Refining
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.
US gasoline exports to Venezuela hit record high
The volume was more than double the October level of 39,000 bpd. The gasoline exports come as Venezuela has suffered persist operating problems at some refineries. The country's largest refinery, Amuay, still has recovered only a little more than 50% of capacity since it was shut down after an August accident.
California safety board fines Chevron $1 million for Richmond refinery fire
The Richmond refinery fire in August lasted for hours, sending plumes of black smoke over the San Francisco Bay and causing an estimated 15,000 local residents to visit emergency rooms. An investigation into the fire is ongoing but so far has focused on a corroded pipe leading from the main CDU.
EPA proposes near 9% increase in 2013 for US renewable fuels mandate
The agency said it intended to require US refiners and fuel importers to use a total of 16.55 billion gallons of renewable fuel during 2013, compared to 15.2 billion gallons last year. As in previous years, the lion's share of that mandate is expected to be met with ethanol made from Midwestern corn.
Marathon plans new name, upgrade for BP Texas City refinery
Marathon Petroleum, which officially completes its acquisition of the 415,000 bpd complex on Friday, has begun referring to the Gulf Coast site as the Galveston Bay refinery.
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.
South Korean refining margins projected to remain strong through March
Refining companies are likely to keep run rates high, until maintenance season in March, to take advantage of the better margins, and this will support export volumes. Margins are now supported by strong demand for middle distillates, especially kerosene, due to winter demand in North Asia.
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.
Hess to sell terminals, close New Jersey refinery
Hess no longer considers the terminal network -- which includes 19 terminals along the East Coast and which had been a main outlet for production for its Hovensa joint venture with PdVSA -- as central to its operations. Hess's St. Lucia terminal in the Caribbean also will be in the group offered for sale.
Vietnam inks refinery deal with Japan, Kuwait firms
State-owned PetroVietnam will own a 25.1% stake in the joint venture while Japan's Idemitsu Kosan and Kuwait Petroleum International will each hold 35.1%. Mitsui Chemicals of Japan will own the remaining 4.7%. The refinery will be able to process 10 million tpy of crude oil, the government said.
- Vyterra Renewables receives funding to advance its Nova Scotia low-carbon fuel oil project 3/26
- BASF inaugurates €8.7-B Verbund site in Zhanjiang, China 3/26
- Partners sought from construction and engineering for program to decarbonize £1 T/yr global market for low-carbon jet fuel 3/26
- OCI Global completes handover of Beaumont New Ammonia to Woodside 3/26
- Iran war chokes petrochemical supply, sends plastic prices soaring 3/26
- Russia's vast Kirishi oil refinery halts operations after drone attacks 3/26
