Environment & Safety
Gulf refiners brace as Hurricane Isaac strikes land
UPDATE: Isaac intensified to a hurricane Tuesday prior to making an evening landfall in extreme southeast Louisiana. Several major downstream facilities appear in its path.
Venezuela refinery tank fires mostly extinguished
Officials, including Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez, said through state media outlets that the blaze at the 640,000 bpd Amuay facility was extinguished. Government-run television VTV and state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, or PdVSA, both reported that all three of the affected tanks were cleared.
US finalizes new fuel efficiency standards for autos
The final rule sets an average fuel economy requirement of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 for each auto maker’s fleet, the same level the administration initially proposed in November 2011. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney opposes the standards set by the Obama administration.
US Gulf refiners shut down operations ahead of likely Hurricane Isaac
The storm appears poised to affect US refining operations, about 19% of which are in Louisiana and Mississippi. Forecasters say Isaac should make landfall by Wednesday, most likely in southeast Louisiana.
Venezuela refinery explosion boosts prospects for US Gulf refiners
Whether the Amuay refinery can return to normal rates with a reduced storage capacity is in doubt, analysts said, adding that “the outage has reportedly forced” state-owned PdVSA to buy products from US refiners.
Explosion at Amuay refinery in Venezuela kills 41; fire still burning
Crews battling the fire, which broke out early Saturday following a likely gas leak explosion that killed 41 people and injured over 80 more, were dealt a setback by shifting winds overnight. The government has a stance that the plant could resume operations in just a couple days.
Protesters occupy Gazprom Arctic oil platform
UPDATE: Fifteen hours after boarding Gazprom's Arctic oil platform in the Pechora Sea, six Greenpeace International protesters have left the platform. Gazprom officials said in a statement that normal operations continue on the platform and were not interrupted by the protest.
ConocoPhillips: Four workers injured in Wyoming gas processing plant fire
The fire extinguished itself immediately and the four contract employees have been transported to receive medical attention, according to a statement. The maintenance operation has been suspended.
EPA opens review into US corn ethanol mandate
The Environmental Protection Agency said it received formal requests from the governors of Arkansas and North Carolina to ease the renewable-fuel standard, triggering a 90-day review that could lead to the agency's first-ever decision to reduce or waive the mandate.
US appeals court rejects industry challenge to EPA ethanol blend decision
Trade groups representing the oil and auto industries had challenged the decision. Bob Greco, downstream director at the American Petroleum Institute, said it is "astounding that the court does not accept that refiners, who must comply with the ethanol mandate, have standing to bring this case."
- CNOOC completes construction on $2.9-B, 1.8-MMtpy integrated complex in east China 8/22
- bp's Whiting refinery (U.S.) continues to flare days after severe thunderstorm 8/22
- Bachmann introduces latest version M-Target for Simulink 8/22
- U.S. to rule on biofuel waivers, but big oil refiners may need to wait 8/22
- Chinese independent refiner Hongrun buys Canadian, Brazilian crude 8/22
- Ukrainian attack suspends Russian oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia 8/22
