-North-Dakota-based refinery developer Quantum Energy will form a JV with Native Son Holdings to build and operate a new refinery in Berthold, North Dakota. Quantum CEO Andrew Kacic said in a press release Native Son’s engineers have prepared a construction permit application for a 40,000 barrel-per-day refinery — double the capacity of Quantum’s previous plans. Quantum is working with various landowners, strategic alliance partners, refinery design teams and other entities to build more refineries near the booming Bakken region.
-A section of the Intracoastal Waterway was closed Monday after two barges collided near the entrance to the Houston Ship Channel. Via Reuters, one barge that was carrying 1 million gallons of naphtha caught fire — a blaze that took over four hours to extinguish. The Coast Guard and state authorities said it was unclear if any naphtha had been spilled into the water. No injuries were reported, and a source said the shutdown would likely have little impact on production.
-SunCoke Energy Partners made its first foray into export coal handling by agreeing to buy the Convent Marine Terminal in Convent, Louisiana, from Raven Energy Holdings. The $412 million transaction is expected to close Sept. 1.
-A train that derailed and spilled 35,000 gallons of crude in Montana last week was not speeding, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. Via the Associated Press, a spokesman for the agency said the cars involved in the accident were CP-1232s, which have replaced older DOT-111 tank cars recently but will be phased out under new federal safety rules.
