Refining
E15 ethanol fuel can damage auto engines - study
Compared with typical gasoline, issues include damaged valves and valve seats, misfires, lower performance, engine damage, poor fuel economy and increased emissions.
Shell reports fire, unplanned unit outage at Motiva refinery in Port Arthur
Shell Oil said a unit was shut unplanned over the weekend at its joint venture Motiva refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, after a relatively brief fire at an associated heater. The Motiva refinery is a joint venture with Saudi Refining. The total throughput capacity is rated at 310,000 bpd.
UK fuel tanker drivers avert strike after close vote
A threatened strike by fuel-tanker drivers has been avoided after members of the drivers' union voted to accept a deal offering common safety standards and training, as well as an accreditation scheme for drivers. The deal was reached after eight days of talks at the UK arbitration group Acas.
IEA predicts sharp rise in global refining production
Refiners are poised to ramp up production after seasonal spring maintenance and expected stronger demand for oil products through the summer, the IEA says. Fuel demand traditionally picks up in the northern hemisphere summer but especially in the US, the world's largest oil consumer.
Qatar looks to buy stakes in oil giants Shell, Eni
Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, continuing its recent splurge on overseas assets, is eyeing stakes in Anglo-Dutch energy group Royal Dutch Shell and Italy's Eni. Qatar is in "very advanced talks" to buy 3-5% of Shell, a major investor in Qatar, and a 3% stake in Italian oil giant Eni.
OPEC boosts group oil production to highest level since '08 recession
Acting to dampen market nervousness amid Iran supply fears, OPEC on Thursday said it was pumping more oil than the market needs - at levels not seen since summer 2008 - and signaled demand destruction had been halted for now. Crude production was up 317,000 bpd month on month.
Petroplus finds buyer for Swiss refinery in Cressier
Varo Holding SA, the joint venture between oil trader Vitol and AtlasInvest, has agreed to buy the 68,000 bpd Cressier refinery in Switzerland from beleaguered Swiss refiner Petroplus. Varo intends to restart the refinery and continue refining operations. The deal is expected to close in the 2012 second quarter.
PetroChina eyes idled Valero refinery in Aruba
PetroChina is reportedly in talks to buy the 235,000 bpd refinery for $350 million. After a January restart, Valero suspended operations in March, citing poor economics.
TransCanada to start building Keystone oil terminal
TransCanada said Wednesday that it successfully concluded an open season for the Keystone Hardisty terminal project. Based on the commitments, the company is expanding the proposed 2 million bbl of crude oil batch accumulation tankage and pipeline infrastructure to a 2.6 million bbl terminal.
Petroplex to build major Louisiana liquids terminal
Petroplex International says it has raised capital to move forward with plans to build a $600 million bulk liquid terminal in St. James Parish, Louisiana, with a projected initial storage capacity of 4 to 6 million bbl. Construction is expected to commence during the first half of 2013, with start up in 2014.
- EU warns of prolonged energy shock, forced cuts if Iran war continues 4/15
- Europe's summer flights at risk as Iran war exposes refining decline 4/15
- Slovak refiner says no deal yet on Adria pipeline tests 4/15
- Japan's weekly gasoline prices largely flat as subsidies offset price spikes 4/15
- Botswana has not requested stake in Lobito refinery, Angola's Sonangol says 4/15
- Tasnee announced delay to SEPC's ethylene/polyethylene plant expansion project 4/15
