Refining
US monthly oil demand nudges up; gasoline down
Despite the modest rise of about 100,000 bpd, demand was the second lowest in March since 1997, the API said. Demand for gasoline, the most widely used petroleum product in the country, fell 2.3% in March to a 13-year low of 8.4 million bpd. First-quarter gasoline use was off 1.7% from a year earlier.
Praxair to supply planned NWR refinery in Alberta with new air separation unit
The North West Redwater refinery is scheduled to start up in 2016. The NWR gasification process will consume oxygen to produce hydrogen, which is used to upgrade bitumen into diesel and other higher value hydrocarbon products. Initially, the refinery will convert 50,000 bpd of bitumen.
Praxair installs new emissions control technology at Valero Oklahoma refinery
Praxair says its proprietary CONOx system is a practical, low-capital cost technology for refiners searching for a way to reduce emissions. It also allows refiners more flexibility to modify the operation of the FCC unit as needed while ensuring FCC limits are always being met.
China bank to fund proposed West Canada refinery
British Columbia-based media mogul David Black has been touting what he says will be among the 10 largest refineries in the world. He envisions refining oil from Alberta's oil sands at the $25 billion facility and exporting it from the Pacific port of Kitimat, B.C., to markets in Asia.
UK lawmakers to investigate decline in refining
The Energy and Climate Change Committee, appointed by parliament to examine government expenditure, administration and policy, said it was seeking evidence on what must be done to maintain a suitable baseline level of capacity. The UK had 18 oil refineries in the late 1970s, but has just 7 in 2013.
Honeywell to upgrade automation for Idemitsu at Japan refining complex
Idemitsu Kosan, one of Japan's largest refining and petrochemical companies, said it hopes to modernize its control systems at Tokuyama while adopting global best practices and applications that can be added onto the Experion architecture quickly and with minimal disruption to operations.
Executives predict shale boom in Russia and China, but Europe lags behind
Torbjorn Tornqvist, chief executive of trading house Gunvor, said Wednesday it was clear that shale production on a scale similar to that in the US is possible in several of the world's biggest current energy producers and consumers -- but that Europe is unlikely to be transformed by it.
ExxonMobil refinery fire in Beaumont injures 12
Six injured workers were taken to local hospitals for treatment, with three receiving critical burns. The unit where the fire occurred was shut down for maintenance at the time of Wednesday's blaze.
Exxon offers to buy homes near Arkansas spill site
The move is part of Exxon's response to the rupture of the Pegasus pipeline, which on March 29 spilled about 5,000 bbl of oil into streets and yards of the community. Crews were still at work this week cleaning some areas, and none of the residents of 22 evacuated homes have yet returned.
US investigators blame Chevron over Richmond refinery fire
The investigators found Chevron didn't apply safer design principles at the California refinery and also didn't fix a corroded pipe that ruptured and caused a fire and vapor cloud. The August fire at the 245,000 bpd refinery near San Francisco burned for hours, sending thick, black smoke over the San Francisco Bay.
- 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
