Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Asia/Pacific

Indonesia's Pertamina removes CEO, deputy in management shakeup

JAKARTA (Reuters) -- Indonesia's Pertamina has removed its CEO Dwi Soetjipto and Deputy CEO Ahmad Bambang, company and government officials said on Friday citing leadership problems, and new and renewable energy director Yenni Andayani has been appointed acting CEO.

SK Innovation sees refining margins staying healthy in 2017

SEOUL (Reuters) -- Refining margins will stay firm in 2017, backed by limited additions to refined product supplies and solid demand growth, SK Innovation, which owns South Korea's top refiner, said on Friday.

Spike in maintenance expected to boost oil refining margins

ANTWERP (Reuters) -- Increased refinery maintenance in Asia and the Middle East is expected to boost profits for operators in other regions in the first half of this year, market watchers said on Wednesday.

SK Innovation buys Dow Chemical's ethylene acrylic acid unit for $370 MM

SEOUL (Reuters) -- South Korea's SK Innovation said on Thursday it would acquire Dow Chemical Co's ethylene acrylic acid (EAA) business for $370 million, a move that will expand its range of high value-added chemical products.

Oil prices fall after sharp rise in US stockpiles

SINGAPORE/TOKYO (Reuters) -- Oil prices fell on Thursday after official data showed US crude and gasoline stockpiles rose sharply, although signs that OPEC and other producers are holding the line on output cuts helped support prices.

S.Korea's S-Oil expects firm refining profits in 2017

SEOUL (Reuters) -- South Korea's S-Oil Corp expects healthy refining profits this year, buoyed by growing demand for oil products in places such as China and Southeast Asia.

Industry Metrics

European refinery margins weakened due to slower gasoline export opportunities, despite the colder weather.

Global Project Data

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

According to Hydrocarbon Processing’s Construction Boxscore Database, new project announcements have averaged 11 per month since mid-2016.

Business Trends: Anticipated market and pricing impacts from new marine fuel regulations

EnSys Energy: Tallett, M.  |  Witmer, T.  |  Dunbar, D.
Navigistics Consulting: St. Amand, D.

In October 2016, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that it will implement a new regulation that calls for the sulfur content in marine fuels to be reduced from 3.5% to 0.5%. The new regulation will go into effect in January 2020. This action by the IMO will have a profound impact on the maritime and refining industries worldwide, as well as on the environment. This month’s Business Trends section provides an overview on the anticipated impacts of the IMO’s decision on petroleum product markets.

Industry Perspectives: Global desulfurization capacity to skyrocket over the long term

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

According to OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2016, desulfurization capacity additions represent the largest capacity increases among all process units to 2040. This trend is due to increased regulations on the amount of sulfur allowed in transportation fuels.