Petrochemicals
Methanex to expand output at New Zealand plants
Methanex secured a new natural gas supply agreement, thereby enabling the restart of the methanol plant at its Waitara Valley site by late in the third quarter. That will add 500,000 tpy of production. In addition, Methanex will add capacity at the Motunui site by increasing distillation for another 200,000 tpy.
KBR to supply equipment, license technology for Indonesia ammonia project
PT is developing a plant with ammonia capacity of 2,000 tpd. It will be built by Toyo Engineering and designed using KBR’s reforming exchanger system and Purifier technology. KBR says its proprietary technology and equipment has demonstrated higher reliability and efficiency than conventional designs.
Williams, Boardwalk to build US shale NGL pipeline
The project would deliver mixed NGLs from the Marcellus and Utica shale plays in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania to proposed new fractionation and storage facilities, which would have connectivity to petrochemical facilities and product pipelines along the coasts of Louisiana and Texas.
Sasol to use Univation PE process technology on Louisiana liquids project
The 450,000 tpy linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) swing polyethylene plant will be capable of producing a broad product portfolio, the company says, including metallocene LLDPE. Univation is a joint venture comprised of Dow Chemical and ExxonMobil.
Dow Chemical awarded $318 million from Kuwait over failed K-Dow venture
In December 2008, Dow said Kuwaiti officials informed it the Persian Gulf country was scrapping a deal under which the state-owned petroleum firm was to pay Dow Chemical $7.5 billion for a 50% stake in several chemical plants. Dow intended to use that money to help finance its purchase of Rohm & Haas.
US ethylene costs drop as downed plants restart
Ethylene price stability in recent weeks following the earlier, more dramatic price movements, suggests a more balanced supply/demand picture for the chemical. The 68-cent ethylene price seen in late January was the highest level since May 2012 and was the pinnacle of an uninterrupted price increase.
Process safety management: Going beyond functional safety
Operating companies are increasing efforts to reduce the risk of catastrophic events such as the release of toxic, reactive or explosive chemicals that can damage the environment or plant assets.
Optimize feed treatment for polypropylene process
To realize full activity from polymerization catalysts, feed streams need to be as clean as possible from all contaminants and catalyst poisons. A very low level of even a single catalyst poison can reduce catalyst activity drastically.
Louisiana group plans to build largest methanol plant in North America
The $1.3 billion facility will convert 163,000 million British thermal units of natural gas into 5,000 tpd of methanol. The new plant is "emblematic of the reindustrialization of the US based on low-cost energy feedstocks in the form of natural gas," said Simmons & Co. International analyst Bill Herbert.
Advanced Refining to sell hydrocracking catalysts for Chevron Lummus
Under the agreement, ART will be the worldwide provider for hydrocracking and lubes hydroprocessing catalysts. CLG will continue to focus on its world-class technology development, licensing, design, and revamp of hydrocracking, lubricant base oil, resid hydrotreating, and resid hydrocracking plants.
- Malaysia plans to produce sustainable jet fuel in 2027 11/27
- ADNOC launches $80-B low-carbon energy and chemicals investment company 11/27
- Chevron sees California's fuel inventory law raising prices for customers 11/27
- Clariant’s MegaMax™ catalysts to power China’s first biomass-to-green methanol project 11/27
- easyJet, Renavia and WFS sign MoU for long-term supply of SAF 11/27
- Cyclyx to invest in second Cyclyx Circularity Center 11/27
