Refining
Engineering Case Histories: Case 89: Cracking of welds due to weld fatigue
Pressure vessels, piping and fabricated structures adhering to recognized welding codes rarely fail in static loading, unless they are damaged or severely overloaded.
Industry Metrics
Refinery margins weakened in the US due to lower winter demand.
People
Clariant has appointed Britta Fuenfstueck as a new member of its executive committee.
Annual US gasoline use hits eight-year high, but distillate demand drops
Overall, US gasoline demand was 9.2 million bpd in 2015, the most since 2007, US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed on Monday.
IEA: Oil prices have bottomed, but no sharp rise
The price rally will be capped in the medium term by a potential increase in the US shale oil production once a rise in oil prices makes it profitable again.
EU urged to set 2030 biofuels target for security
Competition from cheap oil has added to the pressure on the advanced biofuel industry, which so far has only a non-binding 2020 EU target of 0.5% to guide investment.
Italy’s Eni slashes 2016 investment plans after reporting heavy losses
Eni posted a net loss in the quarter of 8.46 billion euros ($9.4 bln) on Friday after booking charges on its stake in oil service company Saipem and chemical unit Versalis.
India boosts purchases of West African crude as new refinery starts up
Traders said the startup of the 300,000-bpd Paradip refinery, which started processing oil early in February, encouraged more bookings from West Africa to India.
El Nino’s end offers hope for distillate fuel markets
Global oil refiners struggling with enormous stocks of distillate fuel oil as a result of a warm winter and the slowdown in world trade should benefit as the El Nino pattern fades.
Crude prices rise to seven-week high amid strong US gasoline demand
Strong gasoline demand in the US, and an upward revision to the country's economic growth for the fourth quarter, helped boost expectations of oil consumption.
- INEOS Acetyls and Sandpiper Chemicals announce $1.7-B, 1.1-MMtpy low-carbon methanol project in Texas (U.S.) 4/29
- Envision joins AEA Ammonia Certification System pilot to accelerate global clean ammonia trade 4/29
- BASF and Nutrien collaborate on expanding access to low-carbon biofuel markets 4/29
- India proposes rules to allow higher ethanol-blended fuels in vehicles 4/29
- Indian refiners' March crude processing slips 1.8% from a year earlier 4/29
- Sinopec refinery utilization drops, but chemical exports rise due to Iran war 4/29
