Refining
PdVSA awards Venezuela refinery expansion work to Foster Wheeler, Toyo
Foster Wheeler will execute the project in consortium with Toyo Engineering Corp. from Japan and Y & V Ingeniería y Construcción from Venezuela. The consortium previously completed the front-end engineering design for the project. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
Celanese, Pertamina to collaborate on fuel ethanol projects in Indonesia
In line with a long-term strategy to develop new and renewable energy sources, Pertamina will collaborate exclusively with Celanese to jointly develop synthetic fuel ethanol projects in Indonesia utilizing Celanese’s proprietary TCX ethanol process technology. Production could begin in about 30 months.
BP, Russian partners discuss stake sale in TNK-BP crude oil venture
The talks set up an end game for what has proved to be a highly profitable, but tempestuous BP adventure in Russia, one that could yet draw in other major players in the country's state-dominated energy sector.
BP to commission delayed UK biorefinery this year
The construction of the biorefinery, one of the world's largest, was due to be completed by late spring. The delays are due to BP ensuring it is "dotting every i and crossing every t," said Phillip New, BP Biofuels CEO.
Total sees improving European refining margins
The $38.20/ton margin nearly doubled the $20.90/ton figure in the first quarter of this year, Total said in its quarterly chart of main indicators. European refining economics have been relatively weak for years, but margins have greatly improved in recent months amid the closure of several facilities.
Codexis eyes biofuel technology license from Shell
Under the agreement, Shell has agreed to negotiate exclusively with Codexis through September 1 on the terms of a new agreement under which Shell would grant certain rights and licenses in the biofuels field to develop and sell cellulase enzymes to third parties on a worldwide basis, except Brazil.
Buffett firm cuts Conoco stake, buys into Phillips 66
The Houston-based refiner finds itself in a current upswing in the refining space as low natural gas prices help keep costs lower to run hydrocrackers that make gasoline. Average second-quarter refining margins for refiners improved by nearly $6/bbl above the first quarter.
Western Refining settles N.M. emissions violations
The settlement stems from excess sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants emitted by Western's refinery in Gallup, New Mexico, between July 2009 and March 2012. Western also agreed to upgrade equipment at the 20,800 bpd refinery to lower emission levels.
Global refined oil product demand to lag supply over next two years - IEA
More than 1 million bpd of new refining capacity is likely to come online this year, and a further 1.3 million bpd in 2013, compared with 400,000 bpd in 2011. The additions to capacity will grossly outpace demand growth for oil products, which the IEA estimates will average 800,000 bpd this year.
BP to pay $13mn to settle most Texas City refinery safety violations
The settlement comes after BP resolved all but 30 of the violations the government cited, many stemming from OSHA's contention that BP did not provide enough safety system instructions to workers. OSHA said the additional violations will be settled or sent to litigation by the end of the year.
- Sinopec, Aramco start building $10-B petchem complex in China's Fujian 11/18
- Clariant EnviCat N2O-S catalyst to cut CO2eq by 690,000 tpy at Hengli’s nitric acid plant in China 11/18
- 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
