North America downstream news

TechnipFMC is to proceed with a US$1 billion contract to add a 3.25 million tpy LNG facility to an existing regasification terminal in Baja California, Mexico.

The joint venture will work with Lummus’ existing customers and potential customers to implement digital analysis and operative solutions to their refining, petrochemical and gas processing assets.

The expansion project adds eight new research and development laboratories with equipment for developing new proprietary technologies to support innovations in Catalysis, Recycling and 3D Printing.

The Lake Charles Chemicals Project in Louisiana, US, is now complete following the start-up of the low-density polyethylene unit.

A final investment decision is expected in 2021, which will determine the final cost of the project’s first phase.

The South Texas Pipeline System connects growing petrochemical markets in South Texas, Easton’s large salt dome storage position at Markham, Texas, and Easton’s distribution pipelines in the Houston Ship Channel and Mont Belvieu areas.

As of 30 October, US refinery runs were 14 million bpd, or about 13% lower than the average for this time of year, according to the EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report.

Excelerate Energy has announced the successful transition of its entire fleet of floating storage and regasification units to Excelerate Technical Management.

The Diamond Green Diesel facility in Norco, Louisiana, US, will more than double its annual production of renewable diesel.

A new programme intended to turn the Canadian state of Alberta into a leading global producer of petrochemicals has been launched.