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Crude oil

Brazilian oil workers expected to approve wider Petrobras strike

Workers are protesting Petrobras's latest profit-sharing offer, which the union contends short-changes workers to the benefit of shareholders. The strike is tentatively scheduled to start Feb. 20, said Joao Antonio de Moraes, general coordinator for the Brazilian Oil Workers Federation, or FUP.

Brazilian oil workers expected to approve wider Petrobras strike – union

Workers are protesting Petrobras's latest profit-sharing offer, which the union contends short-changes workers to the benefit of shareholders. The strike is tentatively scheduled to start Feb. 20, said Joao Antonio de Moraes, general coordinator for the Brazilian Oil Workers Federation, or FUP.

Japan boosts imports of Russian LNG, crude oil

Japan's imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia rose 17% to 8.3 million metric tons last year, while its imports of Russian crude oil increased 10% to 10.02 million kiloliters, or about 172,000 bpd. Japan also imported 8.12 million tons of thermal coal from Russia in 2012, up 8.1% from 2011.

Valero exploring use of rail to move Canadian crude oil to US Gulf refineries

Valero already has expanded greatly how much oil from Texas and North Dakota its Gulf Coast refineries use. The San Antonio, Texas, company, the world's largest independent refiner, now is looking into using rail cars to bring Western Canadian oil to the Gulf Coast, home to about two-thirds of its refining capacity.

US could become world's biggest liquid fuels producer by 2014

HP Editorial Staff: HP News Services

Total US production of liquid fuels could equal or surpass Saudi Arabia as early as next year, but crude oil output will still remain short, according to an EIA administrator.

Nebraska approves new Keystone XL pipeline route

The approval by the state's governor, a Republican, is one of the last remaining hurdles the pipeline has to clear before getting a final permit from the Obama administration. Meanwhile, the US State Department is expected to release a draft of its own findings in the coming days.

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.

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.

Aramco, Bapco to upgrade path of joint oil pipeline to lone Bahrain refinery

The project will up the capacity of the pipeline, opened in 1945, to 350,000 bpd of oil from 230,000 bpd, the person said. The project is part of a strategy to develop Bahrain's oil and gas sector.

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.