Chemicals/Petroleum
U.S. Company Sued Over Oil Discharged In Gulf
February 12, 2013 9:23 am | News | CommentsThe Justice Department is suing a Houston-based company it accuses of illegally discharging oil from a platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The lawsuit filed Monday in New Orleans against ATP Oil & Gas Corp. says the company's alleged federal Clean Water Act violations were discovered during an Interior Department inspection last year.
Calif. Proposing New Flame Retardant Regulations
February 11, 2013 8:21 am | by Jason Dearen, Associated Press | News | CommentsCalifornia proposed regulations on Friday that would set new flammability standards and allow furniture and some children's product manufacturers to stop using chemical flame retardants. The change was proposed after decades of complaints about the spread of chemicals known as PBDEs and TDCPP into the environment.
BP Profit Drops 79 Percent Due To Settlement
February 5, 2013 8:20 am | by Danica Kirka, Associated Press | News | CommentsOil and gas giant BP's profit fell nearly 80 percent in the fourth quarter in results released Tuesday. BP said that net profit fell to $1.62 billion in the quarter ending on Dec. 31, down from $7.69 billion in the same period the year before. BP took a loss of $3.85 billion for its settlement of all federal criminal charges with the U.S. government.
Bills Would Ban Chemicals In Baby Products
January 31, 2013 1:36 pm | by Phuong Le, Associated Press | News | CommentsBills introduced in the Washington Legislature this year would ban two chemical flame retardants — TCEP and chlorinated Tris, or TDCPP — from sofas and children's products such as strollers, changing pads, car seats and nursing pillows.
Chevron Fined Nearly $1M For Refinery Fire
January 31, 2013 8:44 am | by Jason Dearen, Associated Press | News | CommentsInvestigators found "willful violations" in Chevron Corp.'s response before, during and after the Aug. 6 fire in Richmond caused by an old, leaky pipe in one of the facility's crude units, said Ellen Widess, chief of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
Duo 400 Parts Washer Achieves Optimum Cleanliness Standards
January 30, 2013 11:56 am | Product Releases | CommentsMecWash Systems introduces the Duo 400 — a compact, fully automatic and self-contained aqueous cleaning system that meets the highest “visually clean and dry” cleanliness and inspection standards. Ideal for cell-manufacturing or within a centralized layout, the Duo 400 occupies a small footprint.
Next In BP Spill Saga: Civil Trial Worth Billions
January 30, 2013 8:38 am | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | News | CommentsA federal judge agreed to let the London-based oil giant plead guilty to manslaughter charges for the April 2010 deaths of 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon rig and pay the record amount of criminal penalties. What the plea deal approved by U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance doesn't resolve, though, is the federal government's civil claims against BP.
Eriez Offers Four Self-Contained Coolant Recycling Systems
January 29, 2013 2:18 pm | Product Releases | CommentsThe HydroFlow® line of Coolant Recycling Systems (CRS) from Eriez can recycle any water-miscible fluid to its maximum potential, minimize or eliminate disposal and reduce usage of the fluid concentrate. The four models available in the Eriez CRS line all help to improve plant productivity and profitability.
Judge OKs $4B BP Criminal Settlement
January 29, 2013 1:41 pm | News | CommentsA U.S. judge on Tuesday approved an agreement for British oil giant BP PLC to plead guilty to manslaughter and other charges and pay a record $4 billion in criminal penalties for the company's role in the 2010 oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. More than 200 million gallons of oil spewed in the three months before BP's blown-out Macondo well could be capped.
Blackmer Introduces NPH4F Sliding Vane Pumps
January 28, 2013 4:09 pm | Product Releases | CommentsBlackmer, a global leader in positive displacement and centrifugal pump, and reciprocating compressor technologies, is pleased to announce the launch of its NPH4F Sliding Vane Pump. The NPH4F is a positive-displacement sliding vane pump specifically designed to offer maximum versatility in fluid processing and transfer applications for a wide range of clean, non-corrosive fluids.
China Levies Anti-Dumping Tax On U.S., EU Chemicals
January 28, 2013 7:43 am | News | CommentsChina says it will impose anti-dumping duties on two chemicals from the United States and European Union for five years. The Ministry of Commerce said it ruled that U.S. and EU companies have been selling the chemicals at unfairly low prices, hurting China's domestic industry.
Chemical Activity Barometer Up For Sixth Consecutive Month
January 25, 2013 12:13 pm | News | CommentsThe American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) monthly Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB) released today showed sustained growth, notching a 0.4 percent gain over December 2012 on a three month moving average (3MMA) basis. The year over year 3MMA showed a solid 2.8 percent gain over January 2012.
W.R. Grace Raises Asbestos Liability To Over $2B
January 24, 2013 6:26 pm | News | CommentsChemical and building material manufacturer W.R. Grace & Co. said Thursday that it will raise its recorded liability for asbestos claims to $2.07 billion. Previously the amount had been $1.7 billion. The company said it will report a $365 million charge for the fourth quarter.
OM Selling Part Of Business For At Least $325M
January 22, 2013 11:52 am | News | CommentsSpecialty chemicals maker OM Group Inc. said late Monday that it reached a deal to sell the downstream portion of its advanced materials business to a new joint venture for at least $325 million. The deal includes an initial cash payment of $325 million and potential future payments of up to an additional $110 million, if the business meets certain targets over the next three years.
BP Wants Ruling On Size Of Gulf Oil Spill
January 14, 2013 11:20 am | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | News | CommentsA court filing by London-based BP PLC says workers captured more than 34 million gallons — 810,000 barrels — of crude and either burned it or shipped it to shore before it could enter the Gulf waters. The company asked U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier to rule that the collected oil can't be counted in calculating the company's Clean Water Act penalties.
Gas Prices Expected To Fall In 2013
January 11, 2013 11:23 am | by Jonathan Fahey, AP Energy Writer | News | CommentsHamburger, health care and taxes are all set to take a bigger bite out of the family budget this year. But drivers' annual gas bills are expected to drop for the first time in four years. Forecasters say ample oil supplies and weak U.S. demand will keep a lid on prices.
Dow Chemical Reopens La. Plant
January 8, 2013 7:41 am | News | CommentsDow Chemical Co. has successfully restarted its St. Charles Olefins 2 Plant near Hahnville after three years of inactivity. The company said restarting the plant is the first major milestone in Dow's Gulf Coast investment strategy. Dow can reduce the amount of ethylene it buys, lowering its production costs.
Gas Prices Stay Down As 2013 Starts
January 7, 2013 1:48 pm | News | CommentsU.S. drivers are hoping 2013 doesn't start off like 2012 at the gas pump. So far, so good. Gasoline now averages $3.30 a gallon, up about half a penny since Jan. 1. A year ago, gas rose about 10 cents in the first week or so because of a jump in oil prices, and it nearly hit $4 in early April.
Chinese City Apologizes For Delay Reporting Leak
January 7, 2013 12:50 am | News | CommentsA Chinese city government has apologized for taking five days to report a chemical leak that has affected another city's drinking water supply. About 9 tons of aniline had leaked into a river and contaminated the water supply in Handan city in neighboring Hebei province by the time the incident became public Saturday.
No Leak Seen At Stranded Oil Drill Ship
January 2, 2013 8:16 am | News | CommentsNo leak has been seen from an oil drilling ship that grounded off an Alaska island during a storm, officials said, as opponents criticized the growing race to explore the Arctic for energy resources. Federal on-scene response coordinator Capt. Paul Mehler said the Royal Dutch Shell rig is carrying about 143,000 gallons of diesel and about 12,000 gallons of lube oil and hydraulic fluid.
Company To Reduce Chemical Use For Flavoring
December 27, 2012 1:37 pm | News | CommentsDiacetyl is a naturally occurring chemical compound that gives butter its flavor, and it has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a flavor ingredient.But for several years, diacetyl has been linked to a rare, irreversible lung disease often called popcorn lung.
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 | Product Releases | 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.
