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Americas

Sunoco seeks shipper commitments for upcoming Marcellus Shale ethane pipeline

Sunoco Logistics is set to begin an open season for shipper commitments on its Mariner West project to deliver ethane from the Marcellus Shale region in the US.

US petroleum demand increased in June - API data

Total US petroleum deliveries in June were up on both a year-on-year and month-on-month basis, according to information released Friday from the American Petroleum Institute (API). Moreover, deliveries were up 1.9% for the first six months of 2011 over the same period in 2010.

Olin breaks ground on chlor-alkali expansion at Tennessee plant

Olin broke ground Friday on an expansion of its chlor-alkali plant in Charleston, Tenn., which includes a new state-of-the-art membrane cell manufacturing facility. Olin is investing $160 million in the new facility, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.

CB&I wins $500mn LNG tank deal in Asia Pacific

CB&I has been awarded a contract in excess of $500 million for the engineering, fabrication and construction of two 160,000 cubic meter LNG storage tanks, as well as additional work for a confidential LNG liquefaction project in the Asia Pacific region.

US shale wave weakens petroleum market share for Russia, Iran, Venezuela - study

Rising US natural gas production from shale formations has already played a critical role in weakening Russia’s ability to wield an "energy weapon" over its European customers, and this trend will accelerate in the coming decades, according to a new study from Rice University’s Baker Institute.

Safety progress in Gulf of Mexico drilling should lead to more US permits - API

The US oil and natural gas industry has significantly improved offshore safety, according to Erik Milito, group director of upstream and industry operations at the American Petroleum Institute (API), in testimony delivered this week to the US Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard.

Nalco merges with cleaning chemicals firm Ecolab in $5.4 billion deal

US water-treatment chemicals company Nalco has agreed to merge with cleaning chemicals firm Ecolab in a deal valued at $5.4 billion. The stock portion of the purchase price is expected to be tax-free to Nalco shareholders.

Dow executive sees natural gas as ‘game changer’ for US manufacturing

George Biltz, Dow Chemical’s vice president of energy and climate change, testified before a US Senate committee about the future of natural gas and the opportunity for a US manufacturing renaissance fueled by competitively-priced natural gas.

China's CNOOC to buy Canadian oil sands firm Opti

Chinese oil giant CNOOC has agreed to acquire Canadian oil sands producer Opti Canada for about $2.1 billion. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Dow Chemical, Mitsui form biopolymers JV in Brazil

US-based Dow Chemical and Japan-based Mitsui & Co. have formed a new joint venture aimed at providing sustainable product solutions to the global high-performance flexible packaging, hygiene and medical markets. This represents the world’s largest biopolymers play and is Dow’s largest investment in Brazil, a country in which Dow has operated successfully for more than 50 years, officials said.