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Gasoline

US demand for oil, products drops to historic lows

Demand for all major petroleum products was lower in 2012, led by a near 400,000-bpd decline in gasoline demand. Gasoline use fell 0.6% to an average of 8.703 million bpd, the weakest level in 11 years. Gasoline is the most widely used petroleum product in the world's biggest oil consumer.

API appeals E15 gasoline rule to US Supreme Court

The group alleges that had EPA stayed within its statutory authority and followed proper procedures, it would have waited until ongoing E15 testing on engines and fuel systems was completed before allowing the use of E15. Then it would have found that E15 is not safe for numerous vehicles.

China to raise fuel standards for diesel, gasoline

China's State Council, or cabinet, said Wednesday it would ratchet up national fuel standards to levels similar to those currently found in the US and Europe by the end of 2017. Beijing will also give room to China's refining industry to pass on the cost to consumers, according to the statement.

Neste Oil to expand Porvoo refinery in Finland with new isomerization unit

The investment, valued at €65 million, is intended to increase the output of high-octane gasoline and improve refining flexibility at the site. The isomerization unit will have a capacity of 600,000 tpy. Construction will begin this year, and the unit is due to come on stream in spring 2015.

New residue-upgrading complex achieves Euro 5 specifications

Criterion Catalysts and Technologies: de Haan, D.
Shell Global Solutions International BV: Street, M.
Grupa LOTOS Gdańsk refinery: Orzeszko, G.

In late 2010, Grupa LOTOS SA completed construction of a major residue-upgrading project at its refinery in Gdańsk, Poland. Its 10+ Program was designed to unlock a step change in the facility’s long-term profitability. After two years of operating, this project has had a profound effect on the refinery’s economics.

Select new production strategies for FCC light cycle oil

Selective adjustments to FCC operating variables and catalyst quality can significantly increase LCO production, which refiners can then upgrade into diesel blendstock.

Use an innovative cracking catalyst to upgrade residue feedstock

Tamoil S.A.: Jollien, Y.-A.
BASF Corp.: Keeley, C.  |  Mayol, J.  |  Riva, S.  |  Komvokis, V.

Tamoil’s Collombey refinery worked very close with a new catalyst supplier to remove the main operating constraint and significantly improve the unit profitability. Several project goals were set and attained.

Consider advanced technology to remove benzene from gasoline blending pool

Calumet Superior LLC: Thom, T.
Badger Licensing LLC: Birkhoff, R.  |  Moy, E.
ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co.: El-Malki, E-M

As more regions increasingly adopt clean-fuel regulations, the challenge for refiners is to meet these tightening gasoline specifications for benzene cost-effectively without significant octane loss.

Venice’s biorefinery: How refining overcapacity can become an opportunity with an innovative idea

eni S.p.A. Refining and Marketing Division: Amoroso, A.  |  Rispoli, G.  |  Prati, C.

Eni invested in an innovative project involving the conversion of the existing refining scheme of its Venice refinery into a “green cycle” to process very high-quality biofuels starting from biological feedstocks.

HP Boxscore Construction Analysis: 2013 global construction outlook

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

The downstream industry is investing billions of dollars in the development and construction of grassroots facilities, along with expansions and upgrades to existing plants.