Shell Chemical Co

Goodyear to Sell Polyester Business: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. said it plans to sell its polyester business to Shell Chemical Co. to help cut its $2.6-billion debt. The sale price was not disclosed, but analysts estimated that the world's No. 3 tire maker could pocket up to $250 million from the deal. Included in the sale would be Goodyear's polyester resin manufacturing facility in Point Pleasant, W.Va., its polyester technical center in Akron and related assets.

Fluor Daniel Inc. has received a contract from Shell Chemical Co. to build a chemical facility in Norco, La. The value of the contract was not disclosed. Fluor Daniel said its Metairie, La., office will provide construction management services for the expansion of an ethylene plant. When completed late next year, the facility will produce ethylene, a petrochemical feedstock.

Fluor Daniel Inc. has received a contract from Shell Chemical Co. to build a chemical facility in Norco, La. The value of the contract was not disclosed. Fluor Daniel said its Metairie, La., office will provide construction management services for the expansion of an ethylene plant. When completed late next year, the facility will produce ethylene, a petrochemical feedstock.

Shell Chemical Agrees to Pay Penalties Related to Explosion: The division of Shell Oil Co., the U.S. arm of Royal/Dutch Shell Group, agreed to pay $3.02 million in penalties to settle charges related to a fatal explosion at an Ohio plant, the Labor Department said. Shell Chemical Co. also agreed to make significant improvements at its Belpre, Ohio, facility, where an explosion killed three workers on May 27, said the department's Occupational Safety & Health Administration unit.

Shell Chemical Agrees to Pay Penalties Related to Explosion: The division of Shell Oil Co., the U.S. arm of Royal/Dutch Shell Group, agreed to pay $3.02 million in penalties to settle charges related to a fatal explosion at an Ohio plant, the Labor Department said. Shell Chemical Co. also agreed to make significant improvements at its Belpre, Ohio, facility, where an explosion killed three workers on May 27, said the department's Occupational Safety & Health Administration unit.

A San Diego jury ordered Shell Chemical Co. and two other companies to pay almost $50 million in punitive damages to homeowners and a developer for water damage caused by faulty plumbing pipe that the companies manufactured. The class-action lawsuit was brought by 41 San Diego homeowners and the builder of the Briarwood Pointe project against Shell Chemical Co., the U.S. Brass unit of Eljer Industries Inc. and Hoechst Celanese Corp.

Thomas Edwin Wheeler, a World War II veteran and recipient of a Purple Heart, died at his home in Ventura on Saturday following a sudden illness. He was 72. Wheeler was born May 10, 1926, in Columbus, Ohio. He was the only child of Lester and Treva Wheeler, his family said. Wheeler worked for Shell Chemical Co., and served 20 years as a civil service firefighter on San Nicholas Island. He had retired from both careers, his family said.

An explosion at a chemical plant sent flames shooting hundreds of feet into the air Friday and produced a mass of thick, black smoke that forced 1,700 people to flee. One of the employees in the Shell Chemical Co. plant at the time was killed, the company said in a statement. Two others were missing late Friday and presumed dead. Plant manager Arnie Dittmar would not identify the three, but said their families had been notified. No injuries were reported, officials said.

Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc., a major Japanese chemical maker, said it will establish an equally owned venture with Shell International Chemical Co. of Britain to make polyurethane resin raw materials. The Tokyo-based company said a production base will be established in Spain, Italy or France. The two companies are scheduled to complete a joint feasibility study in the three countries by the end of this year and the site of a plant will be chosen early next year.

Calgene, the Davis, Calif.-based agricultural biotechnology concern, on Wednesday announced structural changes and appointments in its executive ranks that cement the company's transition from a technology-driven boutique to a product- and marketing-oriented business. Named as president and chief operating officer was Roderick N. Stacey, a business consultant who has served on the Calgene board of directors since 1990.

A San Diego jury ordered Shell Chemical Co. and two other companies to pay almost $50 million in punitive damages to homeowners and a developer for water damage caused by faulty plumbing pipe that the companies manufactured. The class-action lawsuit was brought by 41 San Diego homeowners and the builder of the Briarwood Pointe project against Shell Chemical Co., the U.S. Brass unit of Eljer Industries Inc. and Hoechst Celanese Corp.

Goodyear to Sell Polyester Business: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. said it plans to sell its polyester business to Shell Chemical Co. to help cut its $2.6-billion debt. The sale price was not disclosed, but analysts estimated that the world's No. 3 tire maker could pocket up to $250 million from the deal. Included in the sale would be Goodyear's polyester resin manufacturing facility in Point Pleasant, W.Va., its polyester technical center in Akron and related assets.

An explosion at a chemical plant sent flames shooting hundreds of feet into the air Friday and produced a mass of thick, black smoke that forced 1,700 people to flee. At least one person was killed. One of the three employees who were in the Shell Chemical Co. plant at the time was killed, Shell said. The two others were missing late Friday and presumed dead, the company said in a statement. Plant Manager Arnie Dittmar would not identify the three, but said their families had been notified.

Thousands of banana pickers in Costa Rica have filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against two chemical companies and three major U.S. fresh produce companies, claiming exposure to a toxic pesticide caused a range of reproductive disorders. The suit -- filed against Dole Food Co., Chiquita Brands International Inc., Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Dow Chemical Co. and Shell Chemical Co.