Technip’s purchase of key process technology will give it a chance to pursue new opportunities in the U.S., its CEO says. It also will gain 500 employees in Houston.  More »

Dow Chemical Co. CEO Andrew Liveris sat down for an interview with the Houston Chronicle after announcing a new $1.7 billion ethylene cracker in Freeport to take advantage of surging supplies of domestic natural gas and its byproduct liquids. The plant is one of four new or expanding facilities Dow is building at its Freeport [...]  More »

The Dow Chemical Co. announced today that it plans to build a new ethylene production plant in Freeport that will create thousands of jobs, representing the latest company to take advantage in the boom in domestic natural gas drilling.  More »

Two weeks ago the Fifth Circuit released its opinion in Luminant v. EPA, (5th Cir. No. 10-60891, filed March 26, 2012) finding that the EPA’s decision to disapprove Texas Administrative Code 116.617 governing standard permits for pollution control equipment that “reduce or maintain currently authorized emission rates for facilities authorized by permit” was arbitrary and [...]  More »

Chevron Phillips Chemical Company announced plans today to build the world’s largest plant by capacity for a key component of plastic resin in Baytown.  More »

The North American shale boom has excited petrochemical companies eager for a new era of cheap resources to feed production of plastics that go into everything from diapers to plumbing, executives said Wednesday.  More »

A Texas City BP plant is reporting a minor chemical leak today.  More »

Oral argument was held last week in the complex challenge to the EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations for major stationary sources. Judges Tatel, Sentelle and Rogers of the DC Circuit showed a good grasp of the issues according to observers. Despite the intense interest in the case, it seems unlikely, however, that the outcome will be [...]  More »

Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. said its industry may spend $30 billion to build U.S. factories that convert natural gas into plastics because shale gas has made American production the cheapest outside the Middle East.  More »

Phoenix fire officials say they think they know what caused a big stink that prompted 250 calls over two hours, with some people complaining of nausea and headaches.  More »

A surge in U.S. natural-gas production from shale rock is spurring states to compete for companies to produce chemicals from the fuel, the Wall Street Journal reported.  More »

The Woodlands-based chemical company plans to cut 61 Pasadena employees beginning in February, due to closure of a polypropylene facility.  More »