Americas
Bridas acquires Argentine downstream company Esso from ExxonMobil
Bridas first announced the Esso deal in March 2011. The purchase includes a 90,000 bpd refinery in Buenos Aires province, for which the company plans to raise capacity by 60% for diesel and 50% for gasoline.
ExxonMobil to expand Louisiana lubricants plants, close New Jersey facility
ExxonMobil says the expansion, coupled with a new metallocene polyalpholefins plant under construction at its complex in Baytown, Texas, positions it to meet long-term demand growth for lubricants with greater energy efficiency, improved durability and extended drain intervals.
Williams agrees to new gas processing project for Canadian oil sands
Williams said its offgas processing method captures and processes a rich NGL/olefins mixture that would normally be burned by the oil sands producer. The producer instead burns methane that Williams provides in exchange for the NGL/olefins mixture. The name of the producer wasn't disclosed.
Explosion injures one worker at Irving Oil refinery in New Brunswick, Canada
The accident happened Wednesday just before midday Atlantic Daylight Time when a tank undergoing maintenance became overpressurized. The fire service was called but soon downgraded its presence to one fire crew to act in a “monitoring role,” a spokesman for the service said.
Westlake delays US ethylene expansion to 2013
The expansion in Lake Charles, Louisiana, will increase ethane-based ethylene capacity by 230 - 240 million lb/year (104,000 – 109,000 tpy), targeting an ethylene integration strategy, company officials said. The unit is expected to be down approximately 50 days for the work to be completed.
Chevron inspection missed suspected pipe at Richmond refinery
Chevron says a corroded pipe segment that may have caused the recent fire was not included in a prior inspection and could have been unusually susceptible to corrosion.
PdVSA to supply crude for Reliance refinery in India
Reliance executive P.M.S. Prasad said the crude will feed India's Jamnagar refinery and will help the rapidly growing Asian economy meet its growing energy needs. He said the supply contract could run longer than 15 years. The contract will begin with shipments of 300,000 bbl and increase over time.
Foster Wheeler to supply heat recovery steam generators in Mexico
Foster Wheeler will design, supply and provide advisory services for erection and start-up of the two HRSGs, which will be coupled to two LM 6000PF combustion turbines. Delivery is scheduled for mid-2013.
EPA launches criminal probe into Chevron refinery emissions in California
The investigation into whether Chevron routed sulfur dioxide and other pollutants to bypass the refinery's air emissions monitoring system is the latest black eye against the company's 245,000 bpd refinery. The company is still dealing with the aftermath of an August fire at the plant.
Petrobras charged with crimes in refinery oil spill
The oil leak contaminated the Iguacu River, Guanabara Bay and swamps surrounding the refinery with oil, residues and chemicals, the prosecutor's office said. Officials were also charged with interfering with an investigation conducted by Rio de Janeiro state environmental regulators.
- Indonesia expects EU to adjust palm oil biofuel stance after EU ruling 1/17
- First-ever ammonia and propane co-loaded vessel completes voyage from U.S. to Europe 1/17
- China's vast refining sector faces shakeout as fuel demand peaks 1/17
- Oman Oil Marketing Co. and TFG Marine establish bunker fuel supply JV 1/17
- Beware Egypt's smokestack onshoring as cement exports surge 1/17
- Petrobras reports record high refinery output in 2024 1/17
