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Crude oil

Hess, PdVSA finish shutdown of Hovensa refinery venture in Virgin Islands

Hovensa completed the previously-announced shutdown of its 350,000 bpd refinery on the US Virgin Island of St. Croix, the company said. The oil-fuel refinery is a joint venture between oil company Hess and Petroleos de Venezuela (PdVSA), the state-owned oil company of Venezuela.

API says more US oil needed to cut gasoline costs

John Felmy, chief economist with the American Petroleum Institute (API) trade group, says the US must develop more of its own oil and natural gas and allow additional oil imports from Canada. "By far, the single biggest factor in today’s higher gasoline prices is the rising cost of crude oil," Felmy said.

SemGroup, Chesapeake, Gavilon form JV to build Oklahoma crude pipeline

A venture between SemGroup, Gavilon Midstream Energy and a Chesapeake Energy affiliate plans to build a 210-mile pipeline in western and north central Oklahoma to deliver crude oil to a storage facility in Cushing, Okla. Construction should begin in July and service is expected in the 2013 third quarter.

IEA says Europe can handle loss of Iranian oil

The EU could handle a sudden end to imports of Iranian oil because of changes already being made due to the coming ban on Iranian shipments, an IEA official said. But the official also warned that the standoff has the potential to hurt the global economy by pushing oil prices higher.

Greek refiner Motor Oil Hellas no longer buying Iranian crude

Greek refiner Motor Oil Hellas is no longer buying Iranian crude, and has not done so for some time, a person at the company told Dow Jones Newswires Monday. Motor Oil Hellas is one of two major refiners in Greece and is able to process more than 180,000 bpd of oil.

US, Mexico agree to collaborate on Gulf oil projects

The United States and Mexico agreed Monday to work together on oil and gas development in the Gulf of Mexico, paving the way to end a long-running moratorium on their maritime border. "For the first time, American energy companies will be able to collaborate with Pemex," Clinton said.

Taiwan considers reducing crude imports from Iran

Taiwan is considering cutting imports of crude oil from Iran in cooperation with US and European efforts to choke off Iran's oil revenue over the nation's nuclear program, a foreign affairs official said Thursday. The US has held talks with several of its Asian partners about the effort to cut off Iran's oil exports.

US January petroleum demand falls from 2011 on lower heating oil use - API

Total petroleum deliveries (a measure of demand) fell 5.7% this January compared with January 2011 to just over 18 million bpd, according to monthly data from the American Petroleum Institute (API). The slide in heating fuel demand reflects January’s relatively warm temperatures, the group said.

US officials approve Shell oil spill plan for Alaska

US officials have approved an oil-spill plan for Royal Dutch Shell as the company looks to begin drilling in the Arctic, saying that Shell has demonstrated its ability to respond to potential spills in icy waters despite protests from environmental groups. Shell still has to obtain drilling permits from the Interior Department.

Enbridge discovers eastern Michigan pipeline leak

Enbridge Energy is investigating the cause of a pipeline leak in eastern Michigan, according to a government filing made pubic Thursday. Enbridge said it discovered a small amount of oil Thursday in the soil near the town of Sterling in Arena County, according to the company's filing with the National Response Center.