Petrochemicals
CB&I, Clariant look to develop new polypropylene catalyst technologies
By leveraging the successful licensing and process design experience of Lummus Novolen and the strong catalyst R&D capabilities of Clariant, the two companies expect to further strengthen their joint position in polypropylene catalysts. Clariant and Lummus Novolen will jointly invest in the new line.
Sasol exits Iran with sale of polymers business
Sasol had been pressured by international advocacy groups to sell its stake in the Iran business. The Arya Sasol complex has a 1 million tpy ethane cracker, a 300,000 tpy low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plant and a 300,000 tpy medium-density/high-density polyethylene (MD/HDPE) unit.
LSB lets contract for new Arkansas ammonia plant
LSB Industries reached an agreement with SAIC Constructors to build a 375,000 tpy ammonia plant at an LSB site in El Dorado, Arkansas. The deal provides for SAIC to provide certain engineering services and to manage the construction of the ammonia plant and associated facilities.
Chevron Phillips Chemical wins permit to build new Texas ethane cracker
Pending final board approval to be sought later this year, the 1.5 million tpy ethane cracker would be built at CPChem's Cedar Bayou facility in Baytown, Texas, while the two new polyethylene facilities, each with an annual capacity of 500,000 tpy, would be built on a site near the company's Sweeny facility.
EIA: China set to top US as world’s biggest oil importer
China is set to the the largest world import of crude oil in October and will hold that ranking in 2014, forecasters at the federal Energy Information Administartion said Friday
Albemarle starts up new metallocene catalysts plant in South Korea
The plant will produce commercial quantities of single-site metallocene catalysts, including grades enhanced by Albemarle's proprietary ActivCat activation technology, as well as catalyst components such as methylaluminoxane (MAO). Investment details for the new facility were not disclosed.
Taiyo Oil picks UOP technology to improve flexibility at Japan petrochemical plant
The plant will install UOP's Tatoray process technology to boost yields of certain petrochemicals by more than 70%, along with adding flexibility to produce petrochemicals or gasoline as demand changes.
Enterprise chooses Foster Wheeler for engineering on Texas PDH project
Foster Wheeler was awarded an engineering, procurement and construction contract by Enterprise Products for a propane dehydrogenation unit (PDH) and associated power, utilities and infrastructure at Mont Belvieu, Texas. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Case history: Failure analysis of a syngas compressor
A first-stage impeller in a synthetic gas compressor failed after 20 years of service. The compressor is a six-stage centrifugal compressor driven by a steam turbine. This case history discusses the i..
HP Boxscore Construction Analysis: Outlook for major revamp projects—Part 2
Worldwide, refiners are investing billions in upgrading and modernizing projects. These efforts are focused on:Increasing flexibility to process heavier, sourer crudesImproving energy efficiencyMeetin..
- Azerbaijan's State Oil Company redirects supplies of jet fuel from STAR refinery to Turkish domestic market 5/8
- Hungry to sell, UAE slips hidden oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz 5/8
- Seven markets to track if peace breaks out in the Middle East 5/8
- Asia exports of refined fuels plunge amid Hormuz closure 5/8
- Libya's Zawiya oil refinery shut due to nearby clashes 5/8
- Meghna PVC partners with Jotun to manage corrosion maintenance 5/7

