Refining
ASTM Petroleum Committee working on ETBE test method
The eventual approval of a proposed new test method currently being developed by ASTM International Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants will allow a recently approved D02 specification to attain full compliance with form and style for ASTM standards.
Repsol sells stake in REFAP refinery for $350 million
Repsol has agreed to sell to Petrobras its 30% stake in the Alberto Pasqualini refinery (REFAP) in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Following the transaction, Petrobras becomes the only shareholder of the refinery, which has a nominal capacity of 190,000 bbld.
Team overcomes major obstacles to cellulosic biofuel production
A newly engineered yeast strain can simultaneously consume two types of sugar from plants to produce ethanol, researchers report.
Saudi Aramco and CNPC vow to strengthen cooperation
Saudi Aramco and China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), parent of PetroChina, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during a four-day visit to Saudi Arabia by a CNPC delegation headed by CNPC President Jiang Jiemin.
R&D project announced in the industrial biofuels realm
Hunt Global Resources announced that its bio-solutions division has launched an exclusive research and product development project with Carbon Green, a company that recycles used tires by conversion to recovered steel, oil and a commercially accepted substitute for carbon black in tire manufacturing.
Refinery explosion in Oklahoma, no injuries reported
Gary-Williams Energy Co. suffered an explosion and fire yesterday at its refinery in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
Amyris and São Martinho select construction manager for Brazilian industrial plant
Amyris and Grupo São Martinho have contracted with a construction manager for their joint venture industrial plant and that they are commencing preparation of the construction site for the plant. The parties established their joint venture, SMA Indústria Química SA, in April 2010 to create the first facility fully dedicated to the production of Amyris renewable products.
Foster Wheeler will engineer new blending plant in Belgium
Foster Wheeler AG’s Global Engineering and Construction Group has been awarded a contract by Kuwait Petroleum International Lubricants for the provision of detailed engineering services for a brownfield lube oil blending plant to be built at Kuwait Petroleum's facility at Antwerp, Belgium.
Terasen Gas receives approval to use pipeline-quality biogas in British Columbia
Terasen Gas has received approval from the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for a new renewable natural gas program for an initial two-year period.
US Department of Energy offering up to $30 million for research into next gen biofuels
The US Department of Energy is now accepting applications for up to $30 million in total funding for small-scale process integration projects that support the development of advanced biofuels that will be able to replace gasoline or diesel without requiring special upgrades or changes to the vehicle or fueling infrastructure.

- Europe's chemical industry seeks a lifeboat to stay in business 7/21
- BlackRock-led group set to invest in $10 billion Aramco Jafurah infrastructure deal 7/21
- Yara announces possible new ammonia projects in the U.S. 7/21
- U.S. firms to develop Syria energy masterplan after Trump lifts sanctions 7/18
- Russian seaborne diesel exports for July 1–15 fall 6% month-on-month 7/18
- INEOS invests £30 MM to slash emissions at Hull site by 75% 7/18