Middle East
Improve the performance of your existing steam system
This discussion tracks a material flow through the steam system, starting with feed and continuing with steam generation, steam uses and, finally, condensate recovery.
BP names new head of safety, operational risk
Bob Fryar, who is executive vice president for production in BP's upstream business, will take up his new position from Feb. 15. The role includes oversight for security. He will take over from Mark Bly, who has headed BP's safety functions since March 2008 and who plans to retire from BP in the summer.
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.
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.
IEA says Middle East oil producers are increasingly accepting renewables
Many Gulf countries have made ambitious plans for increasing the share that renewables play in their energy mix. Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia has said it will adopt a renewable energy program at the start of 2013 while Kuwait said in December that it aims to produce 15% of its energy from renewables by 2030.
Qatar, Shell bring new GTL jet fuel to market
GTL jet fuel blended with synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) at the Pearl GTL plant in Qatar is now flowing into airplane tanks at Doha International Airport.
Forecast: 1 million new NG-fueled vehicles to hit global roads by 2019
Pike Research recently issued a forecast calling for the sale of nearly 1 million new natural gas-fueled trucks and buses on roads worldwide between 2012 and 2019.
Saudi Arabia slashes oil production in December
As demand for crude from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries falls this year, the Saudi cut shows that the kingdom, "still wants to have, and does have, the role as the swing producer in the market," said Thina Saltvedt, a senior oil market analyst at Nordea Bank Norge.
Chevron sees weaker US, global refining margins
During the first two months of the fourth quarter, US refinery crude-input volumes decreased by 77,000 bpd compared to the third quarter, driven primarily by the continued shutdown of the Richmond, California refinery crude unit. International refinery crude-input volumes increased 9,000 bpd.
- Valero Energy Q4 profit beats estimates; shares surge 1/30
- Dow launches "Transform to Outperform" to raise the competitive industry benchmark for productivity and growth to enable improved returns 1/30
- Russian oil refineries' peak maintenance expected in January and September 1/30
- U.S. lifts some Venezuela sanctions to ease oil sales 1/30
- Keppel, Aster plan sustainable aviation fuel project in Singapore 1/30
- Boeing, Israel's Technion to develop sustainable aviation fuel, as sector grapples with 2050 goal 1/30

