Industry: Upstream and E&P

AMERICAS U.S plastic bag update U.S. to levy fees on bags from Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia The U.S. government plans to impose final duties of up to nearly 96 percent on plastic shopping bags from Indonesia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. The rulings from the Department of Commerce impose specific penalties on 18 companies from Vietnam, two from […]

AMERICAS LyondellBasell Updates LyondellBasell prices USD 2.75 billion senior notes LyondellBasell Industries (LBI) has priced a senior note offering at USD 2.75 billion to support the chemical company’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The notes will be issued by LBI Escrow Corp., which will merge into subsidiary Lyondell Chemical Co., as part of Lyondell […]

AMERICAS LyondellBasell Updates Access Industries terms US$12 billion offer by RIL too low for LyondellBasell Access Industries claimed that the US$12 billion which RIL has valued LyondellBasell was too low, and lacked merit. Access Industries claimed that since creditors like Apollo would make losses if the deal were to go through at RIL’s initial offer, […]

I have just published an op-ed article on India’s oil and gas exploration and production policy.  It appeared in Business Line, India’s leading business newspaper.  The main argument is: That India does not fit ‘Big Oil’s’ strategy need not be disappointing. As the country’s economy grows, ‘Big Oil’ will have to find new business models […]

The New York Times has published a piece commenting on the flood of recent oil field discoveries, far exceeding the pace in this decade. Much as this is cause for joy, new oil finds are deeper, costlier, and more difficult to process. Finally, we ought to have a few more data points before calling a […]

The Gulf of Mexico benefits significantly, as reduced fiscal burdens, political stability, accessible expertise, and technological advancements have transformed it into a prominent hub for hydrocarbon exploration and production.

Total and Saudi Aramco consider the construction of a petrochemicals complex in Saudi Arabia Saudi Aramco and Total are planning to proceed with a previously announced refining and petrochemical project at Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The decision follows a comprehensive, joint front-end engineering and design study launched two years ago. The refinery will have a […]

My Turn – Dr. Balaji B. Singh – The year for Specialty Polyolefins SPO-FlexPO2008, June 25-27, 2008 Houston/Galveston, TX Comments: The start of the New Year heralds a new race for Specialty and value-added polyolefins. Chemical Market Resources focused on technology and value-added polyolefins since 1990 and has conducted over 40 multiclient studies on various […]

Basell to acquire Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc. Basell, the global leader in advanced polyolefins, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Solvay by which Basell will acquire Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc., a leading supplier of polypropylene compounds in North America. The transaction is subject to relevant regulatory approvals and is expected to close […]

My Turn – Dr. Balaji B. Singh – Specialties are Special The advanced nations with low projected polyolefins growth, the Middle East/China the future commodity players, ASEAN countries who are worried about the future impact of Chinese imports – everyone alike is focusing on specialties. Specialties as a means of product differentiation via innovation, R&D, […]

My Turn – Commentary on Global Polyolefins and Elastomers –The Shift of Basic R&D to India and China – Dr. Balaji B. Singh Chemical Market Resources Inc. just completed the FlexPO2006 conference in Singapore. The conference was a roaring success. After the last four years of languishing in depressing North American polyolefins prospects, no innovations, […]

My Turn – Commentary on Global Polyolefins and Elastomers – Dr. Balaji B. Singh Disappearing Giants of Polyolefins and Elastomers – With the recent disappearance of Amoco-BP-Innovene, another giant bit the dust. The difference this time – Innovene a much-tooted polyolefins spin-off of BP-Amoco did not even survive the first anniversary of their inauguration. We […]