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Environment & Safety

Valero worker dies in chemical exposure incident at Memphis refinery

The accident occurred when an equipment failure released a hazardous chemical inside the refinery, leading to chemical burns when a small glass window shattered in an alkylation unit. Local fire department officials said the workers were exposed to a mixture of propane and hydrofluoric acid.

HP Editorial Comment: The last word

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Romanow, Stephany

Throughout this year, Hydrocarbon Processing (HP) has investigated the last 90 years of the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) through its monthly editorial, Insight. The HPI has a rich history; th..

HP Impact: Production of biofuels made from algae poses sustainability concerns

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

Scaling up the production of biofuels made from algae to meet at least 5% (approximately 39 billion liters) of US transportation fuel needs would place unsustainable demands on energy, water and nutri..

HP Impact: US energy independence vs. energy security

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

The Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions recently released a report, “Energy independence and security: A reality check,” which examines whether or not energy independence is necessary to ac..

HP Impact: Scottish distillers jump on natural gas bandwagon

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

The excitement about natural gas as a useful industrial tool has spread to the Scottish countryside. A collection of whisky distillers in the Speyside area of Scotland plans to invest £7.6 MM to ..

HP Associations: Gastech examines natural gas potential for all sectors

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

For four days in October, Hydrocarbon Processing was on call at the Gastech Conference and Exhibition in London. The magazine’s editorial staff was selected to produce the official show daily new..

US auto group issues new E15 gasoline warning

Though the ethanol industry fought for approval to roll out E15, carmakers and blenders continue to resist the move, citing concerns about its impact on vehicles and equipment. AAA warned its 53 million motorist members that most vehicles aren't approved by manufacturers to run on E15.

Chevron replaces pipes at other US refineries after Richmond fire incident

Investigations of the Richmond accident have so far focused on corroded pipes found in the crude-distillation unit, where the fire started, that hadn't been flagged as dangerous in an earlier unit inspection. "We changed out pipe in some other locations," Mr. Watson told reporters on Thursday.

BP suspended from new US government contracts

The move has an immediate impact on BP. The suspension will prevent the company from buying new oil-drilling leases or other government contracts until the company can provide sufficient evidence that it meets federal business standards, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday.

Norway orders BP to implement safety measures

Norway's PSA said that fire protection for the main substructure and process equipment on the Ula P processing platform were inadequate and passive fire protection needed to be installed. Such protection would slow a fire from spreading and protect the steel structure of the platform from deformation.