Refining
Lower refining margins cut Valero’s profit in half
Refiners ramped up production in 2015, leading to higher inventories and weaker margins this year as demand softened during the mild winter.
US Gulf gasoline falls as Motiva restarts FCC unit
Traders and brokers noted that aside from planned or unplanned work, refiners are making fuels despite a sharp drop in margins from a year ago, when crude prices were higher.
Argentina’s ethanol producers prepare to boost output by up to 60%
In April, the government raised the amount of ethanol used by motorists by 2 percentage points to 12%. The move boosted the country's sugar industry, which has been battered by low prices.
Gulf Publishing finalizes management buyout, marks 100-year anniversary
The newly-independent company is retaining the Gulf Publishing name and will continue to publish its energy industry-leading magazines, including Hydrocarbon Processing.
REG expands Illinois biorefinery’s logistics system
REG Danville recently purchased the tank complex at the adjacent Bunge Milling facility for $1.5 million. The tanks are being connected to REG Danville’s existing infrastructure and will increase the biorefinery’s storage capacity for feedstock by at least 950,000 gal and biodiesel by up to 12 million gal.
Couche-Tard acquires Shell’s downstream retail business in Denmark
The transaction between Shell and Couche-Tard has received the appropriate regulatory approvals, and all final closing requirements have been completed.
Bechtel to license delayed coking technology at Assiut refinery in Egypt
The new delayed coking unit will be part of the $1.5B refinery modernization program, using Bechtel's proprietary ThruPlus coking technology to upgrade heavy oil into light hydrocarbon liquids.
Take steps to achieve lubrication maintainability
Do not accept that what the OEM delivered, or how the equipment has been configured for the past 30 years, must be maintained into the future. Optimize yourPM program and look for maintainability improvements to ensure that the right work can be performed in the right way and at the right time.
Apply a short-term, high-temperature carbon steel solution to piping systems
Carbon steel (CS) piping and equipment are used extensively in refineries and petrochemical plants, where fluid temperatures vary from moderate to high for various processes.
Lifting of US crude export ban will impact process safety management
Since the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s, the US government has restricted the export of crude oil to curb dependence on crude oil imports.
- Allied Biofuels signs PIA with Uzbekistan to advance $6-B biofuels refinery project 4/10
- Nufarm strengthens strategic collaboration to support long term growth in biofuels production 4/10
- Pertamina and CRecTech sign MoU to explore pilot biogas-to-biomethanol facility in SEZ, Indonesia 4/10
- Shell Chemicals and Syensqo partner to deliver low-carbon ethylene oxide solutions 4/10
- HAMR Energy’s nationally significant fuel projects selected for Australian Government’s Investor Front Door Pilot 4/10
- HD Hyundai Heavy Industries builds world's first ammonia-powered vessel 4/10
