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

Americas

Amyris partners with Kuraray for development of renewable polymers

Renewable products firm Amyris has signed a collaboration agreement with Kuraray to develop innovative polymers from Biofene, a renewable hydrocarbon building block made using Amyris technology. Under the agreement, Kuraray will use Biofene to replace petroleum-derived feedstock such as butadiene and isoprene in the production of specified classes of high-performing polymers.

PGI Energy JV chosen as subcontractor for Motiva refinery expansion in Texas

PGI Energy has formed a joint venture with SETX Instrumentation & Electrical as a subcontractor under general contractor Bechtel-Jacobs and refiner Motiva for the construction of the 660,000 bpd refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. The expansion work will make the Port Arthur refinery the largest in the US.

Tropical Storm Don shuts in 12% of Gulf oil output

Nearly 12% of offshore Gulf of Mexico oil production has been shut in as Tropical Storm Don churns toward the Texas coast, with an expected landfall late Friday near Corpus Christi. In total, 166,554 bpd in oil production has been shut in, or 11.9% of overall Gulf output, according to the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE).

Dow reaches $2.5mn settlement with US agencies over Michigan pollution claims

The Midland, Mich. operations of Dow Chemical have reached a proposed comprehensive settlement agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), the company said on Friday. The agreement encompasses air, water, and waste issues identified during an inspection that was conducted over a 20-month period between August 2005 and March 2007.

Sulzer closes deal for Sweden pump supplier Cardo Flow Solutions

Equipment manufacturing firm Sulzer on Friday completed its previously-announced acquisition of Sweden-based pump supplier Cardo Flow Solutions. For a total cash consideration of SEK 5.9 billion (CHF 852 million), Sulzer acquired one of the leading suppliers of pumps and related equipment in the attractive wastewater market, it said.

Gulf oil, natural gas platforms shut in production as Tropical Storm Don targets Texas

Several oil and natural gas producers in the Gulf of Mexico began shutting in production and evacuating platforms on Thursday as Tropical Storm Don moves toward the lower Texas coast. Overall, the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 29% of US oil production and 13% of natural gas, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

US groups API, NPRA praise House passage of bill seeking Keystone XL Pipeline decision

The American Petroleum Institute (API) and National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) each issued statements of support after the US House of Representatives passed the North American-Made Energy Act, which seeks to speed up the permitting process for the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline.

FMC forms agrochem distribution JV in Argentina

The agricultural products group of chemicals firm FMC Corp. has entered into a joint venture to form a new Argentine agrochemical distribution company named Ruralco Soluciones SA. FMC's partners in Ruralco are well-established agrochemical dealers previously associated with Argentine distributor Agropecuaria del Litoral, it said.

Chevron, Apache sign LNG sales pact with Tokyo Electric Power Co.

Chevron, Apache Energy and Kufpec have signed binding sales and purchase agreements (SPAs) with Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Chevron-operated Wheatstone natural gas project in Australia.

Braskem to buy global polypropylene business of Dow Chemical for $340mn

US-based Dow Chemical has agreed to sell its polypropylene (PP) business for $340 million to Braskem, a move which makes Braskem the top polypropylene producer in North America. The assets involved in the deal include two manufacturing plants in the US and two in Germany, with a total annual polypropylene production capacity of 2.3 billion pounds.