Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Refining

BP cancels plan for Florida cellulosic ethanol plant

While ending its pursuit of commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production in the US, BP continues to invest in and operate its world-class biofuels research facility in San Diego, California, and a demonstration plant in Jennings, Louisiana, to further develop next-generation biofuel technologies.

French union calls for 24-hour worker strike at all refineries, oil terminals

The workers at all the refineries in the country will walk out Nov. 5 to protest against the order of a local court to liquidate the refinery of Petit-Couronne, on the northern French coast, which belonged to insolvent Swiss-based refiner Petroplus SA, unless a buyer for the plant appears by then.

Foster Wheeler, Amec win Kuwait refinery work

Amec was awarded the consultancy contract for building a new 615,000 bpd refinery, while Foster Wheeler was appointed as consultant for the so-called clean fuel project, under which two of Kuwait's three existing refineries at Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah will be upgraded.

NGL profitability weakens amid rising US supply

Prices for natural gas liquids (NGLs) have dropped precipitously this year amid growing supplies, weakening margins for a key driver of US shale development. But extracting NGLs, such as ethane, propane and butane remains more attractive than producing dry natural gas, the report says.

Iraq invites foreign companies to develop Nassiriya oilfield, refinery project

The contract would come in a package that would include the construction of a refinery and will have more favorable terms than the previous service contracts that Iraq signed with international oil companies, a domestic oil industry official said, without giving further details.

ExxonMobil, UOP to upgrade production technology for Bosnian refinery

The refiner will combine UOP’s Unicracking hydroprocessing solutions with EMRE’s distillate and lubricant de-waxing technologies. The complex will upgrade more than 45,000 bpd of kerosene, diesel and vacuum gas oil feedstock into high-quality diesel and jet fuels.

Air Products launches US Gulf hydrogen network

Air Products had operated two hydrogen pipeline systems in Texas and Louisiana before joining them with a new 180-mile segment. The new GCCP network is now able to provide hydrogen to customers along the 600-mile pipeline span from over 20 hydrogen production facilities.

Rosneft to buy entirety of Russian TNK-BP venture

A Rosneft takeover of TNK-BP would bring the Russian state's control over oil production to nearly 50% and mark a major milestone in Mr. Putin's reassertion of Kremlin control over the strategic oil sector, much of which was sold off in the privatizations of the 1990s to well-connected tycoons.

Saudi Aramco chooses engineering contractors for Jazan refinery project

The Jazan refinery and terminal project is a 400,000 bpd refinery with associated terminal facilities on the Red Sea near Jazan. Scheduled for completion in late 2016, the refinery will process Arabian Heavy and Arabian Medium crude oils, and produce gasoline, ultra-low sulfur diesel, benzene and paraxylene.

Valero looks to sell two California refineries

Valero, one of the largest US refiners, operates a 78,000-bpd refinery in Wilmington outside Los Angeles and a 132,000-bpd refinery in Benicia, in the San Francisco Bay area. Together the plants represent about 10% of the company's US refining capacity. Valero has not yet put a price tag on the refineries.