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Refining

UOP technology chosen for modernization project at top Kazakhstan refinery

The Pavlodar refinery (POCR) of KazMunaiGas will use a range of UOP processes and services to modernize its facility in Northeast Kazakhstan Province, allowing it to meet Euro-5 standards aimed at reducing motor vehicle pollution. Established in 1978, POCR is one of Kazakhstan's three oil refineries.

API appeals E15 gasoline rule to US Supreme Court

The group alleges that had EPA stayed within its statutory authority and followed proper procedures, it would have waited until ongoing E15 testing on engines and fuel systems was completed before allowing the use of E15. Then it would have found that E15 is not safe for numerous vehicles.

Cameroon police arrest ousted refinery manager for burglary of prior office

Metouck had been general manager at Sonara for the last decade but last Friday was replaced by Ibrahim Talba Malla at the end of the corporation's board meeting. The former GM was arrested on Monday after having been discovered to have discretely entered the new GM's office.

US crude rail deliveries hit record high, still rising

Refiners increasingly depend on rail cars to bring in the oil being produced in increasing quantities throughout the US and Canada. Innovations in drilling techniques have allowed oil companies to cull oil from shale formations faster than pipeline companies can connect the wells to market.

Tanker drivers to strike for three days at Scottish refinery in Grangemouth

The strike, which will affect delivery of aviation and motor fuel from the 210,000 bpd refinery, is being taken in order to defend pension rights ahead of a transfer of their employment contracts from BP to DHL. BP said in a statement that its priority remains the safe delivery of fuel products.

Worker found dead at Valero refinery in Oklahoma

Valero said the cause of death is unknown and is under investigation -- there are no signs of any release, "no fire, no explosion, nothing like that". The refinery's emergency response team called an ambulance after the man was found unconscious, and the man was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Fuel pipeline from key Iraq refinery under attack

The attack hit the pipeline carrying oil from the refinery in Baiji to Mosul in northern Iraq. It's the second attack on the pipeline in less than a week, forcing the country to ship fuel by road through the northern Ninava province. Ninava province gets all of its fuel from the damaged pipeline, which will take days to fix.

Sinopec wins environmental approvals in China to expand Hainan refinery

Sinopec will expand the capacity of its Hainan refinery to 13 million metric tpy of crude oil, or about 261,000 bpd from the current 8 million tons, or 160,000 bpd, the ministry said in a statement Sunday on its website. The company will also build a new ethylene unit with an annual capacity of 1 million tons.

Companies propose 800-mile Alaska gas pipeline

Under the companies' plan, an 800-mile pipeline would be built with the capacity to ship 3 billion to 3.5 billion cubic feet of gas to an area near a port where the gas would be turned into a liquid. The LNG would be stored in tanks and loaded onto tankers from a loading jetty with two berths.

Enbridge, partners plan pipeline to ship Canadian, Bakken crude to US Gulf

The companies said the Patoka hub can receive crude oil from both western Canada and North Dakota's Bakken play through a variety of existing pipelines as well as through Enbridge's Southern Access Extension pipeline, which is under development. The pipeline is expected to be in service by 2015.