Americas
INEOS taps KBR to build Texas ethylene furnace
The furnace design will add 465 million lb/year of furnace production capacity to the Chocolate Bayou olefins site in Alvin.
Chevron sees downstream margins up in refining, down in marketing
US energy major Chevron says its downstream earnings in the first quarter are expected to be higher, reflecting improved refining and chemicals margins, lower operating expenses, and gains on asset sales. International refinery crude-input volumes were up slightly compared to the fourth quarter.
Williams picks CB&I for engineering on Louisiana petrochemical expansion
CB&I was awarded a $300 million contract by Williams for a petrochemicals expansion project in Geismar, Louisiana. Plant capacity is expected to be increased from 1.35 to 1.95 billion lb/year. Ethylene, mainly produced via steam cracking, is the world’s largest volume hydrocarbon.
Oneok plans US crude pipeline from Bakken Shale to Cushing storage hub
ONEOK Partners plans to invest $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion between now and 2015 to build a 1,300-mile crude oil pipeline with the capacity to transport 200,000 bpd. Construction is expected to begin in late 2013 or early 2014 and be completed by early 2015, the company said.
BG Group to invest $2bn on R&D in Brazil oil sector
BG Group plans to invest more than $2 billion on research and development in Brazil's oil industry in a bid to become the country's biggest foreign producer by 2020, the Financial Times newspaper reported. The R&D budget of more than $2 billion would be spent by 2025, an official said.
Phillips 66 to focus on chemical, pipeline units, less on fuels - CEO
The ConocoPhillips downstream spinoff will focus on growing its chemical and midstream segments at the expense of refining due to the weak outlook for fuel demand.
Marathon agrees to limit refinery pollution in US Clean Air Act settlement
The US DoJ and EPA said Marathon Petroleum agreed to reduce air pollution from all six of the company's petroleum refineries as part of a settlement over alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. Marathon, headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, will also pay a civil penalty of $460,000. It had no immediate comment.
Huntsman to expand Texas ethylene oxide plant
The expansion will leverage Huntsman's integrated EO derivatives production to produce surfactants, ethanolamines, specialty chemicals and ethylene glycol (EG).
Shell considering gas-to-diesel plant in Louisiana
Royal Dutch Shell is considering building a giant plant in Louisiana that would convert natural gas into diesel fuel, several people familiar with the company's plans said. The Anglo-Dutch company is expected to take up to two years to develop detailed engineering plans to determine if the plant is economically viable.
US trade groups slam EPA for E15 ethanol blend, citing risk to consumers
The API and AFPM trade groups are critical of the US EPA's recent decision to approve higher levels of ethanol in gasoline (E15) before testing is complete, alleging that it could put consumers at risk. Earlier this week, the EPA approved the first applications to make E15, a 50% increase from the E10 blend.
- 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
