22nd January: Global downstream update

Canada

Praxair Inc. has announced that the company has completed an upgrade to its air separation liquefaction capabilities in Fort Saskatchewan and Prentiss, Alberta. In addition, Praxair has completed the construction of new carbon dioxide and liquid nitrogen distribution and storage facilities in Grande Prairie, Alberta and Dawson Creek, British Colombia.

The plant upgrades and new facilities and equipment are part of Praxair’s ongoing commitment to Western Canada’s growing oil and gas market. Praxair Canada also operates more than 50 km of pipelines in the Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan corridor.

China

Beijing has announced that it is banning the construction of new oil refining, steel, cement and thermal power plants as well as the expansion of existing projects. The local government is making this move in an attempt to combat air pollution problems in the city. The ban will be enforced as of March.

India

Bharat Petroleum Corp. is planning to almost double the combined capacity of two refineries for US$ 2.8 billion. Capacity at the Numaligarh refinery, Assam state is going to increase from 3 million to 9 million tpa and is estimated to cost US$ 2.4 billion. The Bina refinery will benefit from an increase of 2 million tpa.

Kuwait

Due to a power cut, Kuwait’s three oil refineries were forced to halt operations. The refineries have a combined processing capacity of 930 000 bpd and are all located near Al-Ahmadi. Operations at the gas plants were not interrupted by the power failure.

USA

A refinery tower has been transported by road to the Dakota Prairie refinery in North Dakota. The crude distillation tower is 140 ft long and has a diameter of 14 ft. The tower was transported in two parts and weighs over 100 t.

Vietnam

Vung Ro Petroleum Ltd has awarded a contract to Ineos. The contract is for the construction of a 900 000 tpa polypropylene project at the Hoa Tam Commune refinery complex in the Dong Hoa district. Ineos is going to provide the PP process technology for manufacturing of various polymers. 

Edited from various sources by Claira Lloyd.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/22012014/22nd_jan_downstream_news92/