests showed the oil had a much lower flash point -- the temperature at which a fire can ignite -- than originally indicated on tank-car signage and was more dangerous than identified on the railcars that plowed into Lac-Megantic on July 6.
Emerson to supply automation for new Lubrizol additives plant in China
At Zhuhai, Emerson’s role includes collaborating with the Lubrizol team to engineer, project-manage, install and commission a complete automation solution for the new additives plant. The Emerson solution is based on a FEED study done previously at Lubrizol’s facility in Deer Park, Texas.
US to bypass Russia in liquid fuels production
The US is set to bypass Russia in the production of liquid fuels such as crude and ethanol this quarter, the IEA said, as global demand for oil is rising faster than expected.
Praxair starts up new hydrogen plant at Valero refinery in Louisiana
Praxair’s steam methane reformer (SMR) in St. Charles, Louisiana, will supply hydrogen and up to 450,000 lb/hour of steam to Valero’s new 60,000 bpd hydrocracker. The hydrocracker produces 1.2 bbl of high-value, low-sulfur products for each barrel of high-sulfur feedstock.
US conditionally approves Dominion to export Cove Point LNG
Construction at the existing Maryland terminal is scheduled to begin in 2014, pending receipt of final approval and environmental permits, with an in-service date of 2017.
Alberta leader asks pipeline firms to invest in new monitoring technologies
The minister's comments come amid increased scrutiny over pipeline integrity following a series of high-profile oil pipe leaks in recent years and persistent questions about risks from proposed pipeline projects designed to carry even more heavy crude from Alberta's booming oil sands.
DuPont renews pact with KBR for US construction, maintenance services
KBR’s contract renewal includes an expansion of services from 17 sites to 26 DuPont sites across the Northeast US and Gulf Coast regions. The total contract value was not disclosed.
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