Oil and gas giant ExxonMobil announced last week that it will invest more than $200 million to expand its Baton Rouge chemical and lubricants plants, which will mean increased capacity for synthetic lubricant base stocks manufacturing and lubricants blending, packaging and storage. According to Exxon, the expansion will boost the company’s worldwide capacity of synthetic esters and alkylated naphthalene by more than 25%, making Exxon’s Baton Rouge chemical plant the world’s largest producer of these two products, the company claims.These plans include the construction of a “state-of-the-art” blending center for synthetic aviation oil at Exxon’s Port Allen, La., lubricant blending
Panda Power Funds is bringing two new natural gas-fueled, combined-cycle power plants to Texas, one in Temple and the other in Sherman. Both plants will be built by a turn-key consortium of Bechtel and Siemens Energy Inc. Photo courtesy of Panda Power Funds Artist representation of the 758-megawatt Panda Temple Power Plant. Photo courtesy of Bechtel Bechtel's team helps break ground on Panda Temple Generating Station. Related Links: Panda Power Funds Bechtel The Siemens Energy Sector On September 6, the companies broke ground on the Temple project, which will provide 758-MW of power to the local area when complete in
As the construction industry evolves, so too must the tools with which engineers and contractors do business. Plenty of companies have developed their own apps that do everything from managing project data to calculating cost-per-square-foot of concrete. Texas-based SpawGlass has joined the mix after seeing the need for an app with a broader scope. Related Links: Some Companies Hungry for Custom Business Apps Decide to Build Their Own Earlier this year, SpawGlass launched its Targeted Estimating Database iPad app, which helps with the development of a realistic budget for commercial construction projects by offering real-time, cost-per-square-foot pricing using the average
An idled methanol plant currently located in Chile will soon be relocated to Geismar, La. Related Links: Methanex Corp. Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. Methanex Corp., the plant owner, has hired Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. to complete EPC services for the project. The companies estimate that the construction value will total $550 million.Methanex made the final decision to relocate the plant on July 25. Relocation, compared to a new-build, will offer some capital savings and a reduced project time frame.The facility is being moved for several reasons, according to Methanex, including the North American shale gas boom, which has created a
A slurry-filled sinkhole in the Bayou Corne area of Louisiana’s Assumption Parish that first developed earlier this month now reaches 476 feet (NE to SW) by 640 feet (NW to SE), stretching 300 feet at its deepest as of August 15. Photo courtesy of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources An aerial view of the slurry-filled Bayou Corne sinkhole in Assumption Parish, Louisiana, from August 3. Related Links: Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Assumption Parish While the sinkhole continues to expand, its exact cause remains unknown, a representative from the Department of Environmental Quality tells
It's been nearly a half century since the Texas Dept. of Transportation has taken on a project this ambitious. The $1.9-billion widening and upgrading of 96 miles of Interstate 35 in Central Texas from Salado to Hillsboro make up the most miles of new construction the agency has tackled simultaneously since it first built the state's highway system. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record As a key north-south transportation and economic corridor in the center of state that stretches a total of 492 miles, I-35 is known as "Main Street Texas." Given the upgrade program's massive scope, the main
The impact of the recession continued to sting contractors in 2011. The unsettled market shows some contractors experiencing a rebound while others still suffer. Combined regional revenue for the Top 10 contractors fell to $8.3 billion, down from $8.6 billion in 2010 and $9.4 billion in 2009. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record The makeup of this year's Top 10 offers a good snapshot of the market, as many firms with industrial, petrochemical and power work saw improvement while those focused on the traditional commercial and institutional sectors fell back. Turner Industries, Baton Rouge, remains on top with $1.78
The holidays came early for riders of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail system. DART opened the first 5.4-mile phase of its new Orange Line in July—five months ahead of schedule. Nine miles of the 14-mile project were set to be completed in December, but the design-build team—in DART's first use of the approach—rallied for an early delivery. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record The opening coincided with the 15th Annual Transportation & Infrastructure Summit and 5th Annual Global High-Speed Rail Forum held at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas on Aug. 14-17. The new section includes
Richard W. Galloway was named senior vice president of the water and environment (W&E) group at Atkins. He had been vice president of federal business development and planning director at CH2M Hill. Galloway has 35 years of professional experience as a consultant and contractor to government agencies and private-sector clients. In his new role, he will develop strategies for Atkins' W&E Group in the Texas area and across the country. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record Arthur Stoddart has been named executive vice president of GL Noble Denton's operations in the Americas, which are based in Houston. He previously
While Cajun Industries helped rebuild Louisiana in the years following Katrina, the work also has enabled the Baton Rouge-based contractor to strengthen its own foundations for the future. Traditionally regarded as a civil contractor with expertise in specialties such as foundation and concrete work, Cajun Industries now is a formidable player in the region, this year cracking the Top 10 of ENR Texas and Louisiana's Top Contractors list for the first time. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record Through the recession, the company capitalized on unprecedented opportunities in both the public and private sectors. A combination of work with
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