Chemicals/Petroleum
Feds Vow To Prove Gross Negligence By BP
September 5, 2012 2:00 pm | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | News | CommentsIn a court filing Friday, government lawyers renewed their vow to prove at trial that BP engaged in gross negligence or willful misconduct leading up to the deadly rig explosion that killed 11 workers and spawned the nation's worst offshore oil spill. BP PLC faces billions of dollars in fines if U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier ultimately sides with the government.
TransCanada Proposes New Keystone XL Route
September 5, 2012 12:30 pm | by Josh Funk, Associated Press | News | CommentsTransCanada said Wednesday that the new Keystone XL route minimizes the potential impact on the Sandhills region and avoids two small city well fields. This is TransCanada's second proposed new route through Nebraska. State regulators said the last proposal, submitted in April, still ran too close to sensitive areas.
Wash. Fines BP $81,500 For Safety Violations
August 31, 2012 11:11 am | News | CommentsWashington state has fined BP more than $80,000 for safety violations at the oil giant's Cherry Point refinery in Whatcom County. The Department of Labor & Industries announced Thursday that it fined BP for six violations, including a "willful violation," of workplace safety.
Shell Tax Breaks Could Impact Local Government
August 29, 2012 11:53 am | News | CommentsA billion-dollar tax break for a proposed Shell petrochemical facility in western Pennsylvania would cut significant property tax revenue for local government, but officials still want the plant. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Wednesday that the school district could lose $275,000 in property taxes and the rural township could lose about seven percent of its annual budget under a state tax incentives package.
Senator Calls For Fed Probe Into Gas Price Spike
August 28, 2012 2:35 pm | News | CommentsIn a letter sent Tuesday to the Federal Trade Commission, Sen. Feinstein said the Aug. 6 blaze that damaged the state's third largest refinery did not affect gasoline supplies as some analysts forecast, yet prices still rose dramatically. Feinstein said the price of gas in the state reached a high of $4.21, more than double the increase seen in average cost of a gallon of gas in the continental U.S.
Death Toll Rises To 48 In Venezuela Refinery Blast
August 27, 2012 2:31 pm | by Jorge Rueda, Associated Press | News | CommentsPeople who live next to the refinery said they smelled strong fumes coming from the refinery starting between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, hours before the blast, but many said they weren't worried because they had smelled such odors before. Then, a cloud of gas ignited in an area of fuel storage tanks and exploded. Some of the tanks were still burning on Monday, billowing black smoke.
Shell Gets Warm Welcome For Pa. Gas Plant
August 20, 2012 11:30 am | by Kevin Begos, Associated Press | News | CommentsShell Oil Co. is years away from building a huge petrochemical plant in western Pennsylvania, but the company is already reaching out to the local community and getting a wholehearted welcome. Dan Carlson, a Shell general manager, spoke to a gathering of about 50 people Wednesday night at a high school auditorium in Monaca where the company hopes to build the multibillion dollar plant.
Report: CO2 Emissions In U.S. Drop To 20-Year Low
August 16, 2012 1:54 pm | by Kevin Begos, Associated Press | News | CommentsFederal officials say the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere is falling due to cheap and plentiful natural gas.
Vapor Cloud Enveloped Chevron Plant Before Fire
August 15, 2012 9:35 am | News | CommentsAn internal Chevron surveillance video shows more than a dozen workers getting caught in the unknown substance and narrowly escaping the fire.
J&J Removing Harsh Chemicals From Products By 2015
August 15, 2012 6:39 am | by Linda A. Johnson, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe company will remove potentially cancer-causing and other dangerous chemicals from nearly all its adult products in the next 3 1/2 years.
Cheniere To Start Construction Of La. Gas Plant
August 10, 2012 1:23 pm | News | CommentsCheniere is working to renovate a natural gas liquefaction terminal near Cameron, La., so it will be able to export U.S. liquid natural gas.
Auto Companies Meet For Natural Gas Plan
August 10, 2012 12:35 pm | by Sean Murphy, Associated Press | News | CommentsWith states looking to add natural gas-powered vehicles to their fleets, it could push the public to follow suit in purchasing autos powered by domestically produced fuel.
Calif. Eyes Penalties For Hiding Toxic Nail Polish
August 10, 2012 11:16 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsCalifornia could double fines on manufacturers who use dangerous chemicals in nail polishes, which have been linked to birth defects, labeled as "nontoxic."
1,000-Plus File Claims Against Chevron
August 9, 2012 9:35 am | News | CommentsMore than 1,000 people lured by the promise of a few hundred dollars showed up to get onboard a lawsuit against Chevron for causing nausea and scratchy throats.
Chevron Response To Refinery Fire Under Criticism
August 8, 2012 8:57 am | by Jason Dearen and Terry Collins, Associated Press | News | CommentsInvestigators were looking at how a small, seemingly insignificant leak quickly unraveled into an intense fire that sent acrid black smoke into the sky.
Chemical Tests Planned At Former Ford-Owned Site
August 7, 2012 9:40 am | News | CommentsThe 200-acre site, once known as Ford Utica Trim, will be tested for trichloroethylene and trichloroethane, both of which can cause health problems.
Residents Flood Bay Area Hospitals After Refinery Fire
August 7, 2012 9:15 am | by John S. Marshall, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe blaze at Chevron's plant in Richmond, Calif. spewed thick black smoke possibly containing gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel and lubricants.
Marcellus Shale Quickly Rising To Top Gas Spot
August 6, 2012 7:43 am | by Kevin Begos, Associated Press | News | CommentsIn July, the combined output from Pennsylvania and West Virginia wells was about 7.4 billion cubic feet per day, and looks to be expanding further.
Eastman Chemical Joint Venture To Make China Plant
July 31, 2012 1:49 pm | News | CommentsSinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Co. will help Eastman gain more access to fast-growing consumer packaged goods markets in Asia.
Weaker Demand Pressures Dow Chemical 2Q
July 27, 2012 11:56 am | News | CommentsDow Chemical Co.'s second-quarter net income fell 34 percent as weaker demand led to lower prices.
Chemical Activity Barometer Shows Economic Recovery Remains Subdued
July 24, 2012 10:31 am | News | CommentsThe July CAB was flat after declining three consecutive months, historically a sign of slowing economic activity.
Felman Production Celebrates 60th Anniversary
July 23, 2012 10:45 am | News | CommentsFounded in 1952, the Felman Plant produces high-quality ferroalloys, elements essential in the manufacturing of steel.
CNOOC To Buy Nexen For $15.1 Billion
July 23, 2012 10:16 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP | News | CommentsChinese offshore oil and gas giant CNOOC Ltd. said Monday it has agreed to buy Canadian producer Nexen Inc. for $15.1 billion in China's biggest-ever overseas energy acquisition.
Oil Prices Rise For A Third Day
July 13, 2012 1:33 pm | by Chris Kahn, AP | News | CommentsOil prices rose for a third straight day on Friday after China said its economy grew as expected in the second quarter.
NTSB: Neglect, Inaction Caused Huge Mich. Spill
July 10, 2012 1:58 pm | by David Runk and John Flesher, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe NTSB says Enbridge Inc. failed to detect the leaking for more than 17 hours, causing $800 million in environmental cleanup costs.
