Environmentalists will regret their gloating over another setback to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in Canada.

 

Researchers have found a way to prevent icing of powerlines, airplanes, wind turbines, and other surfaces with a special coating and the power of sunlight -- no heating or harsh chemicals needed.

The US drilling rig count gained 4 rigs to 1,048 units working for the week ended Aug. 31, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is up 105 units from this time a year ago when the count stood at 943.

A Nov. 12, 2016, fire on a Gulf of Mexico offshore platform, which injured three Wood Group contract employees, broke out when a flammable gas mixture that was released through the thief hatch on the dry oil tank, migrated into the left fire tube, where it contacted either the left fire tube flame or the left burner pilot flame, a US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement investigation concluded.

Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. has commissioned a unit for production of mixed xylenes at its 160,000-b/d Aichi refinery in Chita, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Commercial operation of the mixed xylene equipment—which includes reformed gasoline xylene recovery equipment—began earlier this month, the operator said.

The drilling outlook in Canada is weakening, according to the Petroleum Services Association of Canada. In the third update of its 2018 drilling forecast, the trade group lowered its forecast for wells drilled, which it measures as rigs released, to 6,900 from 7,400 in the April revision.

Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. said it will establish two condensate refineries with a combined refining capacity of 200,000 b/d at Western Forcados Area and Assah North Ohaji South (ANOH) Areas of Delta and Imo States, Nigera, respectively. NNPC launched a bid opening for the provision of consultancy services to carry out a feasibility study for the two refineries on Aug. 28, the state-owned company said.

In Barclay’s midyear global spending survey of more than 200 companies, global upstream spending for 2018 is on pace to rise 8%, essentially in line with its December spending report. “Compare to the last two cycles, the recovery in global spending has been remarkably restrained, but may be poised to accelerate in 2019 based on encouraging signs in the Middle East and certain offshore markets,” Barclays said.

Oil and gas production from Ohio’s Utica shale grew year-to-year during the second quarter, the Oil and Gas Division in the state’s Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) reported on Aug. 28.

PennEnergy Resources LLC, Pittsburgh, Pa., will acquire substantially all the assets of Rex Energy Corp., State College, Pa., for $600.5 million in a cash deal. Nearly all the combined assets are in the core of the Marcellus shale area with 20 years of drilling inventory, the company said. Rex Energy filed for voluntary bankruptcy and announced plans to sell its Appalachian basin-focused assets in May.