Crude oil

Manage reliability and asset management performance by implementing a reliable operations committee program

This article examines how the author's company instituted a reliable operations committee program at its refinery in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. The main goal of the program is to oversee the implementation and performance of maintenance and reliability programs to ensure a culture of optimum reliability and endorse new initiatives and programs that enhance maintenance performance in the facility.

Synergize FCCUs and hydrocracking processing units to maximize refining margins—Part 2

Part 1 of this article appeared in the February issue. Part 2 here will explore the role of FCC and hydrocracking in crude-to-chemicals and the challenge of cracked feeds, among other topics. 

Heat exchanger modifications during hydrocracking and lube oil basestock units’ revamp at BPCL’s Mumbai refinery

This article provides insights into several possibilities for modifying heat exchangers that will help refinery owners/operators and consultants to plan similar revamp activities. 

Sizing PRVs for homogeneous non-equilibrium saturated flashing liquids

Venezuela loses 20% of oil exports after cargo cancellations to Chevron

Venezuela's oil exports fell almost 20% to some 700,000 bpd in April, the lowest level in nine months, as cargo cancellations to U.S.-based producer Chevron forced ships to return and left some ports empty.

EIA: Oil prices and refinery margins fell slightly in first quarter of 2025

During the first quarter (1Q) of 2025, crude oil prices generally decreased while U.S. refinery margins initially increased before decreasing in the final month of the quarter. In its quarterly update, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reviews petroleum markets price developments in 1Q, covering crude oil prices, refinery margins, biofuel compliance credit prices and natural gas plant liquids prices.

EIA: U.S. crude, gasoline stockpiles fall; distillates build last week

U.S. crude oil and gasoline stocks fell, while distillate inventories rose last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Wednesday. Crude inventories fell by 2.7 MMbbl to 440.4 MMbbl in the week ended April 25, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations for a 429,000-bbl rise.

INEOS CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe: Carbon tax and high energy costs are killing off manufacturing in Britain

Grangemouth refinery (Scotland) ceases crude oil processing, transitions into import terminal

Scotland's only oil refinery ceased crude oil processing as of Tuesday, operator Petroineos said in a statement, as the site transitions to an import terminal.

EIA: U.S. imports of major transportation fuels decreased in 2024

U.S. imports of petroleum products decreased by 210,000 bpd in 2024 to average 1.8 MMbpd. Imports of all major transportation fuels, such as motor gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, as well as other products, such as unfinished oils, decreased.