Refining
US gasoline demand rises 4.5% from prior week
The 4.5% increase to 4.5% to 8.95 million bpd came as gasoline prices sank 15 cents per gallon over the Dec. 7-21 period. Gasoline prices are now at their lowest level in a year and are flat compared with last year's level, said John Gamel, gasoline analyst for MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse.
PdVSA holds meetings with Repsol, Eni to discuss fuel, energy ventures
In a statement released Wednesday, PdVSA, as the Venezuelan company is known, didn't specify what the discussions with Repsol would include. It noted, however, the state entity is in the process of "reviewing and advancing" agreements with its Spanish counterpart, as well as Italy's Eni .
India reports monthly decline in refinery runs
Refinery runs were down 3% from the previous month. However, throughput rose 6.6% on year, and was ahead of the government's target of 14.93 million tons, the data showed. The government didn't give any reasons for changes in the output. The data are based on production from 20 refineries.
Reliance Industries controls Jamnagar refinery fire at west India complex
Reliance, India's largest private refiner by capacity, has two refineries in the Jamnagar complex in the western state of Gujarat. This refinery is the older one and supplies products to the local market, while a new 580,000-bpd refinery is focused on exports. The crude unit will likely be restarted in two days.
API sees lower US oil, gasoline, distillate demand
The US used the lowest volume of oil in 17 years in November, the API trade group said. With the exception of May, US oil use has fallen year-on-year in each month so far in 2012. Eleven-month demand is down 2.1%, or around 400,000 bpd, from the same period a year earlier.
Foster Wheeler wins Kuwait refinery upgrade deal
KNPC’s clean fuels project is a major upgrade and expansion of the Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah Refineries to increase their combined throughput by 264,000 bpd to 800,000 bpd. The objective is to increase conversion of fuel oil to higher value products in order to meet expected market demand.
KBC inks multi-year consulting, software contract with Ecuador refinery
As part of the contract, EP PETROECUADOR will take a five-year license for KBC's process and energy modelling software tools, including the full Petro-SIM suite, to optimize the operation of the refinery. KBC says it will work with EP to improve its core work processes and support systems.
Aramco, Total to double Saudi refining investment
Satorp is building a 400,000 bpd export refinery in Jubail in the kingdom's eastern region, which is expected to be fully operational by the third quarter of 2013. The refinery complex, estimated to cost about $14 billion to build, is part of a drive by the world's top oil exporter to boost refining capacity.
Motiva finds chemical leak to CDU of expanded Port Arthur refinery
Motiva will again have to shut down a crude distillation unit at its expanded refinery segment in Port Arthur, Texas, that had been restarted after about six months of repairs.
NuStar to sell small San Antonio refinery to Calumet
The 14,500-bpd, soon-to-be-sold refinery produces and sells various products, including jet fuels, ultra-low sulfur diesel, and other highly specialized fuels. The Elmendorf terminal, located about 12 miles away from the refinery, stores the crude oil that is processed at the refinery.
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- Russian gasoline output down 25% so far in June after drone attacks on refineries 6/19

