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Refining

CB&I to design, engineer sulfuric acid alkylation unit in China

CB&I subsidiary Lummus Technology has been awarded a contract by Ningbo Haiyue New Material Co. for the license and engineering design of a grassroots sulfuric acid alkylation unit to be built near Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, China.

US September oil demand up 2.5% from 2010 - API

At 19.9 million bpd, total US petroleum deliveries (a measure of demand) rose 2.5% in September compared with September a year ago, according to figures released on Friday from the American Petroleum Institute (API). While motor gasoline demand was up only slightly by 0.3%, distillate demand reached a record for the month, the trade group said.

Hydrocarbon Processing forecasts 2012 global HPI spending to rise to $222 billion

Spending for the hydrocarbon processing industry is expected to exceed $222 billion next year, up 1.1% over 2011 spending, according to information released on Friday at Hydrocarbon Processing magazine's 38th annual HPI Forecast and Breakfast.

Pacific Ethanol to provide operations, maintenance support for ZeaChem US biorefinery

US-based renewable fuels company Pacific Ethanol has agreed to provide operations, maintenance and accounting services for ZeaChem's 250,000 gal/year cellulosic integrated biorefinery in Boardman, Oregon.

LANXESS, BioAmber to partner on bioplasticizers

European specialty chemicals producer LANXESS and sustainable chemicals firm BioAmber have partnered to develop succinic acid-based plasticizers that are both renewable and phthalate-free, the companies announced on Thursday.

US oil drilling increased 16% in third quarter - API

US oil well drilling activity continued to increase in the third quarter of 2011, according to the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) quarterly well completion report for the 2011 third quarter. The report estimates that 6,379 oil wells were completed in third quarter 2011, a 16% increase from year-ago levels.

Petroplus mulls base oil closure at France refinery

Petroplus says it intends to suspend next year’s planned turnaround of the base oil complex at the Petit Couronne refinery in France, and is considering a reconfiguration of the refinery which would include a shutdown of the base oil complex.

IEA secures energy alliances with India, Russia

Officials with India and Russia each signed deals this week with the International Energy Agency (IEA), pledging to strengthen bilateral co-operation in areas such as oil and gas security, energy efficiency and renewables, and overall dialogue.

Fluor wins offshore engineering, design deal in UAE

Fluor was awarded a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract by Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Co. (ADMA-OPCO) for new offshore facilities located at the Nasr Field about 30 kilometers northeast of Umm Shaif Super Complex in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Enterprise seeks shippers for proposed Texas NGL pipeline expansion

Enterprise Products has started the open season for Skelly-Belvieu Pipeline Co., a joint venture partially owned and operated by an Enterprise affiliate, in which it is seeking shipper support for a proposed expansion of the 570-mile Skelly-Belvieu natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline.