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Americas

Sunoco completes US merger with Energy Transfer

Energy Transfer gains 7,900 miles of crude oil and refined fuel pipelines from Sunoco Logistics Partners master limited partnership and give it a toe-hold in the Marcellus and Utica shale regions, increasingly productive sources of oil and natural gas. Sunoco now becomes a subsidiary of Energy Transfer.

ExxonMobil Baytown fire caused by hole in reactor

HP Editorial Staff: HP News Services

ExxonMobil said this week's fire at its massive Texas refinery will result in some impacts to production, but it still expects to meet contractual agreements. All remaining refining operations are normal.

Lubrizol to build resin, compounding plant in Texas

The additional capacity will serve Lubrizol building and construction customers on a global basis. Lubrizol says it projects continued strong global growth in its chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) business, with particularly strong demand in India and other developing economies.

Braskem Idesa awards engineering deal on Mexico Ethylene XXI project

The EPC contract was awarded to a joint venture made up of Odebrecht (40%), Technip (40%) and ICA Fluor (20%). The new petrochemical complex will include a 1.05 million tpy ethylene cracker and several integrated polyethylene (PE) plants. Ethylene XXI should begin operations in June 2015.

Alliance receives regulatory approval for proposed Bakken gas pipeline

The Tioga pipeline should be running by mid-2013. Although new drilling technology has greatly boosted hydrocarbon production in the Bakken, in North Dakota's Williston Basin, a lack of pipelines has led oil producers to resort to rail cars to move product and gas producers have had to burn excess product.

Westlake to expand Kentucky ethylene plant, convert to ethane feed

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

With the expansion, Westlake is looking to take advantage of increased site production to provide additional PVC resin amid growing demand from global customers.

New pipelines could worsen US natural gas glut

A recently-released report finds that new natural gas pipelines being introduced later this year could add to the supply glut in the US. Department of Energy data show that there are approximately 1,000 Marcellus shale wells that are uncompleted due to a lack of pipeline access.

Saudi Aramco investigates Tyco valve contracts after bribery charges

Saudi Aramco has suspended further dealings with Tyco Valves & Controls Middle East while it looks into contracts it signed with the firm between 2003 and 2006, according to a source. Tyco pleaded guilty last week in a US court to paying bribes to officials employed by Aramco.

HP Impact: Natural gas vehicles could be gaining traction

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

Natural gas vehicles could be gaining tractionA new report from PIRA Energy Group says that the sheer volume of US recoverable gas resources relative to expected demand suggests that benchmark Henry H..

HP Impact: Marginal increase forecast in North American lubricant market

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

Marginal increase forecast in North American lubricant marketAlthough it is estimated that there will be a 3% increase in tonnage carried by private fleet operators in the US through 2016, this is exp..