Refining
BP refinery in Texas City disrupted by acid leak
BP's refinery in Texas City, Texas, reported a hydrofluoric acid leak Tuesday that disrupted operations at one unit of the plant and led to a shelter-in-place warning on the refinery grounds. Water is being sprayed over the leak site to limit the spread of vapor and the acid is being drained to a storage tank.
Sinopec sees unprofitable downstream operations amid rising oil prices
Sinopec said its refining operations posted losses in January and February and that it expects the downstream operations to remain unprofitable if oil prices keep going up. Chairman Fu Chengyu told reporters the firm would accelerate the development of its natural gas business.
IEA data show high oil costs hurting EU consumers
Early data show that high oil prices in Europe have already started to eat into consumer spending in other areas and could push the region back into recession, says the chief economist of the IEA, Fatih Birol. Energy costs could eat up almost double their typical share of Europe's income this year.
Obama calls for expediting southern portion of Keystone XL pipeline
With the pipeline, TransCanada would bring oil from Cushing, Oklahoma, to US Gulf refineries, helping ease a supply glut.
US oil demand down in February as consumers switch to natural gas - API
Total US petroleum deliveries fell 2.3% this February compared with February 2011, pulled down by a decline in residual fuel oil (40.2%) and other oil (liquid petrochemical feedstocks, naphtha and gasoil) deliveries. The steep decline in residual fuel demand related to users switching to natural gas.
Iran crude oil exports drop as sanctions take hold
Iran's crude oil exports appeared to have sharply dropped this month for the first time this year, according to an authoritative consultancy, as sanctions start denting Tehran's most important source of revenue. Iran's crude oil exports had been stable at 2.2 million bpd until now.
Celanese wins government approval for industrial ethanol plant in China
Celanese says it has received key government approvals necessary to proceed with plans to modify its existing integrated acetyl facility at the Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park to produce ethanol for industrial uses. The unit, expected to increase profits, is expected to start up in mid-2013.
India in talks to smoothen Iran crude oil supplies
India has shown no signs of giving in to US pressure to reduce its business dealings with Iran, with the government and a top trade body moving in quite the opposite direction. New Delhi is in talks with Iran to ensure uninterrupted crude oil supplies, as well as to smoothen settlement of payments.
Global refining catalyst market driven by growth in hydroprocessing
The market improvement is led by demand for cleaner fuels, increasing use of heavier and dirtier feedstocks and additions to refining capacity, a new study says.
Siemens wins $30mn deal from Ecopetrol for water treatment at Colombia refinery
The industry automation division at Siemens will equip the Reficar refinery in Cartagena, Colombia, with an integrated water treatment solution. It is part of a project to expand and modernize the refinery, which is scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2013.
- Fertiglobe, Covestro and TA’ZIZ sign MoU to explore strategic ammonia collaboration 2/9
- S-Oil signs nearly $4-B PE marketing deal with SABIC 2/9
- Indonesia's Pertamina launches $7-B natural resources processing initiative 2/9
- Digital Exclusive: Innovative grassroots CDU-VDU configuration—Pioneering energy efficiency and net-zero pathways in modern refineries 2/9
- Update: Union agrees to U.S. refineries contract, averting nationwide strike 2/9
- Schneider Electric unveils EcoStruxure™ Foxboro software defined automation 2/9
