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Petrochemicals

US safety board to probe Williams olefins blast

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

The CSB looks at all areas of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations and industry standards.

Foster Wheeler plans China substitute natural gas unit with Wison, Clariant

The pilot plant will demonstrate Foster Wheeler’s VESTA substitute natural gas (SNG) technology. Under the agreement, Wison Engineering will provide engineering and construction services, Foster Wheeler will license technology, and Clariant will supply the proprietary developed catalyst.

Explosion hits Williams Louisiana olefins plant

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

An explosion and subsequent fire rocked the Williams olefins plant in Geismar, Louisiana, leading to evacuations, two deaths and numerous injuries. Ambulances and helicopters transported those injured facility to local hospitals and about 300 workers were evacuated from the scene.

US petrochemical companies seek exports to Asia

Hydraulic fracturing and other drilling technologies are keeping prices for natural gas -- a key raw material for Dow Chemical and other chemical producers -- below $4/MMBtu. That's cheap enough that the US chemical industry can start taking market share from Middle Eastern producers.

Siemens to install wet air oxidation system in Qatar for ethylene expansion

The Zimpro wet air oxidation system from Siemens will be part of QAPCO’s facility in Mesaieed Industrial City. The new WAO system will provide QAPCO with more efficient wastewater treatment while eliminating noxious spent caustic sulfide odors. The facility should be operational in December 2013.

ExxonMobil to fund training program for Houston chemical industry jobs

The initiative will build on the success of the nationally-recognized ExxonMobil process technology program at Lee College and will benefit 50,000 students and educators over the next five years.

Wood Group Mustang to build Texas pipelines for Dow ethylene project

Wood Group Mustang has previously provided a full spectrum of services for Dow's pipeline assets, including support for the company's Texas pipeline integrity program. Following completion of front-end loading (FEL) in 2012, detailed design for the project began in February 2013.

Air Liquide to provide technology for new Chinese polyamide 6 plants

The contracts include the design of the plants, the delivery of proprietary equipment and the technical services for a total capacity of 360,000 tpy of PA6. The plants will feature the Zimmer technologies "full recovery" concept as well as the newest generation of proprietary reactors.

Valspar to buy Italian industrial coatings firm Inver

Inver Group is headquartered in Bologna, Italy, and generated sales in 2012 of approximately €160 million ($200 million). Founded in 1934, the European company specializes in liquid and powder coatings products as well as resins that are used in a variety of industrial applications .

CPChem to add ethylene furnace at Texas complex

Construction is targeted to commence within the next quarter, with an anticipated startup in 2014. While the additional furnace will not add to nameplate capacity, the increased operating factor should result in a net increase of 200 million pounds of ethylene availability to provide additional operational flexibility.