Refining
Honeywell develops fuel-saving flight management software for airliners
Some estimates place potential benefits at as much as 3% in savings on reduced fuel use. Others project as much as $200,000 in annual savings per plane while cruising long oceanic routes. United Continental Holdings is running demonstration flights to verify such estimates.
US appeals court rejects industry challenge to EPA ethanol blend decision
Trade groups representing the oil and auto industries had challenged the decision. Bob Greco, downstream director at the American Petroleum Institute, said it is "astounding that the court does not accept that refiners, who must comply with the ethanol mandate, have standing to bring this case."
Novozymes pressured by weak US biofuels market
Bioethanol production and profitability has been hampered by the drought in the US, which has pushed up the prices for corn, the main ingredient in the production of biofuel. Additional pressure has been added by a decline in overall fuel consumption in the US, the Novozymes executive said.
BASF joins collaboration to develop bio-acrylic acid
BASF, Cargill and Novozymes recently signed an agreement to develop bio-based technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable feedstocks. The annual global market volume of acrylic acid is around 4.5 million tons, with a value of $11 billion at the end of 2011.
Syntroleum secures EPA registration for renewable gasoline blendstock
Dynamic Fuels LLC, Syntroleum Corp.'s joint venture with Tyson Foods, has been granted Part 79 registration for its renewable gasoline blendstock 10 by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
US equipment finance sector shows rapid growth, survey says
New business volume grew 16.5% in the equipment finance industry in 2011, according to the 2012 Survey of Equipment Finance Activity (SEFA) released by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association.
EPA to propose US biofuel fraud fix by end of 2012
Refiners and oil importers are required to buy certain amounts of fuel made from plants every year under a 2005 law designed to reduce US oil imports. But the market has been in turmoil since last year, when it became clear that some companies were selling fraudulent numbers.
Flash fire injures contractors at BP Indiana refinery
When the fire ignited, the three injured contractors were performing maintenance work on a 105,000 bpd hydrotreater, according to news agency Reuters. BP said the three contractors were in stable condition at a local hospital. Two were being treated for burns and one for smoke inhalation.
Shell picks Jacobs as European downstream services provider
Under a five-year deal, Jacobs will perform work ranging from feasibility studies and small plant modifications to discrete projects for major Shell refining and chemical sites.
Calumet to buy gasoline, middle distillates producer Montana Refining
The deal should close in the 2012 fourth quarter. Montana Refining owns and operates a 9,800 bpd refinery in Great Falls, Montana. The refinery has a complexity rating of 9.3, with crude oil feedstocks sourced primarily from Canada. It produces gasoline, middle distillates and asphalt.
- Ineos to shut polystyrene facility in Illinois (U.S.) by the end of the year 6/19
- How ASTM approval of methanol-to-jet accelerates SAF at scale 6/19
- EU crafts plan to give industries extra free CO2 permits this year 6/19
- PetroChina forecasts Chinese oil consumption will drop 4.9% this year 6/19
- Digital Exclusive: Water injection pump mechanical seals failure after pump shutdown 6/19
- Russian gasoline output down 25% so far in June after drone attacks on refineries 6/19

