Refining
US delays Keystone XL pipeline until after 2012
President Barack Obama called Thursday for further study of the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline, putting off a final decision until after the 2012 elections and triggering both praise and criticism on Capitol Hill. TransCanada Chief Executive Russ Girling said the company remains confident the pipeline will be approved.
Oiltanking plans two new Houston crude pipelines
The board of directors for Oiltanking Partners has approved expansion projects to build two new crude oil pipelines in the Houston Ship Channel, bringing approximately 1 million bbl of new crude oil storage capacity to the company’s Houston terminal facility. In addition, the company is poised to construct additional crude storage tankage to support the rising customer demand at Oiltanking Houston, it said.
API launches new US advertising campaign against higher oil, gas taxes
American Petroleum Institute (API) chief executive Jack Gerard unveiled a new advertising campaign this week, which he says is to encourage lawmakers on the US Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to focus on job creation and revenues through economic growth rather than what the API calls “punitive tax increases” on industry. The new advertisements are available online for viewing.
Statoil extends Technip contract for pipeline repair services in Norway
Statoil awarded Technip with a two-year extension of its pipeline repair system (PRS) services frame contract until December 1, 2014. This contract covers maintenance and operation of Statoil’s PRS Pool located at Killingøy in Haugesund, Norway.
IEA unveils 2011 World Energy Outlook, says policy changes needed to cut emissions
Without a bold change of policy direction, the world will lock itself into an insecure, inefficient and high-carbon energy system, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned as it launched the 2011 edition of the World Energy Outlook (WEO). "Governments need to introduce stronger measures to drive investment in efficient and low-carbon technologies," said IEA executive director Maria van der Hoeven.
Kinder Morgan to invest in $400mn oil terminal at Houston Ship Channel
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners said on Tuesday that it will join with Battleground Oil Specialty Terminal Co. (BOSTCO) - a venture with TransMontaigne Partners - in building, owning and operating a new $400 million oil terminal on the Houston Ship Channel. Construction of the tanks is expected to begin this year upon completion of binding definitive customer agreements.
Advanced Refining expands Nevada GDiesel plant
Advanced Refining Concepts (ARC) has commenced construction on the third and fourth expansion phases of its Peru Heights GDiesel refinery in Nevada. The expansion, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2012, will double the plant’s capacity to 400,000 gal/day of GDiesel.
Yara opens diesel exhaust fluid terminal in Houston
Fertilizer producer Yara has opened its new diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) storage terminal in Houston with the arrival of its first shipment of Air1 DEF from the company’s plant in Sluskil, Netherlands. At capacity, the fully operational storage facility will hold 1 million gallons of Air1 DEF.
Fluor acquires sulfur technology business in Texas from Air Products
Fluor said on Monday that it has acquired Goar, Allison & Associates, a unit of Air Products. The Tyler, Texas-based company provides sulfur technologies for upstream gas plants, downstream refineries and gasification.
API poll sees rising US support for Canadian oil use
A significant majority of American voters would like the US to rely more on oil from Canada to meet domestic needs, rather than from other countries, according to a new poll. Voters feel better about importing oil from Canada knowing that Canadian oil sands development and the Keystone XL pipeline will bring significant job creation in the US for Americans and increase the nation's energy security, according to the API trade group.
- ITT to acquire SPX Flow for > $4.77 B, expanding leadership in highly engineered components and adjacent flow technologies 12/5
- MOL Group introduces eco-friendly Bag-in-Box packaging for lubricants 12/5
- Addis Energy secures $8.3 MM to scale its transformative approach to low-cost ammonia production 12/5
- World Fuel Services supplies cruise line with waste-based biofuels 12/5
- Chevron announces $18 B-$19-B CAPEX budget for 2026 12/5
- Russia and India sign deal to build urea plant in Russia 12/5

