Americas
Valero looks to boost refinery processing capacity for light, sweet crudes
Valero said it was spending about $500 million for new equipment at its refineries in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas, to increase their light, sweet crude refining capacity by a combined 160,000 bpd. The company was also planning to ship more crude oil from Texas to its refinery in Quebec City,
OCI to expand Texas methanol, ammonia complex
The debottlenecking project will increase methanol capacity by 25% to 875,000 tpy. It will also raise ammonia capacity by 15% to 292,000 tpy. OCI said it will adhere to the "highest safety standards in the industry" during its expansion operations, which are expected to conclude in late 2014.
Union workers threaten strike at ExxonMobil refinery in Baytown
About 850 union employees could halt work on June 15 at the 584,000-bpd refinery unless new contract language is agreed to. The USW has raised concerns about safety in Baytown since June 2011, after a worker suffered burns on 25% of his body because of a problem with a steam vent valve.
ICA Fluor wins work to expand DuPont titanium dioxide plant in Mexico
ICA Fluor will be responsible for the construction, construction management and material management services for the TiO2 production facility. It is scheduled for completion in 2015.
Imperial Oil starts up Kearl oil sands production
Located in the Athabasca region of northeastern Alberta, production from Kearl's initial development is expected to reach daily production of 110,000 bbl by late this year. Expansion will add another 110,000 bpd by late 2015, and the project has the potential to produce a capacity of 345,000 bpd by 2020.
Air Products to supply LNG heat exchangers for Maryland liquefaction plant
Air Products will supply its LNG proprietary C3MR liquefaction technology and equipment to a joint venture of IHI E&C International and Kiewit. It will be installed at Dominion's major liquefaction project, to be constructed at the site of Dominion's existing Cove Point LNG import terminal in Maryland.
TransCanada delays planned Keystone XL start
The company pushed back the in-service date for its proposed Keystone XL pipeline to the second half of 2015 as it awaits US government approval for the controversial project. The US State Department is still reviewing the project, which is opposed by environmental groups.
Chevron begins restart of Richmond refinery CDU
The crude distillation unit (CDU) was shuttered last Aug. 6 when a leak in associated piping caused a major fire. Other plants at the refinery have been operating at reduced rates since then.
Methanex approves second plant relocation from Chile to US
The Geismar II project includes their 1 million tpy methanol plant, which is expected to be operational by early 2016. The second phase is likely to cost $550 million. The global demand outlook for methanol is favorable and demand is expected to outpace capacity additions in the industry, the company says.
Two fuel barges explode in Alabama; three injured
Early indications were that a spark ignited residual gasoline vapors while a crew was cleaning the barges, said Lt. Mike Clausen of the US Coast Guard, which was still conducting an investigation late Thursday. "That's where the investigation is currently leading," he said.
- Shell, CNOOC take FID on 1.6-MMtpy petrochemical complex expansion in China 1/15
- Plug Power seals huge deal with Allied Green Ammonia for 3-GW electrolyzer system 1/15
- Russian oil products trapped at sea by U.S. sanctions 1/15
- California (U.S.) withdraws clean truck EPA waiver request ahead of Trump inauguration 1/15
- Amazon orders 200 new electric heavy trucks from Daimler for Germany, UK 1/15
- Colonial Pipeline shuts main gasoline artery after potential gasoline spill 1/15
