Refining
EPA launches criminal probe into Chevron refinery emissions in California
The investigation into whether Chevron routed sulfur dioxide and other pollutants to bypass the refinery's air emissions monitoring system is the latest black eye against the company's 245,000 bpd refinery. The company is still dealing with the aftermath of an August fire at the plant.
European refining outlook unlikely to improve for next two years
S&P executives say the depressed outlook for European refiners is unlikely to improve as the industry's export market shrinks and excess volumes of gasoline build.
Petrobras charged with crimes in refinery oil spill
The oil leak contaminated the Iguacu River, Guanabara Bay and swamps surrounding the refinery with oil, residues and chemicals, the prosecutor's office said. Officials were also charged with interfering with an investigation conducted by Rio de Janeiro state environmental regulators.
BP may use sale proceeds from TNK-BP to boost stake in Russia's Rosneft
BP's commitment to Russia follows a meeting of BP chief Bob Dudley, BP chairman Carl Henric Svanberg, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "If we're successful at selling our stake, we'd be interested in buying a share in Rosneft," a BP spokesman said. BP already owns 1.3% of Rosneft.
Eni to convert Venice refinery to biofuels plant
The Italian firm plans to start biofuels production in January 2014 and complete the conversion in the first half of 2015, citing a crisis hitting the European refining sector.
Foster Wheeler, Hyundai win design deal for new PdVSA Venezuela refinery
Foster Wheeler’s scope of work includes early detailed engineering design and the delivery of an open book estimate for the crude distillation unit, storage and blending unit and fuel distribution plant. The main release of the detailed engineering design work will be booked at a later date.
BP may sell Texas City refinery to Marathon
BP and Marathon Petroleum have been in talks for months, a news report says, with one source claiming the 400,780 bpd refinery could be sold for up to $2.5 billion.
IEA aims to halve road transport fuel use by 2050
In two reports published Wednesday, the IEA said there was massive potential for fuel efficiency improvements to reduce demand for transport fuels by 2050, even if the number of road vehicles doubles in the same period. The reports highlight technology available or about to enter the mainstream market.
Valero restarts US ethanol plants as margins swell
Valero idled operations in Nebraska and Indiana in June, citing unprofitable returns. Each plant has the capacity to produce 120 million gal/year of ethanol. “Ethanol margins improved to the point where it became feasible to operate the plants again,” said Bill Day, Valero spokesman.
ONEOK seeks shippers for proposed Bakken Shale to Oklahoma crude pipeline
The Bakken Crude Express Pipeline is a proposed 1,300-mile crude-oil pipeline with the capacity to transport 200,000 bpd of light-sweet crude oil from multiple points in the Williston Basin in the Bakken Shale in North Dakota and Montana to the crude-oil market hub in Cushing, Okla.
- 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
