Refining
US bars Enbridge from Wisconsin pipeline restart
The U.S Department of Transportation issued a corrective order against Enbridge for the Wisconsin spill, saying the Calgary energy infrastructure company must conduct new tests on the integrity of the pipeline as well as bring in an independent expert to investigate the company's pipeline maintenance plan.
TransCanada wins final permit to build Gulf leg of Keystone XL pipeline
With the extension, the company says Gulf Coast refiners can access cheaper domestic production and avoid paying a premium to foreign producers, thereby reducing costs.
Gasoline profits decline for European refiners amid weak demand - analysts
Massimo Vacca, head of investor relations at Italy's Saras, said the recent rise in crude prices and in gasoline stocks had contributed to the squeeze on refiners' profits. Profits on gasoline in Northwest Europe have nearly halved to $10.73/ton from $19.23/ton, the lowest level in over two months.
Smithfield CEO calls for US to cut ethanol mandate
In addition to a temporary waiver of the mandate, Congress should pass a bill that would lower the federal Renewable Fuels Standard when US corn supplies fall below a certain threshold, Smithfield CEO C. Larry Pope wrote. A waiver would ease requirements that refiners blend ethanol with gasoline.
Ecuador picks Odebrecht to prepare refinery site
Odebrecht will prepare the construction site for the Refineria del Pacifico, a $13 billion project run by the state oil companies of Venezuela and Ecuador. The refinery, located in the coastal province of Manabi, is scheduled to go on line in 2015 and to reach its complete capacity of 300,000 bpd in 2016.
Caltex to close Sydney's last refinery by late 2014, convert to fuel terminal
The closure of Kurnell, involving the loss of 330 jobs, will bring the number of refineries operating in Australia down to five from seven at the start of this year as Royal Dutch Shell is also due to close its Clyde refinery in Sydney next month. Kurnell's nameplate capacity is 135,000 bpd.
Bakken crude reaches Louisiana refiners by barge
Kirby Corp. appears to be the first barge operator to use America's famed Mississippi River as a highway for oil from the land-locked Bakken, an oil-rich area in North Dakota. The barges take a week to travel down the Mississippi River to bring the oil to the Baton Rouge, La. area.
US safety board says lapses led to BP oil spill
The CSB said a "robust system of process safety indicators" may have revealed problems that led to the disaster, such as discordant safety controls between BP and Transocean.
TNK-BP, Sibur to partner on hydrocarbon feedstock
The Russian companies reached agreement on the indefinite continuation of their Yugragazpererabotka gas processing joint venture, with contracts under the joint venture framework extended through 2026.
Essar, Barclays reach crude oil supply deal for UK Stanlow refinery
Under the three-year deal announced Wednesday, Barclays has already started buying crude for the Stanlow refinery, the UK's second largest at 296,000 bpd. Barclays has also taken control of inventories of crude oil and refined products on the site worth $700 million, Essar said.
- Ineos to shut polystyrene facility in Illinois (U.S.) by the end of the year 6/19
- How ASTM approval of methanol-to-jet accelerates SAF at scale 6/19
- EU crafts plan to give industries extra free CO2 permits this year 6/19
- PetroChina forecasts Chinese oil consumption will drop 4.9% this year 6/19
- Digital Exclusive: Water injection pump mechanical seals failure after pump shutdown 6/19
- Russian gasoline output down 25% so far in June after drone attacks on refineries 6/19
