Americas
Toyo lands engineering design deal for Canada oil sands refinery project
Toyo has been awarded a contract by North West Redwater (NWR) to provide EDS (engineering design specification) work for a heavy oil upgrading and refining complex in Sturgeon County, Alberta. This complex will process bitumen extracted from oil sands producing naphtha, diesel oil and other petroleum products.
PPG launches plan to secure additional TiO2 supply
US-based paints and coatings major PPG Industries said Tuesday it has undertaken a strategic initiative with multiple global suppliers to secure and enhance its supply of titanium dioxide (TiO2), as well as add to the global supply of the raw material. TiO2 prices have soared in recent years amid dwindling supply.
Shell looking at gas-to-liquids projects in US
Royal Dutch Shell is in the early stages of planning projects to turn natural gas into fuels like diesel in the US, of similar scale to its huge project in Qatar. Shell is only interested in large-scale projects similar to the $18 billion Pearl gas-to-liquids plant it has developed in Qatar, the company said.
Sunoco idles key processing units at Pennsylvania refinery, cites weak market
US refiner Sunoco is indefinitely idling the main processing units at its refinery in Marcus Hook, Penn., citing deteriorating refining market conditions. The company said it also intends to increase the capacity utilization rate of its Philadelphia refinery and will continue to operate the refinery as long as market conditions warrant.
Shale gas gives rise to era of energy independence
A boom in shale gas output has lifted US gas supplies to record levels, creating an environment to sustain low prices and offering a new era in energy independence.
NPRA praises US transition to net fuels exporter
A new report that says growing US exports of petroleum fuels may enable the country to become a net exporter of refined petroleum products this year for the first time since 1949 is good news for the US, according to National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) president Charles T. Drevna.
Toyo lands project management deal for Venezuela refinery upgrading work
Toyo Engineering, in consortium with a Venezuelan engineering firm Y&V Ingeniería y Construcción, has been awarded a project management consultant contract for a heavy oil upgrading project of Venezuelan national petroleum company PDVSA at its Puerto La Cruz refinery in the State of Anzoátegui. The project aims to satisfy the energy demands of the domestic market in Venezuela and overseas exports.
BP to sell Canada natural gas liquids unit to Plains
BP has agreed to sell its Canadian natural gas liquids (NGL) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) business to the midstream subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline for $1.67 billion in cash. Assets include NGL extraction plants; pipeline gathering systems; fractionation plants; and storage and specification product distribution facilities.
ConocoPhillips finishes Illinois refinery expansion
ConocoPhillips said the expansion project at its joint-venture Wood River refinery in Roxana, Illinois, has been completed following the successful start of a new coker unit. The Wood River Refinery is jointly owned by ConocoPhillips and Cenovus Energy and is operated by ConocoPhillips.
Sasol to launch feasibility study on possible ethane cracker in Louisiana
The board of directors for Sasol has approved a feasibility study on a possible ethane cracker and ethylene derivatives complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the company said on Tuesday. Capacity would be between 1 million and 1.4 million tpy of ethylene.
- 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

