Refining
Shell, ONGC discuss Indian oil, gas opportunities
Executives at ONGC said they were in the process of agreeing to a long-term alliance with Shell to jointly explore oil and gas production. In India, Shell currently has a small retail presence and is involved in developing a liquefied natural gas import and regasification terminal at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.
China successfully tests first flight using Sinopec's new aviation biofuel
A China Eastern Airlines Corp. passenger airplane took off from an airport in Shanghai and traveled for about 90 minutes using the fuel, which is made from palm oil and restaurant oil, Sinopec said in a news release. Sinopec added that the fuel was certified by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Survey finds majority support Keystone XL pipeline
Nearly 75% of Americans and 68% of Canadians said they support or somewhat support the project, which would carry heavy crude from the Alberta oil sands to the US Gulf for refining. "Energy security, particularly in the US, is driving views on energy issues," said Nik Nanos, president of Nanos Research.
Brazil announces stimulus package for ethanol, petrochemical producers
The Brazilian government is hoping that lower taxes on the country's sugarcane ethanol and petrochemical industries will help boost the competitiveness of exports.
Global diesel prices likely to weaken in 2014 with startup of Jubail refinery
In product markets, the new refinery will add to the supply of clean diesel in Saudi Arabia and Europe -- markets typically supplied by India. Since Indian refiners export diesel to so many markets, the appearance of this competing supply source may have bearish consequences for global diesel prices.
Qatar Petroleum, Total to build condensate refinery
Construction of the refinery, which will be operated by Qatargas, is expected to be complete by the second half of 2016 and will have a total capacity of 146,000 bpd. It will have a daily production capacity of 60,000 bbl of naphtha, 53,000 bbl of jet fuel, 24,000 bbl of gas oil and 9,000 bbl of LPG.
Singapore shifts energy focus from refining to specialty chemicals
These days, attracting new refinery projects isn't a "specific aim" of the EDB, a government agency that promotes Singapore as an investment destination. They instead want new investment in specialty chemicals, which they say isn't as crowded with competitors.
US monthly oil demand nudges up; gasoline down
Despite the modest rise of about 100,000 bpd, demand was the second lowest in March since 1997, the API said. Demand for gasoline, the most widely used petroleum product in the country, fell 2.3% in March to a 13-year low of 8.4 million bpd. First-quarter gasoline use was off 1.7% from a year earlier.
Praxair to supply planned NWR refinery in Alberta with new air separation unit
The North West Redwater refinery is scheduled to start up in 2016. The NWR gasification process will consume oxygen to produce hydrogen, which is used to upgrade bitumen into diesel and other higher value hydrocarbon products. Initially, the refinery will convert 50,000 bpd of bitumen.
Praxair installs new emissions control technology at Valero Oklahoma refinery
Praxair says its proprietary CONOx system is a practical, low-capital cost technology for refiners searching for a way to reduce emissions. It also allows refiners more flexibility to modify the operation of the FCC unit as needed while ensuring FCC limits are always being met.

- PyroGenesis announces completion of coke-oven gas valorization and H2 production project for Tata Steel 7/15
- New protein-based system enables plastic recycling with reusable enzymes 7/15
- CF Industries starts Donaldsonville (U.S.) Complex CO2 dehydration and compression unit, permanent CO2 sequestration 7/15
- Emerson introduces GenAI-enabled automation for power and water industries 7/15
- Trump's sanctions threat looms over Russian oil exports to China, India and Turkey 7/15
- China state refiners ramp up output on rising demand, stock rebuild 7/15