Shell last Thursday announced that it will not move forward with the proposed 140,000 barrels per day Gulf Coast gas-to-liquids (GTL) project in Louisiana and will suspend any further work on the project. Despite the ample supplies of natural gas in the area, the company has taken the decision that GTL is not a viable option for Shell in North America at this time.

Caterpillar has revised its now 106 page 3600 Series and C280 Series Diesel Engine Fluids Recommendations - Operations and Maintenance Manual, SEBU7003 (Rev. 5). This bulletin covers Caterpillar's most current recommendations and specifications for lubricants, fuel and cooling system fluids for use in these Caterpillar generator sets and marine diesel engines.
 

Construction of NexLube's lube oil re-refinery at the Port of Tampa is on hold because of financial problems, officials said last Tuesday. Company officials say that construction costs are exceeding its budgeted costs and that the company recently stopped construction for up to three to six months while it renegotiates contracts. Plans were for the plant to open in 2014.

London-based Cleantech industrial oil re-refining group Hydrodec Group plc, confirmed last Monday that an explosion and fire took place at its transformer oil re-refining facility in Canton, Ohio on Sunday afternoon December 1 which has resulted in an estimated $12.5 million in damages and an indefinite shutdown of the plant.

Britain’s Morris Lubricants has appointed Craig Bastable as its new marketing manager to support the company’s continued growth in the UK and worldwide. Bastable, 30, from Dudley, joins the company after spending eight years in business to business marketing with leading industrial distribution companies.

• Lubrizol to Host 2013 Global Powertrain Virtual Summit on December 12
• Petronas Dagangan and Shell Timur to Divest Their Entire 40% Equity Stake (20% Each) in Assar Chemicals Dua to Senari Synergy for RM13 (USD4.04) Million
• Tacoma-based Petroleum Distributor Pettit Oil Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Reorganization
• North Carolina Issues Stop-Sale Order on Everclear Motor Oil and Automatic Transmission Fluid
• Amyris and TOTAL Form Fuels Joint Venture