Enterprise expands marine terminal on the Houston Ship Channel

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Enterprise Products Partners L.P. has announced that the company has purchased a 65-acre waterfront site on the Houston Ship Channel that will serve as the next phase of expansion at the Enterprise Hydrocarbon Terminal, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Located immediately to the east of EHT, the property features two existing docks, dredging infrastructure that will be utilized for maintenance and dock expansion at the site, and land for significantly expanding Enterprise’s marine terminaling capabilities. Future plans include construction of at least two deepwater docks capable of accommodating Suezmax vessels.

"As one of the last waterfront properties for sale adjacent to our existing ship channel assets, this strategic acquisition complements our world-class EHT marine terminal and strengthens our position as an industry leader in providing waterborne access," said A.J. "Jim" Teague, chief executive officer of Enterprise’s general partner. "The growth opportunities available at the 65-acre site enhance our ability to accommodate growing U.S. hydrocarbon production which is increasingly destined for global markets."

Combined with the EHT complex, the newly acquired assets will be part of Enterprise’s premier Gulf Coast network of marine terminals that includes 18 ship docks, and eight barge docks. In addition, Enterprise’s Gulf Coast infrastructure system features access to approximately 125 pipelines, 400 million barrels of storage and every refinery in the Houston, Beaumont, Port Arthur and Texas City region, representing more than 4 million barrels per day of capacity.

As MRC wrote earlier, in 2015, Enterprise Products Partners L.P. announced a series of projects to convert and expand segments of its petrochemicals pipeline network designed to increase throughput capacity for polymer grade propylene (PGP) and enhance system flexibility and reliability.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi presented the company’s Strategic Plan for the four-year period 2018-2021 to the Italian financial community, also providing an update on the company’s results regarding safety, its green activities in Italy and ongoing progress in research and development, including the downstream sector, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Eni’s CEO underlined the company’s commitment to the creation of bio-products in the downstream sector: Eni is the first company to have converted a traditional oil refinery into a bio-refinery, in Venice, and by the end of the year will complete the conversion of a plant in Gela; these plants will produce 1 million tons of green diesel per year by 2021, making Eni one of Europe’s leading producers. Meanwhile, the company has also launched a series of projects related to green chemicals, such as intermediate products from vegetable oil and experimental plantations of Guayule for the production of natural rubber.

Claudio Descalzi went on to highlight the fundamental role played by research in Eni’s development strategy: “Thanks to extensive research we have been able to consolidate and enhance our technical know-how, giving us new and important internal skills. We work with more than 50 leading institutions, from universities to research centers, over half of which are in Italy, more than 220 projects, promoting a profound exchange of knowledge between Eni and the rest of the country. From 2009 to 2017, we spent €1.7 billion on research and development, building a portfolio of technologies in a wide range of areas, in the upstream and downstream sectors, as well as in renewables, environmental protection and safety, with a total of over 6,000 patents. Over the course of the next Plan, we will spend more than EUR750 million."

In the field of renewables, Eni’s CEO explained how the company will concentrate its research mainly in solar power, energy storage, advanced biofuels, biomass and wind power, and in the development of technologies for the production of energy from nuclear fusion, a joint project with MIT. In the downstream sector, Eni’s focus is on the research into products and processes with a low environmental impact, also through the use of technologies linked to the circular economy (waste to fuel and lignocellulosic biomass).
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Air Liquide and Covestro, a world-leading supplier of high-tech polymer materials, have signed a new long-term contract for the supply of hydrogen at Covestro’s production site in the port area of Antwerp, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Air Liquide will invest 80 million euros in the construction of a "new generation" hydrogen production unit. This state-of-the-art plant will be fitted with a new Air Liquide proprietary technology that improves energy efficiency and the overall environmental footprint of the production process. The hydrogen produced will also enable Air Liquide to supply customers in this industrial basin in Europe.

In connection with this new long-term contract, the hydrogen will be used in the production of aniline, which is one of the base chemicals of the polyurethanes found in many applications in the sectors of construction, automotive or home appliances.

Air Liquide will design, build and operate a “next-generation” hydrogen production unit - SMR-X™1- producing hydrogen with an increased energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint. Overall natural gas consumption to produce hydrogen, as well as CO2 emissions will be reduced by around 5% compared with conventional SMR. At the same time, part of the CO2 generated during the production process will be captured by Covestro and used as a feedstock in its production process. By capturing carbon and upgrading the recovered CO2, this model is part of a circular economy system.

Expected to start operation in 2020, this new SMR-XTM unit will offer optimal performances in terms of energy efficiency, safety and reliability. The new plant will also support the development of the Covestro production site in Benelux and will strengthen Air Liquide’s existing network for the supply of hydrogen in the Antwerp industrial area.

Guy Salzgeber, Executive Vice-President and member of the Air Liquide group’s Executive Committee supervising industrial activities in Europe, said: "We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Covestro, a strategic customer of the Group. With this next-generation hydrogen plant, Air Liquide demonstrates its ability to meet its customers’ needs thanks to solutions offering an increased energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint. This project illustrates our innovation capacity and enable us to reinforce our presence in one of the most dynamic industrial basins of northern Europe."

Volker Weintritt, Managing Director of Covestro in Antwerp, said: “We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Air Liquide. Thanks to this new investment, not only will a reliable and flexible supply of raw materials to our site be guaranteed, but also the new facility and its capacities could open up new perspectives for our Antwerp site."
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MOSCOW (MRC) – BASF Corporation entered an exclusive distribution agreement with Nalco Water, an Ecolab company, to provide gas treatment solutions to the U.S. gas processing and refining industries, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Under the agreement terms, Nalco Water will combine BASF’s gas treating amines portfolio with its industry-leading technology and on-site expertise to offer customers solutions to drive operational efficiency and value.

"As a leader in water and energy technologies and services, Nalco Water is an ideal partner to support our midstream and refining customers with amine systems,” said Heidi Alderman, Senior Vice President, Intermediates, for BASF Corporation. “Nalco Water’s expertise and comprehensive network of industry technical consultants will help ensure customers receive consistent delivery of services and support."

"This combined offering will enable gas processors to improve their amine systems' operational performance and efficiency by benefiting from the advanced technologies and customer-focused service model that comes with BASF’s extensive experience in gas treatment,” said Jeff Bulischeck, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Global Heavy Industry and Mining, for Nalco Water. “Through this agreement, we will provide customers with a step-change in amine unit reliability and performance."

With more than 40 years of experience, BASF offers its customers efficient solutions for the treatment of various gases such as natural gas, synthesis gas and biogas. Worldwide, these solutions have been proven and demonstrated in more than 400 reference plants. BASF markets its range of technologies, gas treatment agents and complete technical services under the brand OASE - Gas Treating Excellence by BASF.
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MOSCOW (MRC) - AFPM: The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers’ (AFPM) President and CEO Chet Thompson testified before the U.S, as per Hydrocarbonprocessing.

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment involving the challenges and opportunities of high octane fuels and high-efficiency vehicles.

AFPM believes that a transition in the United States from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to a fuel-neutral, 95-RON octane performance standard could better address the needs of all stakeholders, most importantly consumers.

Thompson testified, “U.S. fuel and transportation policy is at a crossroads. The auto industry faces enormous challenges in meeting increasing fuel efficiency targets, the refining industry is dealing with an expensive, inefficient and unworkable Renewable Fuel Standard, and fuel marketers and the biofuel industry are faced with constant uncertainty and never-ending debates about the RFS, making for a very challenging business environment.

“A 95-RON octane performance standard, if done correctly—with a sunset of the RFS, a reasonable phase-in and robust market competition—has the potential to benefit consumers and all stakeholders, compared to the status quo.

“Although we believe this option has the most potential, we know that it would raise many challenges and require a significant investment for our industry, which is why it cannot be considered in addition to the RFS. We are, however, committed to better understanding and exploring all of these issues and welcome the opportunity to start the conversation with other stakeholders to move forward on this path.”
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