-Phillips 66 entered a long-term agreement with state-owned Chinese refiner Sinopec to sell LPG. Via Reuters, Sinopec did not reveal when the contract will start or how much LPG it will purchase. The firm will use LPG as petrochemical feedstock.
-Also from Reuters, U.S. scientists say they have devised a cleaner and less expensive alternative for making fuel from natural gas. The researchers say their conversion process uses a much lower temperature than the conventional method and is simpler. They also touted the potential capital cost savings of the process, which uses ordinary metals instead of precious metals. A demonstration could come within three years.
-The Association of American Railroads said crude oil shipments by major U.S. railroads surged 83% year-over-year in 2013.
-Suncor Energy kicked off three weeks of planned maintenance activity at its Commerce City, Colo., refinery.
-Meanwhile, ExxonMobil reported a shutdown at its polyethylene plant in Beaumont, Texas. Via Platts, the shutdown was reported after the discovery of a leak that resulted in a release of 584 pounds of ethylene.
