Environment & Safety
Update on valves used in hydrogen service
Recommended practices can better scrutinize performance issues such as design, packing and metallurgy to mitigate failures.
EPA amends US clean air rules for refinery flares
The US Environmental Protection Agency changed its air-pollution standards for certain pieces of refinery equipment, saying the changes will save oil refiners $80 million a year and provide greater compliance flexibility. The EPA had received petitions from outside groups to review the requirements.
Shale boom at risk over environment concerns
The IEA report shows how the shale gas industry, which has dramatically altered the US energy landscape, stands at a tipping point to determine how it spreads worldwide.
EPA could double fraudulent US biofuel claims
Republicans say they have evidence the EPA may double the number of US biodiesel credits it has deemed fraudulent, raising the specter of more financial penalties for refiners.
Total Safety wins top contractor safety award from Houston business group
Global safety services company Total Safety was honored this month by the Houston Business Roundtable with a “Best in Category” safety award from a field that included 134 companies. Total Safety won in the “Technical Support - Large” category and was nominated by several customers.
UOP opens gas processing membrane production center in Malaysia
UOP has opened a manufacturing and operations center in Penang, Malaysia, to produce natural gas membrane elements to support the growing natural gas market. Removing impurities is necessary before the gas can be used as fuel, as a source for petrochemicals or distributed by pipeline.
UK investor warns shale gas industry on emissions
One of Europe's largest institutional investors warned the shale gas industry to do more to prevent the release of the potent greenhouse gas methane during drilling, which is undermining its basis as a cleaner alternative to coal. Comments were directed primarily at drilling operations in the US.
BP to pay $400mn for pollution controls in Whiting refinery settlement with US
BP has agreed to pay an $8 million penalty and invest more than $400 million to install pollution controls and cut emissions from its petroleum refinery in Whiting, Indiana, according to the US EPA. The Whiting refinery has an operating capacity of 405,000 bpd, making it the 6th-largest in the US.
Lightning sparks fire at Pennsylvania coatings plant of Dow Chemical
Dow Chemical said an early Wednesday lightning strike hit two storage tanks holding ethyl acetate and butyl acetate at its Bristol coatings plant near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The fire broke out at 3:35 a.m. local time. Employees at the site were evacuated and none were injured, Dow said.
Shell reports fire, unplanned unit outage at Motiva refinery in Port Arthur
Shell Oil said a unit was shut unplanned over the weekend at its joint venture Motiva refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, after a relatively brief fire at an associated heater. The Motiva refinery is a joint venture with Saudi Refining. The total throughput capacity is rated at 310,000 bpd.
- KBR to provide technology for mega-scale ammonia plant in Angola 11/25
- Indian refiners' October crude processing up over 3% y/y 11/25
- Air Liquide strengthens partnership with TotalEnergies through renewable H2 project in France 11/25
- Hexagon collaborates with Microsoft to enhance industrial operations 11/25
- China issues extra crude oil import quota to teapot refineries 11/25
- McDermott achieves ISO 50001 Certification for energy management at four fabrication yards 11/25
