Processing News

Das Island flare contracts awarded

Warren R. True — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:51:00 GMT

Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Co. (ADMA-OPCO) has awarded Technip, Paris, a lump-sum turnkey contract for engineering, procurement, construction, precommissioning, commissioning, and start-up assistance for flare modifications and revamp on Das Island.

Oklahoma gas plant starts up

OGJ editors — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:43:00 GMT

Caballo Energy LLC, Tulsa, has started up a 60-MMcfd gas processing plant near Carmen, Okla., in Alfalfa County, bringing Caballo’s total processing capacity in the region to about 100 MMcfd (OGJ Online, Sept. 18, 2012).

Total to add hydrocracker at Antwerp

OGJ editors — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:37:00 GMT

Total plans a €1 billion modernization of its Antwerp, Belgium, refining and petrochemical complex that will include new upgrading capacity at the 338,000-b/cd refinery.

BASF Total cracker revamped to run ethane

OGJ editors — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

BASF Total Petrochemicals LLC (BTP) has completed a revamp of its steam cracker in Port Arthur, Tex., enabling the 1-million-tonne/year facility to process ethane, supply of which is increasing from US shale plays.

Kansas refinery to pay air-quality penalty

OGJ editors — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:46:00 GMT

Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing has agreed to pay a $300,000 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of federal air-quality requirements at its 115,000-b/d refinery at Coffeyville, Kan.

EPA proposes Tier 3 vehicle emission, gasoline sulfur limits

Nick Snow — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:36:00 GMT

The US Environmental Protection Agency proposed standards to reduce vehicle emissions and sulfur content in gasoline beginning in 2017. Comments on the so-called Tier 3 requirements will be accepted until June 13, EPA said on May 21.

ACC details US chemical rebound from abundant, affordable gas

Nick Snow — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:24:00 GMT

Abundant, affordable US natural gas supplies resulted in 97 announced chemical and plastics projects totaling $71.7 billion in potential new investment, the American Chemical Council said in a recent report.

IOC develops biodiesel coprocessing method

OGJ editors — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:38:00 GMT

State-owned Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. (IOC) has developed and commercialized a technology for coprocessing nonedible vegetable oil in a refinery diesel hydrotreating unit to make biodiesel.

OGJ Newsletter

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

International news for oil and gas professionals

NEB sees 'holding pattern' in Canadian gas deliverability

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Deliverability of natural gas in Canada is in what the National Energy Board calls a "holding pattern" because low prices have suppressed gas drilling.

Corker-Manchin bill aims to correct unintended RFS subsidy

Nick Snow — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:20:00 GMT

US Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) introduced legislation on May 16 aimed at correcting what they said was unintentional subsidization of foreign ethanol imports under the federal Renewable Fuels Standard.

FTC okays Tesoro purchase of BP refinery

OGJ editors — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:58:00 GMT

The US Federal Trade Commission has approved acquisition by Tesoro Corp. of BP PLC’s refining and marketing business in southern California.

Contract let in PDVSA refinery upgrade

OGJ editors — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:34:00 GMT

The prime contractor for an upgrade of the 180,000-b/d Petroleos de Venezuela SA refinery at Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, has let a contract for construction of key modularized units to Wison Offshore & Marine Ltd. (OGJ Online, July 29, 2011).

OGJ Newsletter

Mon, 13 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

International news for oil and gas professionals

BP starts Cherry Point diesel hydrotreater

OGJ editors — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:17:00 GMT

BP PLC has commissioned a diesel hydrotreater and hydrogen plant at its 234,000-b/d Cherry Point refinery at Blaine, Washington.

Crosstex to invest in Utica shale compression, condensate stabilization

OGJ editors — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:26:00 GMT

Dallas-based Crosstex Energy companies Crosstex Energy LP and Crosstex Energy Inc. have announced that Crosstex Energy Inc. will invest about $25 million in a third natural gas compression and condensate stabilization plant in the Ohio River Valley.

API to EPA: Tier 3 so controversial it requires rulemaking process

Nick Snow — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:55:00 GMT

The American Petroleum Institute urged the US Environmental Protection Agency to use a full Clean Air Act rulemaking process for its proposed Tier 3 rule instead of a rushed review process API says the agency is contemplating.

Gazpromneft to upgrade Moscow refinery

OGJ editors — Tue, 07 May 2013 22:16:00 GMT

Gazpromneft has let a front-end engineering and design contract to a Foster Wheeler AG subsidiary for an upgrade of its Moscow refinery.

OMV boosts butadiene output at refineries

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:28:00 GMT

OMV is investing €230 million to add a butadiene plant at its 73,000-b/d refinery at Berghausen, Germany, and to upgrade a butadiene plant at its 193,000-b/d refinery at Schwechat, Austria.

Survey shows increase in refining construction

Leena Koottungal — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Oil and Gas Journal's semiannual Worldwide Construction Update shows an increase in refining construction activity compared with the previous edition of the update (OGJ, Nov.5, 2012, p. 48).

FOCUS: UNCONVENTIONAL OIL & GAS: Much of industry awaits more details on new shale coalition

Paula Dittrick — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Reactions varied widely following formation of the Center for Sustainable Shale Development, which was set up by a coalition of environmental groups, foundations, and some oil companies to strengthen operating standards for natural gas shale formations in Pennsylvania and across the Appalachian basin.

North American production boom pushes crude blending

Mon, 06 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Rapid growth of US and Canadian crude oil production in recent years is exceeding the capacity of pipeline infrastructure to deliver crudes to refiners, causing some crudes to become "stranded."

PROCESS SAFETY—1: Gas conditioning failures show need for design scrutiny

Mon, 06 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Review of certain oil and gas operations offers lessons on process safety to designers of gas conditioning.

KMEP expanding crude lateral to Sweeny refinery

Christopher E. Smith — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:01:00 GMT

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP is expanding its Sweeny Lateral pipeline running between the Kinder Morgan Crude Condensate (KMCC) pipeline and Phillips 66’s Sweeny refinery in Brazoria County, Tex.

Dow lets contract for Oyster Creek complex expansion, upgrade

Christopher E. Smith — Thu, 02 May 2013 18:39:00 GMT

Dow Chemical Co. let an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to Fluor Corp. for a propane dehydrogenation unit, an ethane cracker, and associated power, utilities, and infrastructure upgrades at its Oyster Creek complex in Freeport, Tex.

Tesoro halts Hawaii refinery crude runs

OGJ editors — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:37:00 GMT

Tesoro Corp. stopped running crude at its 93,700-b/cd Hawaii refinery on Apr. 30.

Enbridge to build East Texas cryo plant

OGJ editors — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:52:00 GMT

Enbridge Energy Partners LP, Houston, will build a 150-MMcfd cryogenic natural gas processing plant near Beckville in Panola County, Tex., the company has announced, estimating the cost of the project at $140 million.

MARCELLUS/UTICA briefs

Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

BAKKEN briefs

Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Rosneft, Mitsui sign petrochemical MOU

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:35:00 GMT

Rosneft and Mitsui & Co. have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly build a large petrochemical complex in far eastern Russia.

OGJ Newsletter

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

International news for oil and gas professionals

Midland plans skyscraper

Paula Dittrick — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Developers early this month unveiled plans to build what they call Energy Tower City Center in Midland. Initial plans call for offices, condominiums, a hotel, retail space, and a movie theater.

CSB draft report says neglect led to Chevron Richmond refinery fire

Nick Snow — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A failure to apply an inherently safer design, identify and evaluate damage mechanism hazards, and use effective safeguards led to an Aug. 6, 2012, pipe rupture and vapor release that ignited and shut down the No. 4 crude oil unit at Chevron USA Inc.'s Richmond, Calif., refinery, the US Chemical Safety Board said in a draft report.

Watching Government: Broader questions at Richmond

Nick Snow — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Broader questions emerged as the US Chemical Safety Board released its draft report on its investigation of an Aug. 6, 2012, incident at Chevron USA Inc.'s Richmond, Calif., refinery.

Keyera, Plains explore Deep basin Alberta NGL pipeline

Christopher E. Smith — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Keyera Corp. and Plains Midstream Canada ULC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline LP, are soliciting interest in construction of a jointly owned NGL system in northwest Alberta.

Satorp executive: Refinery 97% complete

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:32:00 GMT

Construction is 97% complete of the 400,000 b/d full-conversion Saudi Aramco Total Refinery & Petrochemicals Co. (Satorp) refinery at Jubail, Saudi Arabia (OGJ Online, Sept. 15, 2011).

Crosstex awards fractionator contracts for La. expansions

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:13:00 GMT

Crosstex Processing Services LLC, a unit of Crosstex Energy LP, Dallas, has awarded a contract to UOP LLC, Des Plaines, Ill., for technology and equipment to extract petrochemical feedstocks from NGLs derived from shale gas.

Report: Chevron El Segundo refinery pipe shows sulfidation

Nick Snow — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:04:00 GMT

Pipe samples from Chevron USA Inc.’s El Segundo, Calif., refinery show similar sulfidation corrosion to samples from the company’s Richmond, Calif., plant where a crude oil unit caught fire on Aug. 6, 2012, a report showed.

Australian gas, condensate treating plant nears completion

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:29:00 GMT

Empire Oil and Gas NL, Claremont, WA, is nearing completion on its Red Gully natural gas and condensate separation plant in Western Australia.

QP signs JV deal for condensate refinery

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:18:00 GMT

Qatar Petroleum has signed a joint venture agreement covering the expansion of its Laffan Refinery condensate spliter at Ras Laffan (OGJ Online, Aug. 19, 2011).

Chatham House report warns against expansion of UK biofuels

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

A London think tank study warned against expansion of biofuel use in the UK as the requirement rose to 5% by volume in transportation fuel on Apr. 15 and faced European pressure to increase further.

Exploration/Development Briefs

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Williams Partners, Shell form midstream JV

OGJ editors — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 02:43:00 GMT

Williams Partners LP, Tulsa, and Royal Dutch Shell PLC have joined to form Three Rivers Midstream, a company to provide gas gathering and gas processing for production in northwest Pennsylvania. The venture will invest in both wet-gas handling infrastructure and dry-gas infrastructure serving Marcellus and Utica shale wells.

Chatham House report warns against expansion of UK biofuels

OGJ editors — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:15:00 GMT

A London think tank study warned against expansion of biofuel use in the UK as the requirement rose to 5% by volume in transportation fuel on Apr. 15 and faced European pressure to increase further.

CSB draft report says neglect led to Chevron Richmond refinery fire

Nick Snow — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:19:00 GMT

A failure to apply an inherently safer design, identify and evaluate damage mechanism hazards, and use effective safeguards led to an Aug. 6, 2012, pipe rupture and vapor release that ignited and shut down the No. 4 crude oil unit at Chevron USA Inc.’s Richmond, Calif., refinery, the US Chemical Safety Board said in a draft report.

Rosneft to buy stake in Sardinian refiner

OGJ editors — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:35:00 GMT

A Rosneft subsidiary has agreed to buy a large minority stake in Saras SPA, which operates a 300,000 b/d, high-conversion refinery in Sarroch, on the southwestern coast of Sardinia.

Oneok completes Bakken, Mont Belvieu NGL projects

Christopher E. Smith — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Oneok Partners LP has completed three projects that are part of its previously announced growth program through 2015. These projects are as follows:

Pakistan to build refinery in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

OGJ editors — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:12:00 GMT

Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of the northwest province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to build a 40,000-b/d refinery on about 400 acres in Kohat district of K-P, the state-owned company reported.

AFPM petitions US Supreme Court to overturn E15 decision

Nick Snow — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:03:00 GMT

The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) asked the US Supreme Court to overturn the District of Columbia Circuit Appeals Court’s August 2012 decision to dismiss it and other oil industry associations’ legal challenges of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s partial approval of gasoline with a 15% ethanol blend.

Holly to build rail terminal near Navajo refining complex

Christopher E. Smith — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:54:00 GMT

HollyFrontier Corp. and Holly Energy Partners LP (HEP) are building a rail terminal near HollyFrontier's 100,000-b/d Navajo refining complex in Artesia and Lovington, NM.

Western Refining expands Delaware basin crude gathering

Christopher E. Smith — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:11:00 GMT

Western Refining Inc. has started its Mason Station crude oil terminal in Reeves County, Tex., the first phase of its Delaware Basin crude oil gathering system.

Yasref awards Yanbu refinery, petchem contract

Warren R. True — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:07:00 GMT

Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Co. Ltd. (Yasref) has awarded a 2-year engineering services to SNC-Lavilin Fayez Engineering for the refinery and petrochemical plant under construction at Yanbu on the Red Sea. The company is a Saudi Arabia-registered subsidiary of SNC-Lavilin, Montreal.

ONGC signs MOU for urea plant in Tripura

OGJ editors — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:34:00 GMT

Oil & Natural Gas Corp. of India has signed a memorandum of understanding to enter the urea fertilizer business in a move that would boost development of natural gas it has discovered over the past 2 decades in Tripura.

Eagle Ford prompts more South Texas fractionation

OGJ editors — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:18:00 GMT

TexStar Midstream Services LP, San Antonio, will install two fractionation units in Corpus Christi, Tex., adjacent LyondellBasell’s Equistar Chemicals LP olefins plant.

Bill due to remove corn ethanol from RFS

Nick Snow — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:57:00 GMT

Bipartisan legislation will be introduced to remove corn-based ethanol from the federal Renewable Fuels Standard in 2014, a group of US House members announced on Apr. 10.

Oneok completes Bakken, Mont Belvieu NGL projects

Christopher E. Smith — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Oneok Partners LP has completed three projects that are part of its previously announced growth program through 2015.

IHS: Prospects have dimmed for bitumen upgraders in Alberta

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Prospects for new bitumen upgraders in Alberta have soured since the global recession of 2008, notes a study published by IHS on the same day plans were reported cancelled for a large project near Fort McMurray (OGJ Online, Mar. 27, 2013).

Shell Australia looks to sell Geelong refinery

Rick Wilkinson — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:41:00 GMT

Shell Australia is looking for a buyer for its only refinery in southeastern Australia, the Geelong refinery, as part of Shell’s global strategy to concentrate investments on large-scale sites, such as the company’s Pulau Bukom refinery in Singapore.

Phillips 66 plans fractionator near Sweeny, Tex., refinery

OGJ editors — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:06:00 GMT

Phillips 66 plans to develop a 100,000-b/d NGL fractionator at Old Ocean, Tex., near the company’s Sweeny refinery, some 40 miles southwest of Houston. If all approvals are received on schedule, construction will begin in first-half 2014 with start-up by second-half 2015, the company said.

Sinopec, PetroSA in Mthombo refinery accord

OGJ editors — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:02:00 GMT

China Petrochemical Corp. (Sinopec) said it has reached a cooperation framework agreement with Petroleum Oil & Gas Corp. of South Africa (PetroSA) “which enabled the companies to move forward the world-scale Mthombo crude oil refinery project in Port Elizabeth’s Coega Industrial Development Zone.”

Repsol starts up Petronor delayed coker

OGJ editors — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:37:00 GMT

Repsol has started up a 40,000-b/d delayed coker at the Petronor refinery at Muskiz near Bilbao, Spain, in a project that expands crude capacity to 240,000 b/d from 220,000 b/d.

EPA proposes sulfur cut in move toward California gasoline

Bob Tippee — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:53:00 GMT

US refiners would need to lower the sulfur content of gasoline to levels in place in Europe and elsewhere under a Mar. 29 proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency aimed at aligning federal regulations with those in effect in California.

Equations estimate ASTM distillation loss in gasoline

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

In the ASTM D86 distillation test, pentanes minimize hydrocarbon loss by "holding back," or suppressing the volatility of, butanes.

Indexes for selected equipment show moderate increase

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Costs for six selected equipment items used in refining construction operations have been surveyed for 3 years, 2010-12. The accompanying table shows Nelson-Farrar equipment indexes for these items of equipment.

Clean Fuels Project will reshape the refining industry in Kuwait

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Kuwait's Clean Fuels Project (CFP) will reconfigure the country's three refineries and, in conjunction with grassroots construction planned at Al Zour, nearly double total refining capacity to 1.4 million b/d.

IHS: Prospects have dimmed for bitumen upgraders in Alberta

OGJ editors — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:45:00 GMT

Suncor cancels Voyageur upgrader, buys Total's stake

OGJ editors — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:56:00 GMT

Suncor Energy Inc., Calgary, has scrapped plans for the Voyageur upgrader project near Fort McMurray, Alta., and has acquired partner Total E&P Canada Ltd.’s interest for $515 million.

Egyptian derivatives plant to get wastewater treatment plant

OGJ editors — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:57:00 GMT

Egyptian Ethylene & Derivatives Co. (Ethydco), Cairo, has let a contract for water treatment at its petroleum derivatives plant in Alexandria to Aquatech, Canonsburg, Pa.

North Dakota diesel refinery work starts

OGJ editors — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:41:00 GMT

Construction has begun of the 20,000-b/d Dakota Prairie Refinery west of Dickinson, ND, which will yield mainly diesel from Bakken crude oil (OGJ Online, Feb. 7, 2013).

Sinopec Corp., parent form $3 billion joint venture

OGJ editors — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:50:00 GMT

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec Corp.) agreed to form a joint venture with parent company China Petrochemical Corp. (Sinopec Group) to be called Sinopec International Petroleum E&P Hongkong Overseas Ltd.

Fourth-quarter 2012 earnings decline after asset writedowns

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Favorable refining and petrochemical margins continued to bolster quarterly and yearend 2012 earnings of related operations for some oil and gas companies.

Gasoline prices likely to stay volatile, EPRINC report suggests

Nick Snow — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Existing federal regulations, many of which mandate specific fuels and restrict refining capacity additions, make continued US gasoline price volatility very likely, a Mar. 15 report from Energy Policy Research Foundation Inc. (EPRINC) suggested.

Wyden asks EPA for information about RIN price fluctuations

Nick Snow — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:53:00 GMT

US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ronald L. Wyden (D-Ore.) asked the Environmental Protection Agency for data to explain unprecedented volatility in the market for Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN). RINs are designed to help refiners meet alternative fuel volume requirements under the federal Renewable Fuels Standard.

House panel launches RFS review with ethanol 'blend wall' white paper

Nick Snow — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:48:00 GMT

The US House Energy and Commerce Committee launched a bipartisan review of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard with a white paper addressing the so-called “blend wall,” the point at which adding the required ethanol volumes to gasoline supplies would result in a blend above the currently allowable 10% ethanol limit.

API, senators separately urge EPA to address rising RIN prices

Nick Snow — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:09:00 GMT

The American Petroleum Institute and two Republican US senators separately asked the Environmental Protection Agency to address renewable identification number (RIN) costs, which have jumped by 1,400% since the beginning of 2012.

Gasoline prices likely to stay volatile, EPRINC report suggests

Nick Snow — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:30:00 GMT

USCG: LPG being flared from pipeline south of New Orleans

OGJ editors — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:03:00 GMT

Crude oil has been removed from a barge that was under tow when it collided Mar. 12 with a liquefied petroleum gas pipeline near Bayou Perot 30 miles south of New Orleans, the US Coast Guard said.

OGJ Newsletter

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

International news for oil and gas professionals

HPCL, Rajasthan sign MOU for refinery

OGJ editors — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:52:00 GMT

Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. and the government of the Indian state of Rajasthan have signed a memorandum of understanding envisioning a refinery and petrochemical complex at Barmer, near oil fields producing and under development by Cairn India Ltd.

PetroJunin JV starts up first Orinoco oil producing well

OGJ editors — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:42:00 GMT

The PetroJunin joint venture between Venezuela’s PDVSA and Eni SPA has started heavy oil production from the first well in Junin-5 giant heavy oil field in the Orinoco belt.

Sibur, TNK-BP extend gas processing venture

OGJ editors — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:53:00 GMT

Sibur and TNK-BP of Russia have extended gas-supply agreements and expanded the framework of cooperation within OOO Yugragazpererabotka, a gas-processing joint venture they formed in 2007.

Indian refinery due completion in November

OGJ editors — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:59:00 GMT

Completion of a 300,000-b/d, full-conversion refinery by Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. at Paradip, India, is expected in November, according to a government official (OGJ Online, Nov. 16, 2011).

EPP plans Gulf Coast ethane system

OGJ editors — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:34:00 GMT

Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPP) said shipper commitments support development of a 270-mile pipeline header system for delivery of ethane to US Gulf Coast petrochemical plants from the company’s storage complex at Mont Belvieu, Tex.

Dugas to expand Jebel Ali MTBE plant

OGJ editors — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:24:00 GMT

Dubai Natural Gas Co Ltd. (Dugas) has let a contract to Tebodin, The Hague, for detailed design of a 35% expansion of its methyl tertiary butyl ether plant at Jebel Ali.

BP-Husky Refining starts reformer in Ohio

OGJ editors — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:56:00 GMT

BP-Husky Refining LLC has started up a new 42,000-b/d naphtha reformer at its 160,000-b/d Toledo Refinery in Oregon, Ohio (OGJ Online, Jan. 20, 2010).

CHS to expand Kansas refinery 18% to 100,000 b/d

OGJ editors — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:19:00 GMT

CHS Inc., St. Paul, Minn., will boost refining capacity at the 85,000 b/d National Cooperative Refinery Association facility at McPherson, Kan., to 100,000 b/d by 2016 in a $327 million project.

Wyden seeks information from EIA on gasoline price increases

Nick Snow — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:04:00 GMT

US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ronald L. Wyden (D-Ore.) requested information from the US Energy Information Administration about rising US gasoline prices for a hearing he plans to hold on the situation.

Celanese, Pertamina advance ethanol pact

OGJ editors — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:55:00 GMT

Celanese Corp. and state-owned PT Pertamina (Persoro) of Indonesia have advanced an earlier agreement to build plants in the Asian country to make fuel ethanol from coal (OGJ Online, July 23, 2012).

IHS CERAWeek: Shale gas prompts ExxonMobil to invest in Baytown plant expansion

OGJ editors — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:30:00 GMT

Climbing unconventional gas and gas liquids production is leading to a chemical industry renaissance, stimulating new investment in the chemical business by ExxonMobil Corp. and other companies, said Stephen D. Pryor, president of ExxonMobil Chemical Co.

EPP begins expanded Houston LPG export operations

Christopher E. Smith — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:48:00 GMT

Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPP) has started operations at its expanded Houston Ship Channel LPG export terminal, increasing its ability to load fully refrigereated propane, butane, and isobutene onto ocean-going vessels.

Eagle Rock to gather, process Apache's Texas Panhandle gas

Christopher E. Smith — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:36:00 GMT

Eagle Rock Energy Partners LP entered into a new fee-based gas gathering, processing, and purchase agreement with Apache Corp. to support the Houston independent’s active drilling program in the Texas Panhandle portion of the Anadarko basin.

Rising gas supply aids New Zealand methanol outlook

OGJ editors — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:24:00 GMT

Greater availability of natural gas in New Zealand is behind the restart and expansion of methanol plants in New Zealand, said Methanex Corp., Vancouver, BC.

2012 ethylene production bounces back; turnarounds in early 2013 to curb output

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 06:00:00 GMT

With parts of European still struggling with sovereign debt problems and key members of the European Union reconsidering the benefits and disadvantages of further economic and political integration, the global economic outlook for US petrochemical producers in 2013 is a little brighter than 6 months ago (OGJ, Sept. 3, 2012, p. 90), due to continued growth in the use of ethane as the primary ethylene feedstock.

Democrat protests exclusion of EPA, DOE from House E15 hearing

Nick Snow — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:36:00 GMT

Representatives from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy should have been invited to testify at a hearing examining potential problems from EPA’s allowing gasoline with a 15% ethanol blend into the US market, the ranking minority member of a US House Science, Space, and Technology subcommittee suggested.

Hess union widens buyer search for New Jersey refinery

Nick Snow — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:05:00 GMT

The union representing employees at Hess Corp.’s 70,000 b/d Port Reading, NJ, refinery has expanded its search for a new owner. Hess announced Jan. 28 that it plans to close the plant at the end of February and complete its withdrawal from the refining business after losing money there in two of the last 3 years.

Study: Catalyst demand to reach $19.5 billion in 2016

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Global demand for petroleum refining, chemical synthesis, and polymerization catalysts will rise 5.8%/year to $19.5 billion in 2016, according to World Catalysts, a new study from the Freedonia Group Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.

Keystone XL withstands GHG scrutiny, executive says

Nick Snow — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Canadians are ready to defend the proposed Keystone XL crude oil pipeline project on a greenhouse gas reduction basis now that opponents have shifted their arguments to that arena, a TransCanada Corp. executive said.

API, others appeal E15 standing ruling to US Supreme Court

Nick Snow — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:10:00 GMT

The American Petroleum Institute and eight other trade associations asked the US Supreme Court to overturn a federal appeals court’s ruling that they lack standing to legally challenge the US Environmental Protection Agency’s introduction of gasoline with a 15% ethanol blend into the US market.

Lukoil adding hydrocracker at Volgograd

OGJ editors — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:41:00 GMT

Lukoil has let a contract to Tecnicas Reunidas of Spain covering a vacuum gas oil deep conversion complex at its 11 million tonne/year (tpy) Volgograd refinery in Russia.

Study: Catalyst demand to reach $19.5 billion in 2016

OGJ editors — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:19:00 GMT