-Huntsman began preliminary engineering on a new world-scale methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) plant at its Geismar, La., site. The 400,000-metric-ton MDI plant is expected to come online in 2018. Huntsman is in the midst of a project to expand existing MDI production at Geismar to 500,000 metric tons by next year. Huntsman Polyurethanes President Anthony Hankins said demand for MDI-based polyurethanes is growing by 8% each year.
-EnLink Midstream agreed to buy natural gas pipeline assets in Louisiana and Texas from Chevron Midstream Pipelines for $235 million. EnLink will acquire 1,400 miles of pipeline stretching from Beaumont, Texas, to the Mississippi River corridor and 11 billion cubic feet of gas storage capacity in south Louisiana. Included in the deal is the 985-mile Bridgeline system.
-Enterprise Products Partners completed the Mont Belvieu-to-Beaumont, Texas, segment of the 270-mile Aegis ethane pipeline. The next segment, between Beaumont and Lake Charles, La., will be completed in the third quarter of 2015. Enterprise expects the third and final segment, from Lake Charles to the Mississippi River, to be completed by the end of next year. Company COO Jim Teague said the Aegis pipeline would be the “major ethane supply artery” for more than 20 petrochemical plants in the Gulf Coast region.
-Magellan Midstream Partners and Occidental Petroleum today announced the BridgeTex pipeline had begun commercial service. The pipeline is capable of transporting up to 300,000 barrels per day of crude oil from the Permian Basin to the Houston area.
-West Virginia officials on Friday opened bids to drill for oil and gas under a 14-mile stretch of the Ohio River. Via the Associated Press, the state’s commerce department said more sections of the river and a wildlife management area could also be opened for bids in the near future. The state hopes to use proceeds from drilling to help close a $100 million deficit in next year’s budget.
