-ExxonMobil appointed Bob Johnston site manager at its Baton Rouge, La., chemical facility. Johnston replaces Paul Stratford, who began a special assignment with ExxonMobil Chemical’s global operations Oct. 1. Johnston is a 27-year company veteran who has held senior management positions in the U.S., Singapore and the United Kingdom. He most recently served as site manager of ExxonMobil’s Beaumont, Texas, Chemical Plant.
-Tenaska NG Fuels and Waller Marine agreed to build what would be Louisiana’s first natural gas liquefaction and fueling facility at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. The Tenaska Bayou LNG facility will initially be capable of producing 200,000 gallons of LNG per day to supply high-horsepower marine, transportation and oil and gas operations in the area. The firms hope to begin operations in 2017.
-Chevron agreed to sell a 30% interest in its Duvernay shale acreage to Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Corp. (KUFPEC) for $1.5 billion. Chevron will retain a 70% interest in the acreage and remain as the operator. Chevron and KUFPEC will jointly develop liquids-rich shale resources in 330,000 net acres in the Kaybob area of the Duvernay.
-Natural Resource Partners agreed to buy $340 million in oil and gas assets in the Williston Basin from Kaiser-Francis Oil Co. Whiting Petroleum is operating the assets, which are located in the Sanish Field in Mountrail County, N.D. Estimated average production is approximately 3,100 barrels per day. Natural Resources Partners President Wyatt Hogan said 25% of his company’s EBITDA would come from oil and gas as a result of the acquisition. The firm also owns interests in coal, aggregates and industrial minerals across the U.S.
-Dow Chemical will launch an apprenticeship pilot program at various U.S. sites next year. Dow will hire approximately 60 apprentices at five of its Texas plants (Freeport, Bayport, Deer Park, Seadrift and Texas City) and its sites in California, Pittsburgh and the Chicago area. Program participants will be trained for roles as process operators, instrumentation and equipment technicians and analyzer technicians.
