Americas
OPEC pins high oil prices on speculators, IEA warns of supply woes
Leaders of some of the world's largest oil producing nations Wednesday pinned current high oil prices primarily on market speculators, just as consuming nations warned that even present increased output levels are being more than offset by numerous supply problems.
Petrobras to boost gasoline, diesel imports in 2012
Brazil's Petrobras will need to import more gasoline and diesel fuel in 2012 as the company's refineries continue to fall short of domestic demand, Petrobras downstream director Paulo Roberto Costa said. Petrobras is also suffering from delays to refinery projects that will help trim the company's shortfall.
API sues EPA over US cellulosic biofuel mandate
The API) filed a lawsuit with the DC Circuit Court challenging what it called “unachievable requirements” from the US EPA for use of cellulosic biofuels in the 2012 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The API recommends that EPA base their prediction on at least two months of actual production data.
Oil producers start to worry about rising prices
As they prepare to meet with consumers at an energy summit in Kuwait, some of the world's top oil producers voiced concern that rising oil prices may backfire by jeopardizing a global economic recovery. The UK's Brent contract has risen by 17% since the start of the year amid tensions with Iran.
AFPM '12: Tesoro CEO criticizes "challenging" regulatory environment in US
Executives at the annual meeting in San Diego said the oil industry needs to do a better job of informing the public what they do and why fuel prices have increased.
Chevron says oil, gas output to jump 20% by 2017
Chevron said Tuesday its oil and gas production will inch up this year but it expects output to jump 20% in five years as massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Australia commence operations. Chevron officials noted that annual production could vary depending on oil prices.
Foster Wheeler wins design deal for LNG terminal in Dominican Republic
Foster Wheeler has been awarded the basic design and front-end engineering design contract by Complejo GNL del Este for a new LNG receiving terminal and jetty to be built in San Pedro de Marcorís in the Dominican Republic. The undisclosed value will be included in the company’s first-quarter 2012 results.
Rockwell Automation buys protective systems firm SoftSwitching Technologies
Rockwell Automation has purchased the assets of SoftSwitching Technologies, a US provider of industrial power quality detection and protection systems. The company's solutions improve uptime in manufacturing production by identifying and correcting brief power disruptions called “voltage sags”.
Valero contract worker dies after flash fire at Memphis refinery
Nicolas Cuevas, one of three contract workers injured in a flash fire last week at Valero Energy Corp.'s oil refinery in Memphis, Tenn., died Saturday afternoon, a Valero spokesman said. The men were working at the flare platform as part of the crude unit turnaround that got under way March 2.
Motiva to convert N.J. storage to ULSD, biodiesel
Motiva plans to convert all of its high sulfur diesel heating oil (2000 ppm) storage to ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) (15 ppm) at its Sewaren Terminal in New Jersey. That will allow Motiva Sewaren, a 5mn bbl refined products terminal, to take deliveries of ULSD for NYMEX-based contracts via marine and pipeline.
- Indonesia expects EU to adjust palm oil biofuel stance after EU ruling 1/17
- First-ever ammonia and propane co-loaded vessel completes voyage from U.S. to Europe 1/17
- China's vast refining sector faces shakeout as fuel demand peaks 1/17
- Oman Oil Marketing Co. and TFG Marine establish bunker fuel supply JV 1/17
- Beware Egypt's smokestack onshoring as cement exports surge 1/17
- Petrobras reports record high refinery output in 2024 1/17