Americas
Shale boom at risk over environment concerns
The IEA report shows how the shale gas industry, which has dramatically altered the US energy landscape, stands at a tipping point to determine how it spreads worldwide.
T. Boone Pickens finds flaws in US energy plans of Obama, Romney
The energy titan didn't endorse either presidential candidate, saying Obama's "all of the above" energy plan needed to be more specific and Romney's plan is "not total".
MarkWest Energy buys Keystone gas processing plants in Pennsylvania
The acquired Keystone assets are located in the Marcellus Shale region of Butler County, Pennsylvania, and include two cryogenic gas processing plants totaling 90 million cubic feet/day of processing capacity, a gas gathering system and associated field compression.
US plastic resin production, sales down from 2011
US production of major plastic resins totaled 6.1 billion pounds during April 2012, a decrease of 3.2% compared to the same month in 2011, according to new statistics released by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) trade group. Sales and captive use were down 8.8% from April 2011.
Gevo starts up commercial bio-based isobutanol plant in Minnesota
Next-generation biofuels company Gevo has successfully started up what it says is the world’s first commercial bio-based isobutanol production plant, located in Luverne, Minnesota. Gevo said it expects to reach full-capacity run rates by year-end 2013 after a run rate of 1 million gal/ month by late 2012.
EPA could double fraudulent US biofuel claims
Republicans say they have evidence the EPA may double the number of US biodiesel credits it has deemed fraudulent, raising the specter of more financial penalties for refiners.
Eastman Chemical wins EU approval for Solutia buy
The European Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of Solutia by Eastman Chemical, the competition watchdog group said. The merger is not expected to result in any substantial change in the markets concerned since Solutia is not a customer of Eastman in the EEA.
Memorial Day holiday travel projected higher in US, may raise gasoline demand
The American Automobile Association (AAA) group projects 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, an increase of 1.2% from a year ago. The survey found 53% said recent increases in gasoline prices would not impact their plans.
Total Safety wins top contractor safety award from Houston business group
Global safety services company Total Safety was honored this month by the Houston Business Roundtable with a “Best in Category” safety award from a field that included 134 companies. Total Safety won in the “Technical Support - Large” category and was nominated by several customers.
Husky union workers call for strike at Ohio refinery
Union workers have called a strike at the Husky Energy refinery in Lima, Ohio, leaving the refiner's management to run the 150,000 bpd plant, the USW union said Friday.
- Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan announce open season extension for Western Gateway refined products pipeline 3/25
- Econotherm awarded contract for heat pipe heat exchanger in a Thai refinery 3/25
- Tecnimont awarded $50-MM rehab study contract for Guaracara refinery upgrade project 3/25
- Japanese refiners raise runs as stockpile release begins 3/25
- HyOrc signs binding agreement for European waste-to-methanol project 3/25
- Vietnam's Nghi Son refinery has crude oil for uninterrupted operations until end of May 3/25
