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Americas

IEA raises forecast for global oil demand in 2013, citing strength in China

In China, which alone accounted for two-thirds of total oil demand growth in the four years to 2011, infrastructure spending, stronger electricity use and increased rail usage could underpin an increase in demand, the IEA said. In Europe, however, the picture still remains bleak.

Dow Chemical splits from US manufacturing lobby amid gas export dispute

In a letter to NAM president Jay Timmons on Friday, and obtained by Dow Jones Newswires, Dow Chemical accuses the group of siding with member companies that are in the natural-gas industry, rather than adopt "a position of neutrality on an issue that clearly splits its membership."

HollyFrontier reportedly hit by fire at Wyoming refinery's delayed coker

A gas leak caused the fire to break at around 12:00 p.m. MST, and refinery operators, the plant's fire brigade and members of Cheyenne's fire department worked to isolate it at the delayed coker unit and to extinguish it by 1:45 p.m. MST on Wednesday, the local news report said.

NOVA restores idled Moore LDPE plant in Canada

The company says that during the period between the incident in late 2011 and now, it committed resources and capital to not only rebuild the reactor, but also enhance its ability to operate more safely and reliably, with a streamlined product slate to better serve customers.

US growth in tight oil production could reshape Canadian oil sands markets

HP Editorial Staff: HP News

The US will remain the main market for Canada's oil sands and its import levels are expected to grow, but the destinations and types of imports are likely to be altered.

US weekly ethanol production sinks to record low

The figure was the lowest since the EIA began releasing weekly ethanol production data in mid-2010. It was slightly below the previous low of 785,000 bpd in late September. US ethanol producers have struggled with weak margins since early last year, pressured by several factors.

BP outlook shows North America shale oil boom putting pressure on OPEC

BP's forecasts illustrate the extent to which the North American boom, first in shale gas production and now in shale oil, has redrawn the global energy map. However, the company doesn't expect the shale revolution to spread by 2030 on any great scale to Asia or Europe.

Valero expands Houston refinery for Texas crudes

The move by Valero, the world's largest independent refiner, illustrates how the US crude-oil production boom is displacing crude-oil imports. Valero said by 2015 it will complete the project to add a 90,000 bpd "crude topper" to the refinery. The company will spend up to $280 million on the project.

UK rejects requests to stop Arctic oil, gas drilling

The UK government said that while it recognized the risks of drilling for hydrocarbons in the sensitive Arctic region, high environmental and drilling standards, efforts to enhance oil spill prevention and response mechanisms would be more effective than a complete ban.

Enterprise inks marine transport deal with Exxon for US refined products

Under the terms of the agreement, which took effect January 1, 2013, Enterprise is committing five tugs and 10 barges for the transportation of refined products and other hydrocarbon products along the US inland waterway system. Financial terms were not disclosed by the companies.