Americas
US Department of Energy offering up to $30 million for research into next gen biofuels
The US Department of Energy is now accepting applications for up to $30 million in total funding for small-scale process integration projects that support the development of advanced biofuels that will be able to replace gasoline or diesel without requiring special upgrades or changes to the vehicle or fueling infrastructure.
US biodiesel tax break extended through 2011
The legislation, which reflects the framework of the tax agreement reached by President Obama and Congress, retroactively extends the biodiesel tax incentive through 2011. The bill has just been signed into law by President Obama.
HIMA's safety system passes Shell's assessment test
Shell recently performed comprehensive assessment tests of the HIMax safety system from HIMA Paul Hildebrandt GmbH + Co KG. With successful completion of the tests, HIMax can be used worldwide in the oil company's future projects, without additional evaluations.
NTSB updates investigation into fatal pipeline rupture
This is an update on the continuing investigation of the natural gas pipeline rupture and explosion that killed eight people in San Bruno, Calif., on September 9, 2010.
Colfax develops bearing and lubrication cartridge for refinery cooling fans
Colfax’s Lubrication Systems Co.(LSC) business has developed a MistLock bearing and lubrication cartridge for air-cooled heat exchangers (ACHEs) used in refineries, power plants and petrochemical plants. ACHEs use fast-rotating fans to remove heat from process fluids and transfer it to the surrounding air.
ISA publishes second edition of Alarm Management: A Comprehensive Guide
The International Society of Automation (ISA) announces the publication of Alarm Management: A Comprehensive Guide, Second Edition, by Bill Hollifield and Eddie Habibi.
Foster Wheeler FEED-ing two Brazilian refineries
Foster Wheeler AG’s Global Engineering and Construction Group has been awarded a basic engineering design and front-end engineering design (FEED) contract from Petrobras for two grassroots refineries in Brazil.
NPRA says court decision on GHGs bad for consumers
Charles Drevna, president of NPRA, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, issued the following statement regarding the decision by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on the motion by NPRA and several other trade associations to partially stay implementation of pending Environmental Protection Agency greenhouse gas regulations.
Flint Hills Resources facility in Illinois breaks safety record
Employees at the Flint Hills Resources chemical facility in Peru, Illinois, reached a safety milestone last month.
Chevron’s budget for next year is $26 billion
Chevron has announced a $26 billion capital and exploratory spending program for 2011. Included in the 2011 program are $2 billion of expenditures by affiliates, which do not require cash outlays by Chevron. Acquisition costs associated with the recently announced purchase of Atlas Energy are not included.

- Ergon to invest $400 MM to expand gasoline production at Vicksburg refinery (U.S.) 4/2
- DB Schenker to use Neste's renewable diesel to decarbonize logistics in Asia 4/2
- U.S. EPA's upcoming proposal on biofuel blending mandates to cover two years 4/2
- ExxonMobil to invest more than $100 MM in Baton Rouge upgrade to produce high-purity isopropyl alcohol 4/2
- Stockholm Exergi to begin building one of the world's largest carbon capture projects using CATACARB Enhanced HPC 4/2
- Quaker Houghton completes its acquisition of Dipsol Chemicals and announces its acquisition of Natech 4/2