Crude oil
Industry Metrics
US refining margins showed slight gains on the top of the barrel as a result of cold weather-related refinery outages, rebounding slightly from the previous month.
Editorial Comment: The future of refining—sulfur need not apply
According to multiple industry reports, crude oil consumption will continue to increase over the short term.
Flexibility in desalting operations for opportunity crudes
Typically, opportunity crudes require more rigorous desalting to yield high-quality products due to high levels of naphthenic acids, basic sediment and water (BS&W) and filterable solids, among others.
Upgrading the bottom of the barrel
In the past few decades, new technologies, including both carbon rejection methods and catalytic conversion methods, have emerged.
Industry Metrics
Record low temperatures in the eastern US strengthened the diesel market but extended the downward trend in refining margins.
Eliminate mechanical seal failure in a crude distillation unit
Multiple mechanical seal failures in a crude distillation unit (CDU) resulted in total losses of $3 MM in a refinery since its startup in January 2015. The maximum seal life achieved did not exceed 6 mos, which was much shorter than the American Petroleum Institute (API) 682 “Advancements in Mechanical Sealing” goal of 3 yr of seal life.
Oil shipments from Georgia's Batumi port fall by more than a third in 2017
TBILISI (Reuters) — Oil and related shipments from Georgia's Black Sea port of Batumi fell 37.6% in 2017, a senior official at the terminal, operated by Kazakh KazMunaiGas , said on Friday.
Japan's Idemitsu, Showa Shell to combine crude loading programs
TOKYO (Reuters) — Japanese oil refiners Idemitsu Kosan and Showa Shell Sekiyu have started work to integrate the so-called loading programs through which they purchase crude, Idemitsu's CEO said.
China says will limit oil, refined product exports to N.Korea
BEIJING (Reuters) — China's Commerce Ministry said on Friday it will limit exports of crude oil, refined oil products, steel and other metals to North Korea, in line with tough new sanctions imposed by the United Nations for Pyongyang's missile tests.
Tallgrass Energy announces crude oil terminal acquisitions, developments at Pony Express
LEAWOOD, Kan. — Tallgrass Energy Partners, LP announced two strategic acquisitions by its Tallgrass Terminals business and several significant commercial developments that continue to expand the variety of services offered by Pony Express in key crude oil producing basins it serves.
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