Americas
Enbridge plans pipeline expansions in Canada, US
The Canadian pipeline company, which in November announced it would go ahead with a C$1.8 billion expansion of the system in the oil-rich province of Alberta, said the latest expansion will add 230,000 bpd of capacity. Enbridge said the expansion will involve increased pumping horsepower.
Airgas buys welding supply firms Metroplex, Excel
The Metroplex and Excel acquisitions are complementary to the Airgas portfolio of products and services, according to the US-based company. Combined annual revenues for the two acquired businesses are more than $30 million. Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed.
Nebraska agency completes environment review of Keystone XL pipeline
A new pipeline route curves east of the Sand Hills but would still cross the Ogallala Aquifer, a source of drinking water and irrigation supplies, Friday's report from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality said. The new route also avoids many fragile soils in northern Nebraska and shallow groundwater areas.
Technip to design Mosaic Louisiana ammonia plant
Mosaic’s preference is to locate the proposed plant adjacent to the company’s existing Faustina fertilizer manufacturing operations in St. James Parish, Louisiana. It would have a capacity of 2,200 tpd.
Phillips 66, Conoco accused of violating California hazardous waste laws
In a civil lawsuit, the state accused the companies of tampering with leak detection devices, and failing to test secondary containment systems and maintain alarm systems, among other violations. Conoco said the California lawsuit "is [Phillips 66's] issue on which to comment, not ours."
Transocean pays $1.4bn to settle US Gulf oil spill
Transocean was the owner of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that exploded in April 2010, killing 11 workers and triggering the largest offshore spill in US history. It will plead guilty to one criminal misdemeanor violation of the Clean Water Act for failing to properly monitor the well at the time of the blowout.
Environmental groups to seek suspension of Shell permits in Arctic region
The request comes after a drilling rig owned by Shell broke free of a tug boat late last week and then wedged itself on rocks off Sitkalidak Island. Environmental groups say the accident demonstrates how risky it is for oil companies to operate in the icy, foggy and often stormy conditions near Alaska.
Shell drilling rig accident in Alaska could jeopardize future Arctic oil projects
Shell had said it would invest $5bn to explore for oil and gas in the Arctic, but extreme weather has riddled the project with accidents and missed schedules and could raise the hackles of environmentalists. That in turn might hurt Noble Corp. and others seeking to expand exploration in the region.
US votes to reinstate biodiesel tax incentive
The $1/gal incentive was first implemented in 2005, though Congress has allowed it to lapse twice. It will be reinstated retroactively to Jan. 1, 2012, and to the end of 2013.
Calumet completes acquisition of NuStar refinery, terminal near San Antonio
The acquired assets include a refinery in San Antonio, Texas with crude oil throughput capacity of approximately 14,500 bpd. The refinery produces ultra-low sulfur diesel, jet fuel, specialty solvents, reformates, naphtha and vacuum gas oil. The aggregate deal price was $115 million.
- Digital Exclusive: Managing reliability and asset management performance in the Yanbu refinery through the implementation of a reliable operations committee program 1/16
- AM Green and DP World join forces to establish India as global hub for green molecules 1/16
- Toyota unit Hino Motors reaches $1.6-B U.S. diesel emissions settlement 1/16
- Update: Colonial Pipeline's main U.S. gasoline artery likely shut until Friday 1/16
- EIA: U.S. crude stocks fall, gasoline and distillate inventories rise 1/16
- South Korea considering buying more U.S. oil and gas 1/16
