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Refining

Aramco picks Técnicas Reunidas for engineering on Saudi refining projects

Técnicas Reunidas will build a hydrocracker plant and a diesel hydrotreater facility for an upcoming 400,000 bpd refinery and marine terminal project that Saudi Aramco is developing at Jazan, in the kingdom's southwest on the Red Sea coast. The facilities are scheduled to be operational by 2017.

US industry sees self-sufficiency for natural gas, but not crude oil – survey

When it comes to oil, however, survey respondents are far less optimistic about the ability to meet American demand with domestic supplies: 54% say the US will never be completely oil self-sufficient, and only 26% of respondents say oil self-sufficiency is achievable in the next 10 years.

Pertamina may buy LyondellBasell French refinery

The LyondellBasell refinery is under restructuring and its refining units are being mothballed through to the end of 2013 after the company was unable to find a buyer. The refinery would be the third to stop operations in France over the past years amid low demand in the region.

Sudan reaches agreement with China's CNPC to revamp Khartoum refinery

A deal to revamp the 100,000 bpd Khartoum refinery was reached over the weekend during talks between Sudanese Petroleum Minister Awad Ahmed Al Jaz and CNPC vice president Wang Dongjin. The refinery is a joint venture between the Sudanese government and CNPC.

US to overtake Saudi Arabia as top oil producer, says IEA

HP Editorial Staff: HP News Services

A shale oil boom means US production will pass that of Saudi Arabia by 2020, the IEA says, in a radical shift that could greatly transform energy supplies and geopolitics. The assessment is in stark contrast with last year, when the agency envisioned Russia and Saudi Arabia vying for the top position.

PdVSA to restore Amuay refinery output this year

PdVSA has on multiple occasions missed targets for resuming normal operations at Amuay. Reuters reported earlier that the company is waiting for replacements for parts that were damaged in the blast, which, once installed, will restore Amuay to pre-explosion processing levels.

TransCanada expects Keystone XL approval after Obama re-election

HP Editorial Staff: HP News Services

Supporters of the project say it will create jobs, lower gasoline prices and spur US energy independence by greatly increasing the amount of available crude supply. However, the project has drawn the ire of the Sierra Club and other environmental groups, which are worried about safety.

Shell to set up global technology hub in Bangalore

The company said the Bangalore site will become operational by around the middle of the decade and will have up to 1,500 technology specialists. It will provide technology services to exploration, production, refinery, chemical and other businesses, according to a company statement.

US energy groups target Keystone approval, shale as Obama wins second term

Obama won the US election with 332 electoral votes, far exceeding the 270 required to win. Republican challenger Mitt Romney finished with 206. “Right off the bat, the president can approve the Keystone Pipeline and put thousands of Americans to work immediately," said the API's chief executive.

Vietnam strikes deal to build second oil refinery

Plans to build Vietnam's second oil refinery, which comes with a price tag of between $8 billion and $10 billion, has been hampered for years due to financing issues between the Vietnamese government and the two main partners, Japan's Idemitsu Kosan and Kuwait Petroleum.