Chemicals/Petroleum
U.S. Chemical Production Steady In November
December 21, 2012 12:53 pm | News | CommentsAccording to the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the U.S. Chemical Production Regional Index (U.S. CPRI) was flat in November, following a revised 0.1 percent decline in October. Chemical production rose in all regions except the Gulf Coast, the largest chemical producing region. Based on a three-month moving average, output of the nation’s overall manufacturing sector posted a 0.1 percent gain in November.
Deublin Company Acquires Barco Seals
December 19, 2012 4:00 pm | News | CommentsEffective December 1, 2012, Deublin Company has acquired Barco Seals of Cary, IL. Both companies manufacture fluid power components used in a variety of equipment and process industries. “The Barco acquisition brings together two great brands with similar applications, along with many new products and markets,” explains Rob O’Brien, VP Sales & Marketing at Deublin Company.
KPMG Poll: Fiscal Cliff A Major Concern For Chemicals Execs
December 19, 2012 2:56 pm | News | CommentsDespite economic challenges, executives say the chemicals industry will continue to see strong growth in the U.S. as a result of shale gas developments, according to the results of a poll conducted by KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory services firm.
Thomas’ New 1010 Series Pumps Bring Reliability And Safety To Warning Devices
December 19, 2012 9:44 am | Products | CommentsDesigned for handheld gas and leak detection warning devices, the new 1010 Series diaphragm compressors and pumps from Thomas Division have been tested for 4,000 hours of nonstop operation providing the utmost in reliability and safety.
Use Less, Save More And Improve Outcomes
December 18, 2012 2:06 pm | by DEB USA | Articles | CommentsJust like in any manufacturing facility, employees’ hands get dirty and require frequent washing with abrasive products, which can cause irritation and discomfort. Because of the chemicals involved, many of these products can also be less-environmentally friendly.
ConocoPhillips Selling Algerian Unit For $1.75B
December 18, 2012 9:23 am | News | CommentsConocoPhillips, as part of its massive downsizing effort, has agreed to sell its business in Algeria to Indonesia's state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina for $1.75 billion. ConocoPhillips has sold more than $20 billion in refineries, pipelines and other assets since 2010 to remake itself as an independent oil and gas producer.
New Filtration Group Combines Two Proven Industry Leaders
December 14, 2012 10:10 am | News | CommentsKaydon Custom Filtration, a global leader in bulk oil and fuel purification and Purafil, Inc., a global leader in gas phase and biological air filtration, have joined forces to form Kaydon Environmental Services Group. This consolidated group creates a unique, global environmental leadership focused on providing quality solutions for both air and liquid applications.
Report: Shale Gas Key To U.S. Manufacturing Recovery
December 12, 2012 11:54 am | News | CommentsFavorable oil-to-gas price ratios driven by the production of natural gas from shale will drive a renewed U.S. competitiveness that will boost exports, and fuel greater domestic investment, economic growth and job creation within the business of chemistry, according to the Year End 2012 Situation and Outlook, published today by the American Chemistry Council (ACC).
BP Rig Supervisors Seek Trial Delay
December 12, 2012 11:02 am | News | CommentsTwo BP rig supervisors have asked a federal judge to postpone their trial on manslaughter charges in the April 2010 deaths of 11 workers. Their trial is set to begin Feb. 5. In a court filing Tuesday, attorneys for BP well site leaders Robert Kaluza and Donald Vidrine ask for more time to prepare.
OPEC Keeps Oil Output Targets On Hold
December 12, 2012 9:36 am | by George Jahn, Associated Press | News | CommentsOPEC oil ministers have agreed to maintain their present oil output ceiling, signaling satisfaction with prices. But they have again failed to elect a new secretary general because of rivalries between Saudi Arabia and arch-rival Iran. An OPEC statement said the ministers agreed to aim at producing 30 million barrels a day.
Harvard Apparatus Announces New Peristaltic Pumps
December 7, 2012 1:48 pm | Products | CommentsHarvard Apparatus, the world leader in syringe pumps, announces the new Harvard Peristaltic Pump series. These remote-controlled, programmable peristaltic pumps offer unparalleled accuracy, reproducibility, and ease of use over a broad range of flow rates.
AirClean Systems Launches New Patriot Ductless Fume Hoods
December 6, 2012 4:29 pm | Products | CommentsPatriot ductless hoods incorporate much of the advanced technology of AirClean’s Independence fume hood with the cost effective backbone of AirClean’s AC4000 folding and sliding-sash ductless fume hoods.
U.S. Rep. Wants Tighter Rules For Train Industry
December 6, 2012 7:58 am | by Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press | News | CommentsAfter a derailment that released thousands of gallons of a hazardous chemical into the air last week in New Jersey, forcing more than 200 households to be evacuated, a congressman from the area said Wednesday that it is time to end what he called "a culture of self-regulation" for the industry.
Officials Keep Residents Indoors After Train Derailment
December 4, 2012 8:39 am | by Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press | News | CommentsOfficials say residents of a southern New Jersey town should remain inside until further notice because levels of vinyl chloride remain high after a train derailment last week. A group of state, federal and local officials issued the last shelter-in-place order for Paulsboro at about 6 p.m. Monday and it's still in place Tuesday morning.
Refinery Worker Dies After Chemical Exposure
December 3, 2012 10:49 pm | by Adrian Sainz, Associated Press | News | CommentsAn oil refinery worker has died after being exposed to propane and acid at a Valero plant in Memphis. He is the second person to die this year from an on-the-job injury at the plant. The plant has been cited for violations related to the safe handling and control of hazardous energy and chemicals.
Innospec Withdraws Bid For TPC Group
December 3, 2012 12:09 pm | News | CommentsWhat had been shaping up as bidding war for the Houston chemical company TPC Group appeared to come to an end Monday, when Innospec withdrew its buyout offer. Innospec made its offer after TPC had already accepted a bid of about $628 million from First Reserve Corp. and SK Capital Partners.
Air Quality Raises Concern At Train Wreck Site
December 3, 2012 9:52 am | News | CommentsOfficials have stopped work at the site of last week's train derailment in southern New Jersey after unsafe chemical levels were found in the air. Officials ordered Paulsboro residents to stay inside and closed the schools when air quality monitoring detected unsafe levels of vinyl chloride around 6 a.m. Monday.
Canadian Judge Hears $19B Ecuador Lawsuit Case
November 30, 2012 8:35 am | by Charmaine Noronha, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe award to the villagers was made in Ecuador for black sludge contamination of a rainforest between 1972 and 1990 by Texaco, which Chevron Corp. bought in 2001. U.S.-based Chevron Corp. maintains it won't pay because it says Texaco dealt with the problem before it was bought.
Chemical Company Cited After Vapor Release
November 29, 2012 8:20 am | News | CommentsFederal workplace safety officials have cited a chemical company for dozens of violations and propose $545,000 in fines after a vapor release temporarily closed a northeast Ohio plant and a nearby highway. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Wednesday it cited Dover Chemical Corp. for 47 health and safety violations.
3 BP Employees Arraigned On Gulf Oil Spill Charges
November 29, 2012 8:16 am | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | News | CommentsTwo BP rig supervisors and a former BP executive pleaded not guilty to criminal charges stemming from the deadly Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and the company's response to the massive 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Kaluza and Vidrine are charged with manslaughter in the deaths of 11 rig workers.
BP Suspended From New U.S. Gov't Contracts
November 28, 2012 10:41 am | by Josh Lederman, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe action by the Environmental Protection Administration won't affect current contracts, but prevents BP and its affiliates from new government contracts "until the company can provide sufficient evidence to EPA demonstrating that it meets federal business standards," the agency said.
Western Lawmakers Want Probe Of Refineries
November 28, 2012 8:51 am | by Kevin Freking, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe senators say a review of California refinery emissions data revealed inconsistencies between the time refineries were actually producing petroleum products and when maintenance shutdowns were publicly reported. They said misleading reports of shutdowns could create a perceived shortage of gasoline.
Curtiss-Wright Buying Cimarron For $135M
November 26, 2012 2:00 pm | News | CommentsEngineering company Curtiss-Wright Corp. said on Monday that it is buying equipment maker Cimarron for $135.1 million in cash in an attempt to expand its offerings for oil and gas production, particularly in North America. Cimarron, based in Norman, Okla., makes equipment for the oil and gas industry.
Search For Missing Oil Platform Worker Ends
November 21, 2012 10:17 am | News | CommentsBlack Elk Energy has halted the search for a worker missing since Friday's explosion and fire aboard an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The missing crewman, Jerome Malagapo of the Philippines, was employed by Grand Isle Shipyard Inc., which had a contract with Black Elk to refurbish the platform.
Feds Blame Two BP Workers For 2010 BP Oil Disaster
November 19, 2012 4:18 pm | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | News | CommentsA federal indictment last week charged Robert Kaluza and Donald Vidrine with manslaughter, accusing them of botching a crucial safety test. But a defense attorney claims the two BP well site leaders are scapegoats, given that other government probes have concluded the disaster resulted from a complex web of mistakes and a corporate culture that placed profits ahead of safety.
