Refining
HP Associations: HPI mulls technical innovations at IRPC in Milan, Italy
The third annual International Refining and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC) opened its doors in mid-June, bringing record crowds to Milan, Italy, as leading downstream players shared and debated new h..
HP Construction: North America
Air Liquide Large Industries U.S. LP has started up a new steam methane reformer (SMR) in La Porte, Texas, just east of Houston. The 120 million scfd of gaseous hydrogen produced by the SMR will feed ..
HP Construction: Asia Pacific
A groundbreaking ceremony has taken place for Evonik’s new hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plant in China. The plant is scheduled to go online, with a production capacity of 230,000 metric tpy, at the e..
HPI major events and trends, 1920s to present
1920s: THE FORMATION OF THE MODERN HPIDuring this period, a new industry was evolving focused on the refining of crude oil into fuels and other products. New demand for crude oil-based products, such ..
US imports of Saudi crude highest since July 2008
US imports of crude oil from Saudi Arabia climbed 45.7% from a year earlier in April to the highest level since July 2008, according to US government data. The rise in US imports from Saudi Arabia came as total crude oil imports from all sources declined in the month amid higher domestic production.
Vitol seals Swiss refinery purchase from Petroplus, plans July restart
Varo Holding SA, the joint venture between oil trader Vitol and investment firm AtlasInvest, has completed its purchase of the 68,000 bpd Cressier refinery and related assets in Switzerland from insolvent Swiss refiner Petroplus. Vitol says it will restart the plant in July.
Solazyme starts up Illinois renewable oil biorefinery
Renewable oil and bio-products company Solazyme said Friday that it commissioned its first fully-integrated biorefinery (IBR) in Peoria, Illinois, to produce algal oil. With the successful production of algal oil from the integrated facility this month, Solazyme has met its start-up goals for the facility on schedule.
ExxonMobil licenses methanol-gasoline technology to Sundrop biofuels plant
The biomass complex in Alexandria, Louisiana, will gasify forest waste supplemented with hydrogen produced from natural gas to make synthesis gas. The syngas then will be converted to methanol and fed into the MTG process, producing 3,500 bpd of renewable gasoline.
Valero idles two US ethanol plants on low margins
Valero suspended production last week at its Albion, Neb., ethanol plant, while its Linden, Ind., facility shut down production on Tuesday. Each plant has the capacity to produce 120 million gal/year of ethanol.
Wison, Hyundai nab EPC contract for Puerto la Cruz refinery in Venezuela
Consortium Hyundai-Wison will carry out engineering, procurement, construction and start-up assistance of the environmental units, auxiliary units and revamp of atmospheric distillation units of the deep conversion project. Facilities will be able to process heavy crude oil, with a capacity of 210,000 bpd.
- NAPCOR releases 2024 PET recycling report highlighting system efficiency gains and continued strength of PET circularity 12/12
- OQ courts other partners for petrochemical complex in Oman as SABIC drops out 12/12
- Brazil's BNDES approves $71 MM for carbon storage project 12/12
- Cuba on edge as U.S. seizure of oil tanker puts supply at risk 12/12
- China oil demand to plateau between 2025 and 2030 12/12
- Germany's PCK refinery says no impact from pipeline leak 12/12

