Refining
US shale boom lifts petrochemical exports - report
The US shale gas exploration and production boom continues to fuel significant cost advantages for North American commodity chemicals producers as relative costs of natural gas and oil-based feedstocks remain far apart, according to a new report from credit-watch firm Fitch Ratings.
US grants $5m to Gevo to develop cellulosic jet fuel
Renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels firm Gevo received a $5 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the development of biojet fuel from woody biomass and forest product residues.
Enterprise, Enbridge plan Cushing-to-Gulf pipeline
Enterprise Products and Enbridge are planning to design, construct and operate a new pipeline to transport crude oil from the oversupplied Cushing hub in Oklahoma to the Texas Gulf Coast refining complex outside Houston.
Shell shuts down large Singapore refinery after fire
Shell is in the process of shutting down its 500,000 bpd refinery in Pulau Bukom, Singapore, following the recent fire at the facility, company officials said on Thursday. The fire, which began on Wednesday and may have been started during maintenance work, has been extinguished. However, there are still traces of fuel vapor, according to Shell officials.
API seeks delay of US EPA refinery emissions rules
The American Petroleum Institute (API) is asking the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for additional time to make comments on EPA's proposed rules for emissions from the production of oil and natural gas. API also asked for the EPA to delay its proposed rule for refinery emissions to allow adequate time for EPA to review emissions data submitted by industrial facilities this month, it said.
Amyris, Michelin to develop renewable isoprene
US renewable chemicals and fuels firm Amyris has agreed to work with tire company Michelin on the development and commercialization of renewable isoprene, the chemical building block in rubber tires and other products that use synthetic and natural rubbers.
ConocoPhillips to sell or shut Pennsylvania refinery
ConocoPhillips is seeking to sell its 185,000 bpd refinery in Trainer, Pa., and associated pipelines and terminals, the company announced on Tuesday. ConocoPhillips will immediately begin the process of idling the facility and will permanently close the plant in six months if a sales transaction is unsuccessful, it said.
LyondellBasell to close 105,000 bpd France refinery
LyondellBasell will shut down operations at its 105,000 bpd refinery in Berre, France, after failing to find a buyer for the facility. As a result, refinery operator Compagnie Petrochimique de Berre (CPB) will soon begin work on a project to cease refinery operations, the company said.
Axens technology picked for Saudi Aramco refinery
Axens' technologies have been selected by Saudi Aramco for use in its Jazan refinery and terminal project, the company said on Friday. The refinery, scheduled to be commissioned in December 2016, will have a capacity of 400,000 bpd.
US petroleum demand rose slightly in August - API
Total US petroleum deliveries, used to measure demand, rose slightly in August to 19.7 million bpd compared with August a year ago, with demand for gasoline and distillates moving in opposite directions, according to the American Petroleum Institute (API).
- Brazil's Petrobras approves $1.2 billion investment for renewable fuels plant 6/22
- First batch of equipment arrives in Kazakhstan for $7.7-B Atyrau polyethylene project 6/22
- Explosion at Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG complex kills 13, injures 66 6/22
- Asia has plenty of crude oil, but refined fuels remain tight 6/22
- Fire extinguished at Marathon's Galveston Bay Refinery in Texas (U.S.) 6/22
- El Nino, expanding ethanol use squeeze India sugar supply 6/22
