Refining, Petrochemicals, Gas Processing, Biofuels
Future Uncertain for Long Running Stanlow Refinery in the UK
The future around the long running Stanlow refinery in the Ellesmere Port in Northwest England has been thrust into uncertainty lately due to reports of financial instability from lower fuel demand. Multiple reports have indicated that investment firm Apollo Global Management of New York has been in talks on some level for a potential £400 million refinancing agreement for the complex.
W.R. Grace Licenses its UNIPOL Technology for Shandong Polypropylene Project
W.R. Grace of Maryland recently announced that it will indeed provide its UNIPOL® PP Process Technology and its UNIPOL UNIPPAC® Process Control Software to Sinochem Hongrun Petrochemical for use at the developing polypropylene facility in Qingzhou, China. According to Grace, its UNIPOL PP service will give this project the widest available range of polypropylene homopolymers, random copolymers, and impact copolymers for this application.
Samsung Signs on to Build Significant Saudi Arabian PDH Plant
Samsung Engineering of South Korea recently stated that it has been awarded a contract valued at $653 million dollars for the construction of a propane dehydrogenation plant (PDH) in Saudi Arabia.
Worley Wins FEED Contract for Rodeo Renewed Project
Worley of Australia recently announced that it had been awarded a front-end engineering services contract by Phillips 66 for its planned conversion of its long running San Francisco refinery in Rodeo, California into a renewable fuels facility.
Exxon’s Huizhou Petrochemical Complex Moves Ahead with Sinopec
State-owned Sinopec Engineering of China has signed on to Exxon’s planned Huizhou petrochemical complex in Huizhou, China for basic design, engineering, procurement and construction work. This contract covers the initial phase for this complex.
First Ever Commercial Scale Alkylation Unit Starts Up in Utah
Honeywell announced on the 13th of April that that the commissioning and start-up procedures for the ISOALKY process unit at Chevron’s Salt Lake City refinery have been completed. This process unit is the first of its kind in the world on a commercial scale and is being touted as a major innovation in this type of technology.
W.R. Grace Licenses its UNIPOL PP Process Technology for Uzbekistan’s MTO Complex
W.R. Grace of Maryland recently announced that it has indeed licensed its UNIPOL PP Process Technology to Enter Engineering of Singapore for the upcoming Methanol to Olefins (MTO) Gas Chemical Complex in the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan.
Indian Oil Corporation contracts Technip Energies for Barauni Refinery Upgrade
Technip Energies has recently been awarded an Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) contract for Indian Oil’s expansion project at the Barauni complex in eastern India, named the BR9 expansion. The contract value was not specified, but it was deemed as a “significant” project, which Technip classifies as a contract between €50 million and €250 million.
Nigeria’s Port Harcourt Refinery Rehab Project Picks up Pace
In late March, the Nigerian Federal Executive Council approved approximately $1.5 billion in spending for the rehabilitation and modernization of the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex.
Nigeria’s Duport Modular Refinery Expected by Year’s End
Duport Midstream Company Limited of Lagos announced in late March that its upcoming modular refinery in Nigeria’s Edo State would indeed be ready for commissioning in the fourth quarter of this year. This project is being implemented by Duport alongside the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Refinery Closures in Australia to Force Even More Import Reliance
BP is scheduled to shut in its long running 146,000 barrel per day Kwinana refinery in Western Australia by the end of March.
Ratnagiri Refinery Could be on the Move Again
The large $44 billion Ratnagiri Refinery project under planning in India has once again been discussed as a candidate for moving its potential location, this time away from the Nanar village in the Ratnagiri district.
Inter Pipeline’s Heartland Petrochemical Complex Charges Ahead
The Heartland Petrochemical Complex under construction near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta appears to be continuing towards its planned startup in 2022. Project operator Inter Pipeline recently rejected what it called a hostile takeover bid from Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP of Toronto.
Pakistan Poised for Progress with Saudi Aramco’s $10 billion “Oil City” in Gwadar
It was recently reported that Pakistan will indeed begin plans for a significant refinery complex to be built in Balochistan’s Gwadar district.
Integrated Complex for Indonesia Picks Up New Contract with Shell
Pertamina and Rosneft joint venture, PT Pertamina Rosneft Pengolahan dan Petrokimia (PT PRPP), has reportedly let a contract to Royal Dutch Shell’s Shell Catalysts & Technologies to cover technology licensing and basic engineering services in late February. This work is intended for PT PRPP’s upcoming integrated refinery and petrochemical complex to be placed in Tuban, Indonesia.
Texas Freeze Could Bolster a Growing Recovery with New Demand
A historic arctic freeze that quickly spread over the state of Texas has caused short-term ceases in production for several refineries.
New Zealand Could Lose its Final Refinery
Refining NZ of New Zealand was recently reported in saying that its Marsden Point Refinery in Northland is under consideration for conversion into an import terminal by 2022. This would leave the country with no known refining capacity.
ExxonMobil Plans to Complete its Gulf Coast Growth Ventures Project by Year’s End
ExxonMobil recently reduced its capex figures for this year, but despite an expected reduction down to $16 billion to $19 billion it is pushing some projects forward. The company’s venture with SABIC for a large ethane cracker and its derivate units are now anticipated for a 2021 startup, rather than the previous expectations for 2022.
Two Total and Borealis led Petrochemical Ventures in Texas Expected for Startup in 2021 and 2022
Two planned petrochemical units led by a Total and OMV-owned Borealis joint venture have updated their expected start times in Texas.
Exxon Expected to Close its Altona Refinery in Australia
Exxon Mobil announced on February 9th that it plans to shut in production at its long-running Altona refinery in Victoria. This decision comes as the country’s refiners continue to deal with low demand.
Canada’s Come-by-Chance Refinery Seeing New Bids to Return as a Renewable Facility
According to recent reports, private firm Cresta Fund Management has placed an offer to purchase a majority stake in North Atlantic Refining LTD, who owns the presently idle 135,000 barrel per day Come-by-Chance refinery in Newfoundland. This refinery was one of the first sites in North America to shut in after the COVID-19 pandemic began to weaken demand.
Maire Tecnimont SpA Signs on for Two New EPC Contracts at the Heydar Aliyev Baku Refinery
Maire Tecnimont SpA of Italy announced on February 3, 2021 that two of its subsidiaries will provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services as part of the modernization program underway at the Heydar Aliyev Oil refinery in Baku, Azerbaijan.
U.S. Refiners Look Towards Renewable New Hopes
After seeing demand devastation in 2020 refiners in the United States are starting this year with new talk around the growth of renewable fuels to bolster their future in this ever-changing fuel scenario.
Chevron Lummus Global Awarded Contract for NRL Expansion Project
Scope includes technology license, basic engineering services, proprietary equipment and catalyst supply, training and technical services Award highlights the third licensed unit in India employing CLG's LC-FINING platform Plant to upgrade vacuum residue and clarified oil from existing and new units
Limetree Bay Ventures Commences Refinery Startup Operations
Limetree Bay Ventures, LLC, a world-class refinery, terminal and logistics hub controlled by EIG Global Energy Partners (“EIG”), today announced that Limetree Bay Refining (“the Refinery”) has successfully resumed operations and begun production and commercial sales of refined products.
Gas Projects in the U.S. Face Increasing Opposition in 2021
As 2021 began, a few projects in the United States quickly faced delays and challenges to their progress.
Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery considers solar to help meet power needs
The Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery is seeking bids for the construction of a large-scale solar development on the company’s property in Rosemount, Minnesota, to help meet the refinery’s electrical power needs and lower its energy costs. The 30-megawatt solar development would be among the largest of its kind in the nation where all the power is generated and consumed by a single business. The company has requested bids from select solar companies that specialize in building commercial-scale solar farms and integrating them within established operations. A decision on whether to proceed with the project is expected by mid-year 2021.
LyondellBasell and Sinopec Finalize JV for PO/SM Plant in China
LyondellBasell announced on the 26th of January that it has signed an agreement with Sinopec of China for the formation of a 50:50 joint venture for the specific purpose of installing a propylene oxide (PO) and styrene monomer (SM) project in China's domestic market. Plans for this operation actually began back in late 2019.
BPCL Places Polyol Plant in Kochi on Hold
According to recent reports, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has placed a planned polyol production plant on hold at the Kochi facilities in Kerala. The company has been undergoing a privatization process and has ceased progress on this plan until it is settled.
Private Refinery in Louisiana Expected to Restart in February
Calcasieu Refining of Louisiana recently announced that it plans to restart its idled Calcasieu refinery in early February 2021. Production had been shut in since mid-2020.
