Americas
Tesoro buys BP refinery, logistics in California for $2.5 billion
Upon regulatory approval, Tesoro will acquire the 266,000 bpd Carson refinery near Los Angeles along with a related logistics network of pipelines and storage terminals.
US safety board launches full investigation into Chevron refinery fire
A CSB team with seven investigators arrived at the refinery last Wednesday and has since been conducting witness interviews and reviewing documents at the site. Important issues include understanding why the pipe that later failed was kept in service during a late 2011 maintenance turnaround.
Chevron crude unit at fire-hit California refinery may be out six months
Investigators reportedly found serious damage in the cooling towers, pipe racks and heater tower. Some of the refinery’s secondary units are continuing to operate using feedstock stored at the site, but no decision has been made on whether Chevron will buy additional feed or shut the units during repairs.
Global refinery runs poised to rise amid growth in developing countries
The IEA forecast shows that despite concerns about growth in emerging economies, such as China, demand from there is still growing and refining margins still have room to improve. China's crude intake is likely to increase in the coming months, just at a slower pace than previously expected.
Celanese wins US lawsuit over Southern Chemical methanol supply dispute
The jury said the contract, under which Celanese has paid Southern Chemical about $130 million/year, should continue until its expiration, adding that Celanese did not violate the terms of the agreement. The contract, which expires in 2015, is valid for Celanese operations in the US and Mexico.
Eagle Rock buys BP gas processing plants in Texas
The Sunray plant, in Moore County, and the Hemphill plant, in Hemphill County, have combined processing capacity of approximately 220 million cubic feet/day of gas (mmcf/d) and an associated gathering system of around 2,500 miles of pipelines. The agreement does not include BP's gas producing assets in the area.
Huntsman eyes MDI expansion in Louisiana, begins engineering design study
The company said it is studying several options to expand the Geismar facility, thereby allowing it to meet strong demand in residential and commercial insulation and to maintain Huntsman’s position as a leading MDI supplier in the Americas region. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Cheniere greenlights initial Sabine Pass LNG trains
The first liquefaction train is expected to start operations as early as 2015, with the second liquefaction train expected to commence operations six to nine months thereafter, according to company officials.
US lowers yearly ethanol production outlook by 3%
The EIA said it reduced ethanol production estimates from 900,000 bpd to 870,000 bpd, a reduction of 3.3%. The US agency says it expects ethanol production to recover in the second half of 2013.
HollyFrontier expects Tulsa refinery repairs to take six-to-eight weeks
Crude oil throughput at the 125,000 bpd refinery will be reduced by 30,000 to 40,000 bpd throughout the repair time, a company executive said Wednesday. The diesel hydrotreater unit, a unit that removes contaminants from the diesel stream, was shut on Aug. 2 after an early morning fire.
- IHI, Vopak to launch ammonia terminal project in Japan 7/11
- India's BPCL plans to shut Bina refinery unit for 15-day maintenance in August 7/11
- Soaring electric truck sales deal new blow to diesel use in China 7/11
- Russia`s Tatneft launches new hydrocracking unit on TANECO refinery 7/11
- IEA: Global oil market may be tighter than it looks 7/11
- India must boost its petchem output to counter China's dominance, Reliance says 7/11
