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Crude oil

Enterprise extends shipper commitment period for Appalachia-Texas ethane pipeline

Enterprise Products is extending its open commitment period by two weeks to accommodate additional shipper demand on the partnership’s Appalachia-to-Texas pipeline (ATEX Express). The open commitment period began Wednesday morning and will close on the afternoon of Monday, January 23.

US oil coalition urges Obama to allow Keystone XL

The American Petroleum Institute (API) along with more than a hundred industry organizations sent a letter to President Obama urging him to swiftly approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline. API said it would also launch a new TV ad that will run in key states.

EIA hikes 2012 WTI oil price outlook to $100.25/bbl

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Tuesday raised its 2012 oil price forecast by more than $2/bbl to $100.25/bbl, saying it assumes the US economy grows 1.8% this year. In last month's report, the EIA expected 2012 West Texas Intermediate crude to average $98/bbl

ExxonMobil reports emissions, flaring at Beaumont refinery in Texas

ExxonMobil on Monday said operations at its oil refinery in Beaumont, Texas, had returned to normal following a gas compressor problem the day before. The Beaumont refinery has a capacity of 344,000 bpd.

Maintenance continues at BP Texas City refinery alkylation unit - source

Routine maintenance at an alkylation unit is ongoing at BP’s oil refinery in Texas City, Texas, a person familiar with operations at the plant said on Monday. The refinery is able to process up to 406,570 bpd of crude oil.

US refiners may profit from Petroplus closures in Europe

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

Analysts say refiners could see new opportunities as Europe's largest independent refiner and wholesaler of petroleum products shuts down three of its five refineries.

Repsol shuts FCC unit at Petronor refinery in Spain amid poor margins

Repsol has shut the FCC unit at its 220,000 bpd Petronor refinery in Spain because of dismal refining margins in Europe, Petronor said in a statement. Repsol's Petronor refinery is in the Somorrostro valley, 20 kilometers from Bilbao in northern Spain.

Calumet buys US synthetic lubes unit from Ashland

Calumet Specialty Products completed its previously-announced purchase of the Hercules aviation and refrigerant lubricants business, the polyol/ester-based synlubes subsidiary of Ashland. The Hercules business was previously in Ashland’s water technologies segment.

HollyFrontier plans 45% expansion for Utah refinery

US-based refiner HollyFrontier says it will expand capacity by 45% at its 31,000 bpd refinery in Woods Cross, Utah, raising capacity to 45,000 bpd by the expected completion in late 2014. The company expects incremental yields from the expansion project to be approximately 60% gasoline and 40% diesel, with expansion costs approximately $225 million.

KBR awarded construction deal on ExxonMobil lube base stock plant in Texas

KBR said Thursday it was awarded a construction contract for ExxonMobil’s new synthetics lubricant base stock facility to be built at ExxonMobil’s refinery and chemical plant complex in Baytown, Texas. The award came from Technip USA, the prime contractor responsible for EPC on the project.