Conservationists Sue to Halt Fracking in Ohio National Forest
Four conservation groups on Tuesday sued the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in an attempt to halt fracking plans in a portion of Ohio's only national forest. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Columbus, argues that the federal agencies failed to sufficiently analyze risks to watersheds, public health, climate and endangered species including Indiana bats, before auctioning 670 acres (270 hectares) in December of the Wayne National Forest in southeast Ohio for eventual hydraulic fracturing…
Shell to Build Petrochemicals Complex in Pennsylvania
Shell Chemical Appalachia LLC (Shell) has taken the final investment decision to build a major petrochemical complex, comprising an ethylene cracker with polyethylene derivatives unit, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Main construction will start in approximately 18 months, with commercial production expected to begin early in the next decade. The complex will use low-cost ethane from shale gas producers in the Marcellus and Utica basins to produce 1.6 million tonnes of polyethylene per year.
Valero Says Fire Extinguished at Indiana Ethanol Plant
A fire at an ethanol plant in southern Indiana was extinguished quickly on Monday, owner Valero Energy Corp told Reuters on Tuesday, and ethanol industry sources said the facility could be down for as long as a week. There were no injuries in the fire early on Monday at the 110 million-gallon-a-year plant in Mount Vernon, Valero spokesman Steven Lee said. He declined to elaborate on the facility's operations. A source familiar with the operations…
Valero Dips toes into Ethanol Export Market
Valero Energy Corp, one of the biggest U.S. oil refiners, is preparing to sell ethanol for export for the first time, the company said, betting on the $2 billion overseas market as U.S. demand remains plagued by political uncertainty. The San Antonio-based oil refiner, the third-largest U.S. ethanol producer, has recently been offering export-grade ethanol to shippers and leasing tank space for it at St. Rose, Louisiana, opening a gateway to major markets in Asia and Brazil, three U.S. trade sources said.
Ohio River Reopens as Oil Spill Clean-up Progresses
A 15-mile section of the Ohio River was reopened for limited traffic on Wednesday as clean-up of a 5,000-gallon fuel oil spill continued, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Wednesday. The Coast Guard closed a stretch of the river between Cincinnati, Ohio and Dayton, Kentucky on Tuesday after a spill during a "routine transfer of fuel oil" at a 60-year-old power plant owned by Duke Energy, 20 miles east of Cincinnati. "The river is open. Vessels can transit as long as they call the Coast Guard command center to get permission first," said Lt.
Oil Spills into Ohio River from Coal Plant
The U.S. Coast Guard closed a 15-mile stretch of the Ohio River on Tuesday after at least five thousand gallons of fuel oil spilled from a 60-year-old power plant owned by Duke Energy near Cincinnati, Ohio. The spill occurred late on Monday during a "routine transfer of fuel oil" at the W.C. Beckjord plant in New Richmond, Duke said. It began at 11:15 p.m. and was stopped 15 minutes later. It was not clear if the oil had been contained or if there was any impact on wildlife or drinking water.
Enlink Adds Pipeline, Storage to Transport Utica Light Oil
Oil and natural gas pipeline operator Enlink Midstream Partners LP plans to build a 45-mile pipeline and other supporting infrastructure that will transport growing volumes of condensate and natural gas produced in Ohio's Utica shale, the company said in a statement on Monday. Included in the $250 million project will be six natural gas compression stations and six condensate stabilizers to help process gas and light oil for transport to markets in the region.
Marathon Traders Gain E.Coast foothold with Hess Deal
Marathon Petroleum Corp is poised to expand its growing Midwest and Gulf Coast fuel trading operation to the East Coast with Thursday's deal to buy Hess Corp's retail network and transport contracts. The purchase will give Marathon control of Hess's gasoline stations and access to pipelines, including the capacity to ship approximately 40,000 barrels per day on the sought-after Colonial Pipeline from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast, according to the companies. The $2.9 billion deal is expected to close late in the third quarter.
Continental Refining Expands Diesel Offering
Continental Refining Company Now Processing Low Sulfur Marine Diesel T90-700 and Completes Upgrades to Receive Transmix for Finished 500ppm LM Diesel Fuel Production; CRC Expands with Two New Niche Market Product Offerings that Serve Marine Users and Help to Prevent Bottlenecks in the U.S. Today Continental Refining Company, LLC announced a new product offering for the marine market with the production of low sulfur marine diesel, a special blend distillate fuel that has a T-90 greater than700° f…
