Refining
US oil, shale gas pioneer George Mitchell dies at 94
George Mitchell helped develop new technology for hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, which he used to tap oil & gas at the Barnett Shale in North Texas during the 1980s and 1990s.
Soft refining margins may cut Asian crude demand
Singapore's complex cracking margins have softened to around $3.53/bbl, from around $6.34/bbl a week earlier, data from JBC Energy showed, as margins for gasoil and kerosene fall from seasonal highs.
Gevo begins to supply isobutanol-blended gasoline to US Coast Guard
The US Coast Guard R&D Center is using the Gevo-blended fuel as part of a 12-month, long-term operational study on marine engines that began during June. The testing is being performed under a research and development pact between the US Coast Guard, Honda and Mercury.
AFPM seeks repeal of US renewable fuels rule
The downstream trade group is calling on the US Congress to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), saying the law was based on erroneous assumptions of the market.
Praxair starts operations at new hydrogen plant to supply US Gulf refiners
The new plant houses the largest steam methane reformer (SMR) built by Praxair to date. It will supply hydrogen and up to 450,000 lb/hour of steam to Valero’s new 57,000 bpd hydrocracker.
Petrovietnam to provide Ecuador with diesel oil
Petrovietam won a contract to supply Ecuador with 2.16 million bbl of diesel oil, state-run company Petroecuador confirmed. Nine cargoes of 240,000 bbl each are scheduled to arrive next month.
DuPont seeks joint ventures on cellulosic ethanol
Chemical giant DuPont is seeking partners for joint ventures in the production of cellulosic ethanol as well as licensing related technology. Licensing agreements would include equipment and DuPont's plant design, and DuPont says it would supply the enzymes needed to produce the fuel.
US monthly oil demand plummets to 16-year low as gasoline use drops
Demand for gasoline, the most widely used petroleum product in the world's biggest oil consumer, fell 1.9% from a year earlier to a 12-year June low of 8.865 million bpd, according to the API. Second-quarter gasoline use was 2% lower than in the same period in 2012, at 8.775 million bpd.
Asian diesel exports to Latin America likely to slow amid new refineries
"Upcoming refinery additions will reduce the region's distillate import requirement," ESAI Energy said in a statement this week. "Crude distillation unit, or CDU, capacity additions of 550,000 barrels a day in the region between 2014 and 2016 will offset higher demand," ESAI said.
KBR to install de-asphalting technology at Total refinery near Antwerp
The ROSE technology will split 48,000 bpd of residue from a mix of crude oils into deasphalted oil and asphaltene. The DAO will be upgraded in a mild hydrocracking unit and the asphaltene will be blended into fuel oil. The ROSE unit is expected to significantly enhance the refinery's profitability.
- CTCI awarded $417-MM EPC contract to build ethylene storage in Qatar 11/15
- Russian refineries cut oil runs due to losses, closures loom 11/15
- Spain's Moeve swings to quarterly loss on weak refining margins 11/15
- Asia naphtha supply expected to remain tight over next two years 11/15
- Countries, companies lag in response to tackle methane emissions, U.N. says 11/15
- U.S. energy draws up a wish list for new Trump administration 11/15
