-An empty asphalt tank at Calumet Specialty Products Partners’ oil refinery in Superior, Wis., caught fire Tuesday afternoon. Via the Duluth News Tribune, the fire was contained and there were no injuries. The local fire chief said residual chemicals fueled the blaze. Calumet and the Superior Fire Department were set to begin an investigation today.
-Valero hopes a pipeline reversal project in Canada will eliminate the need for crude oil rail deliveries to its Quebec refinery. Via the San Antonio Business Journal, Enbridge could receive approval next month to reverse a pipeline that currently flows from east to west and passes through Quebec. Earlier this year two trains carrying synthetic crude to Valero’s Jean Gaulin refinery near Quebec City derailed.
-Wind energy advocates hope a project off the coast of Rhode Island will be a turning point for an industry that has stalled in the U.S., the Associated Press reports. Although construction has only just begun, Deepwater Wind is the farthest along of the 11 offshore wind projects under development in the U.S. Developers and analysts blame regulatory hurdles and opposition from fossil fuel interests, among other factors, for the wind industry’s slow start.
-BP said in court documents last week any Clean Water Act fine above $2 billion related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill could severely damage its U.S. exploration and production company. Via FuelFix, the British firm argued that it shouldn’t have to pay a high environmental penalty given that it has already spent $27.5 billion on cleanup activities and claim compensation. A federal judge will soon decide on the amount of the fine, which could be as high as $13.7 billion.
-Anadarko named Darrell Holek executive vice president, U.S. Onshore Exploration and Production. He succeeds Charles Meloy, who will retire in June. Holek has been with Anadarko for 35 years, serving most recently as senior vice president, Deepwater Americas Operations.
