NuStar Logistics has reactivated and plans to operate its 60-mile Pettus South Pipeline to transport Eagle Ford crude oil to Corpus Christi, TX, part of its agreement with Koch Pipeline Co. LP, a subsidiary of Koch Industries Inc. The move will add 30,000 b/d of capacity to the Koch system, which totals about 540 miles in South Texas. In May 2010 Koch completed projects to expand its crude oil and gas condensates capacity by 25,000 b/d, then added another 50,000 b/d of crude and condensate capacity through an agreement with Arrowhead Pipeline LP in September 2010.

Growth in North American shale gas production has prompted Bechtel Corp. and Linde AG to work together to expand and build ethylene cracker plants, the companies said. The Bechtel-Linde team will serve the North American market from Bechtel’s offices in Houston. Over the past decade, Bechtel has built ethylene facilities in China, India, and the United Arab Emirates. Linde claims the highest market share in ethane crackers, including one of the largest such facilities in the world.