This Week in Chemical Engineering - Fuels & Petrochemicals Spotlight: October 9, 2018

Don't miss out on the latest business and technology news for chemical engineers, featuring select items in relation to Fuels & Petrochemicals.

Trade dispute with China hurts US crude exports

US crude shipments to China fell to zero in August from 384,000 barrels per day in July, per Census Bureau trade data, amid mounting trade tensions between the nations. Total US crude exports fell from 2.14 million barrels daily in July to 1.75 million barrels per day in August, with America's largest crude buyers being Canada and South Korea.

Permian oil, gas industry maintains growth momentum

The Permian Basin's petroleum economy continued to expand in July, with the Texas Permian Basin Petroleum Index up six points from June and 26.4% above its level a year prior, according to economist Karr Ingham, who creates the index. Since July 2017, oil and natural gas employment rose 25% year-on-year to 40,520, the rig count was up 18.9% to an average of 378, and well completions increased 29.6% to 429.

AI, machine learning take on climate change, renewable energy

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are being used to address challenges in climate change, the generation of renewable energy, transportation and health care, Abhinav Rai of UpGrad writes. "As artificial intelligence and machine learning continue to evolve -- and consequently [become] more intelligent -- they are likely to solve more global problems, thus bringing us closer to realizing our goals for truly sustainable development," he concludes.

Annual Meeting set for Pittsburgh, Oct. 28 to Nov. 2

The 2018 AIChE Annual Meeting convenes at Pittsburgh, PA's David L. Lawrence Convention Center beginning Oct. 28. In addition to spotlighting emerging areas of chemical engineering technology -- such as next-generation manufacturing, immunotherapy, and food engineering -- the meeting will mark AIChE's 110th anniversary with century-spanning overviews of chemical engineering's evolution, current opportunities, and future prospects. Read more and register.