Refining
Eni reports Gela refinery working normally again after port suspension
Port authorities Friday authorised a new tugboat to start work in Gela after a suspension had meant that ships couldn't service the refinery for days, which would have eventually resulted in a stoppage at the plant. The Gela refinery has a daily production of about 100,000 bbl of oil.
Valero venture to construct Texas marine terminal
Valero's marine terminal will receive crude tankers of up to Suezmax class, and will be able to operate without the daylight restrictions imposed on other terminals in the upper Sabine-Neches waterway. The crude dock is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Motiva shuts leaky CDU at expanded Texas refinery
The Motiva refinery is jointly owned by Shell and Saudi Arabian Oil Co. The new crude unit is the culmination of a $10 billion expansion project that added 325,000 bpd of capacity and made the refinery one of the largest in the world. The unit, first commissioned in May, has experienced several setbacks.
Enbridge plans pipeline expansions in Canada, US
The Canadian pipeline company, which in November announced it would go ahead with a C$1.8 billion expansion of the system in the oil-rich province of Alberta, said the latest expansion will add 230,000 bpd of capacity. Enbridge said the expansion will involve increased pumping horsepower.
Saudi Arabia secures diesel imports for this year amid rising fuel needs
Saudi Aramco has bought diesel under term contracts for 2013 from multiple suppliers including BP, Shell, and Phillips 66, Singapore-based traders say. The country used to be a key exporter of oil products but is increasingly importing more oil products due to strong domestic demand.
US votes to reinstate biodiesel tax incentive
The $1/gal incentive was first implemented in 2005, though Congress has allowed it to lapse twice. It will be reinstated retroactively to Jan. 1, 2012, and to the end of 2013.
Calumet completes acquisition of NuStar refinery, terminal near San Antonio
The acquired assets include a refinery in San Antonio, Texas with crude oil throughput capacity of approximately 14,500 bpd. The refinery produces ultra-low sulfur diesel, jet fuel, specialty solvents, reformates, naphtha and vacuum gas oil. The aggregate deal price was $115 million.
Refiners now have a new biofuel option
Biobutanol is coming to market as a gasoline blendstock and can be efficiently made by a range of renewable feedstocks.
Evaluate pressure relief system forces in existing installations
The purpose of this study is to limit the number of relief valves that require rigorous engineering calculations to determine the adequacy of the installation.
Improve your plantwide steam network
When optimizing an existing steam network, design and process engineers need a complete understanding of all aspects of the existing system. Accurate energy and material balances must be established.
- 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

