Americas
US imports of Saudi crude highest since July 2008
US imports of crude oil from Saudi Arabia climbed 45.7% from a year earlier in April to the highest level since July 2008, according to US government data. The rise in US imports from Saudi Arabia came as total crude oil imports from all sources declined in the month amid higher domestic production.
US nears Deepwater Horizon settlement with BP
The Justice Department is near civil and criminal settlements with BP and Transocean over the Deepwater Horizon disaster, deals that may have billions in fines and penalties.
Dow Chemical forms carbon fiber, derivatives JV with Turkey's Aksa
Dow Chemical and Turkish acrylic fiber company Aksa have formed DowAksa Advanced Composites, a JV to manufacture and commercialize carbon fiber and derivatives. Aksa and Dow each hold a 50% stake in the JV, which will finance its growth through cash flow from operations and financial institutions.
Solazyme starts up Illinois renewable oil biorefinery
Renewable oil and bio-products company Solazyme said Friday that it commissioned its first fully-integrated biorefinery (IBR) in Peoria, Illinois, to produce algal oil. With the successful production of algal oil from the integrated facility this month, Solazyme has met its start-up goals for the facility on schedule.
API trade group adopts pipeline safety principles
The American Petroleum Institute says the eight liquid pipeline safety principles are zero incidents, organization-wide commitment, a culture of safety, continuous improvement, learning from experience, systems for success, employing technology and communicating with stakeholders.
ExxonMobil licenses methanol-gasoline technology to Sundrop biofuels plant
The biomass complex in Alexandria, Louisiana, will gasify forest waste supplemented with hydrogen produced from natural gas to make synthesis gas. The syngas then will be converted to methanol and fed into the MTG process, producing 3,500 bpd of renewable gasoline.
EPA emissions ruling may threaten US coal sector
Fitch Ratings says the US federal appeals court decision to uphold EPA's greenhouse gas rules will limit the use of coal and increase reliance on other fuels, like natural gas. Fitch says the decision will severely constrain the construction of future coal-fired plants.
Talisman exits Sasol Canada gas-to-liquids project following study
After participating in Sasol Canada's feasibility study for a GTL (gas-to-liquids) facility, Talisman Energy has decided not to proceed with the next phase of the project. "After careful consideration, we have concluded that there are better ways to allocate capital in support of our strategy," said John A. Manzoni, CEO.
Dow picks Pennsylvania site for chemical R&D hub
Dow Chemical has chosen Collegeville, Pa., as the site for a new research and development facility that will open in early 2013. The site is currently owned by pharmaceutical company Pfizer.
Valero idles two US ethanol plants on low margins
Valero suspended production last week at its Albion, Neb., ethanol plant, while its Linden, Ind., facility shut down production on Tuesday. Each plant has the capacity to produce 120 million gal/year of ethanol.
- 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
