Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Americas

Methanex to relocate Chile methanol plant to US

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

The company picked Jacobs for engineering services on the project, which it hopes to start up at the new site in 2014.

Canada JV plans cellulosic ethanol plant in Québec

A waste-to-biofuels joint venture between Enerkem and GreenField Ethanol plans to build a commercial-scale plant in Varennes, Québec, using Enerkem's proprietary technology to convert non-recyclable municipal solid waste into biofuels. Officials did not disclose a start-up date for the project.

EIA raises most US price forecasts for crude, petroleum products

The US government on Tuesday raised its predicted prices for most crude oil and petroleum products in the latest edition of its monthly energy forecast. With crude prices serving as the fuel feedstock for petroleum products, forecasts for gasoline and diesel were also up as well.

Global automation groups form single solution for device integration

The five major automation foundations have developed a single common solution for field device integration (FDI). FDI Cooperation’s mandate is to develop a single technology for the management of information that comes from all intelligent devices throughout all areas of the plant.

BP upgrades dividend as Gulf oil spill trial looms

BP raised its dividend on the strength of improved earnings, but reiterated that it would only settle upcoming litigation related to the 2010 Gulf oil spill if certain minimum conditions are met. CEO Bob Dudley said the company's "bias has always been towards settlement, but only at a fair and reasonable price."

Magellan Midstream CEO: El Paso-Houston pipeline not fully committed

Magellan Midstream plans to begin by 2013 its project to ship oil from increasingly productive south Texas fields to the refining belt along the US Gulf Coast despite lacking enough shipper interest to fill the line. Last year's WTI-Brent crude price disparity helped spark multiple projects to bring Cushing crude to the Gulf.

US chem council unveils energy advocacy campaign

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) launched a new energy advocacy and awareness campaign, From Chemistry to Energy. Americans agree that a national energy strategy is needed, the ACC said.

US shale boom drives oilfield chem demand - study

The oilfield specialty chemicals market grew to nearly $16 billion in 2010, driven in large part by the rapid expansion of shale oil and gas drilling and production in North America, according to a new study. World demand for these chemicals is expected to grow at an average rate of 3.5% during the next five years.

Rockwood to build $140mn lithium plant in Chile

Rockwood will invest $140 million in a new lithium carbonate production plant in Chile. Under the new investment program, Rockwood will build a 20,000 tpy lithium carbonate plant at the sight at LeNegra, near the port of Antofagasta in northern Chile, the company said.

Sunoco to swap CEOs amid transition to logistics

Sunoco’s Lynn Elsenhans will step down as CEO and be replaced by Brian MacDonald in March, as the US-based company continues its exit from the manufacturing industry and transition to a logistics and retail focus. MacDonald, 46, joined Sunoco in 2009 as senior vice president and chief financial officer.