Chexpress - May 28, 2013

 

North America

Refinery project

Worldwide Energy Consortium, Inc. is beginning the initial Engineering/Permitting phase for its new refinery located near Gardendale, Texas. The site was chosen to take advantage of the oil production from the Eagle Ford Shale play. The facility is expected to be operational by the last quarter of 2014.
 

Laboratory purchase

Enerlabs has signed an Asset Purchase Agreement to acquire a third testing laboratory in Oklahoma for $600,000. Subject to financing, closing is anticipated within the next 90 days. This laboratory specializes in hydrocarbon testing and is a full service analytical lab serving the petrochemical, petroleum products and refinery industries.    
 

Gas plant

The North Dakota Public Service Commission gave a natural gas processing plant near Watford City the green light to move forward for construction. Commissioners unanimously approved a certificate of site compatibility for ONEOK’s Garden Creek III plant. The 100 million cubic feet/day processing plant will be located on the site of an identical facility already under construction. This third plant is expected to be completed in 2015.

World

 

Acquisition

DEKRA has signed a purchase agreement to acquire Raysonics Group, a market leader for non-destructive testing (NDT) in South Africa. Raysonics offers a broad range of conventional techniques for NDT as well as advanced testing methods. The acquisition gives DEKRA access to markets in southern Africa. Members of the Raysonics management team will remain in leading roles within the company.
 

Acquisition

H.B. Fuller Company has signed an agreement to purchased Plexbond Quimica, S/A, a provider of chemical polyurethane specialties and polyester resins. Plexbond Quimica operates a manufacturing facility in Curitiba, Brazil. With this acquisition, H.B. Fuller increases its ability to delivery specialty adhesives solutions to customers in Brazil and across South America.
 

Acquisition

Bayer has signed an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the shares of Steigerwald Arzneimittelwerk, a privately held pharmaceutical company specializing in pharmacy-only herbal medicines. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close at the beginning of July 2013. Bayer has committed to take over all of Steigerwald’s 180 employees.

Modernization project

Total has approved a €1 billion modernization project for its Antwerp production facilities. Two major projects will be implemented. First, a new refinery upgrading complex consisting of a solvent de-asphalting unit and a mile hydrocracking unit. The unit is intended to primarily convert heavy fuel oil into desulphurized diesel and ultra-low sulfur heating oil. The facility is scheduled to start up in early 2016. Second, a new plant to convert low value refinery fuel gases into low cost petrochemical feedstock, replacing expensive oil-based naphtha. The facility is scheduled to start up in early 2017.