Environment & Safety
Western Refining settles N.M. emissions violations
The settlement stems from excess sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants emitted by Western's refinery in Gallup, New Mexico, between July 2009 and March 2012. Western also agreed to upgrade equipment at the 20,800 bpd refinery to lower emission levels.
BP to pay $13mn to settle most Texas City refinery safety violations
The settlement comes after BP resolved all but 30 of the violations the government cited, many stemming from OSHA's contention that BP did not provide enough safety system instructions to workers. OSHA said the additional violations will be settled or sent to litigation by the end of the year.
Statoil shuts Norway LNG plant after water leak
Statoil said production at the plant - the world's most northern and Europe's first LNG export facility - was halted after water leaked into gas dryers, with water ingression causing ice formation in the cooling circuit.
EPA to make 'necessary' US biofuel credit changes
The comments from EPA officials, made in prepared testimony for a House hearing, were the agency's first public commitment to make changes to the program. Oil refiners, which are required to buy the credits, have faced millions in fines and added costs as a result of buying phony credits.
ADT North America unit changes name to Tyco Integrated Security
Tyco International said Thursday that its ADT North America Commercial Security business unit will officially go by its new name, Tyco Integrated Security, effective immediately. The name change reflects the company’s exclusive focus and commitment to providing security solutions.
EPA excludes smaller US plants from new GHG rule
Fresh off a legal victory upholding its rules on greenhouse gas emissions, the Obama administration has decided to go easy on "smaller" facilities that emit carbon dioxide, methane and other pollutants. This protects thousands of facilities from having to undertake measures to cut emissions.
Grace signs catalyst deal with Braskem for 'green' chemicals production
WR Grace signed a multi-year deal with Braskem to develop process technologies and catalyst solutions to produce green chemicals. The technology being developed is based on carbon sources from renewable agricultural processes that contribute to lower carbon emissions than traditional feedstocks.
Union Carbide not liable in Bhopal gas leak cleanup, says US court
The judge said that "it is beyond dispute that Union Carbide India" - and not the US-based parent - "generated and disposed of the waste which allegedly polluted plaintiffs' drinking water." The court added that since Union Carbide sold its stake in the India unit, it's not liable for the clean-up.
A portrait of process safety: From its start to present day
The driving force for process safety has been primarily based on catastrophic events.
Largest hydrocracker in China
Refiners are leveraging hydrocracking to respond to momentum in global dieselization, with crude prices forcing refiners to process distressed crudes and difficult feedstock.
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