Oil and gas industry announcements: 24 June 2014

CB&I

CB&I has applauded Cameron LNG, a subsidy of Sempra Energy, for receiving authorisation from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to site, construct and operate a natural gas liquefaction and export facility at the site of the company’s LNG receipt terminal in Hackberry, Louisiana. The FERC permit is one of the last major regulatory approvals required to start construction on the natural gas liquefaction facility.

The authorisation approves the development of the three train liquefaction facility that will provide an export capability of 12 million tpy of LNG, or approximately 1.7 billion ft³/d, and will allow CB&I and its joint venture partner, Chiyoda, to access the site and begin construction later this year.

DTEC

The UK Government Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) has approved a training academy based at Staffordshire refinery and petrochemical turnaround specialist DTEC. DTEC, which specialises in refinery and petrochemical turnaround services, recently launched an in house training company called the CoaST Academy. The academy, on of the most advanced of its kind in the country, delivers a broad range of courses predominantly to support workers operating in the mechanical engineering sector. It has now been formally approved to deliver training by the ECITB, which is a national awarding body for training and developing the UK’s engineering construction workforce.

Phillips 66

Phillips 66 has agreed to acquire Spectrum Corporation, a leading speciality lubricants company.

Tim Taylor, president, Phillips 66 said, ‘the acquisition of Spectrum complements our strong performing lubricants business by increasing our access to specialised global lubricants markets and is in line with our strategy to selectively grow our marketing and specialities segment. It also creates new opportunities to expand our worldwide lubricants customer base.’

Spectrum is an independent blender, packager and marketer of specialty lubricants including two cycle engine oil, small engine oil and hydraulic oil. Spectrum offers a broad array of private label and brand name specialty lubricants and related products, including more than 500 products under 14 separate product lines.

Sandvik

Sandvik is launching a global trainee program, an 18 month rotation program called ‘Sandvik Future Leaders’ through which candidate will be developed. The program combines three job rotation modules with three learning modules and provides broad international exposure as well as numerous opportunities. Candidates are selected by matching and leadership model and ensuring that they have an attitude that is compatible with the company culture. Among other things, successful candidates will have a strong desire to make a different. The program is scheduled to start in September.

UOP

UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, has announced that its licensee, China’s Wison Clean Energy Co. Ltd., has produced more than 360 million lbs of light olefins at a plant in Nanjing, China, using UOP’s breakthrough methanol to olefins process technology. The plant, the first commercial scale facility to use the UOP/Hydro MTO process technology, has been operating since September 2013 and is successfully meeting expectations for the quality and quantity of light Olefins, as well as other performance criteria.

The Wison facility is using UOP’s Advanced MTO process that combines the UOP/Hydro MTO process and the Total/UOP Olefin Cracking process. The combination significantly increases yields and feedstock efficiency. The process converts methanol, which can be derived from low cost raw materials such as coal or natural gas, into ethylene and propylene. Based on proprietary UOP catalysts, the Advanced MTO process provides high yields with low operating costs. MTO also offers Flexibility in the ratio of propylene to ethylene produced, so operators can adjust plant operations to most effectively address market demands.

USA

The 82^nd Annual US Conference of Mayors met on 22 June 2014. At the meeting, the nation’s mayors renewed their longstanding commitment to fight climate change by reducing carbon emissions, promoting energy independence and efficiency and developing renewable energy. Conference President, Sacramento Mayor, Kevin Johnson joined with other USCM leaders to sign a revised agreement that for the first time emphasises local actions to adapt cities to changing climate conditions and to build grassroots support for local conservation initiatives.

The agreements encourages federal and state cooperation with local governments to:

• Promote greater energy independence and reduce the US’ dependence on fossil fuels.
• Accelerate energy efficiency and the development of clean, economical and renewable energy technologies.
• Adapt city buildings, homes, facilities and infrastructures to address changing climatic conditions.
• Urge the federal government to reduce carbon pollution through the Clean Air Act, Appliance Efficiency Standards, Federal Transportation Investments, and Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency loan and grant programs.

Edited from various sources by Claira Lloyd

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/24062014/oil_gas_industry_announcements_24_june/