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Refining

Cereplast finalizes purchase of Italy bioplastics site

US-based bioplastics firm Cereplast has completed its purchase of a manufacturing plant in Assisi (Cannara), Italy that will serve as the hub for the company's European bioplastics production. Cereplast management said it estimates the total cost of the purchase and refurbishment of the facility will be approximately €12 million.

LUKoil begins $3bn/year investment plan for Russia downstream projects

Russia’s largest private oil company LUKoil has begun construction on a gas processing plant (GPP) included in a gas chemical facility (GCF) in Budyonnovsk, Stavropol Territory, part of the company’s plan to invest $3 billion/year in downstream operations from 2012 through 2014.

BP reaches turning point in oil output, safety - CEO

As BP announced its third-quarter financial results on Tuesday, group CEO Bob Dudley put forther more details on BP’s future direction and strategic priorities, saying the company had reached a clear turning point in oil and gas production.

Statoil extends Aker pact for Norway refinery work

Statoil has exercised its option for a three-year extension of its minor modifications frame agreement with Aker Solutions for the Mongstad refinery, located on Norway's west coast.

Williams to supply pipeline, gas processing for US Gulf development of Hess, Chevron

US natural gas infrastructure company Williams has signed agreements with Hess and Chevron to provide production handling, export pipeline, oil and gas gathering and gas processing services in the Tubular Bells field development located in the eastern deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

GE buys majority stake in US fuel-storage terminals

GE is expanding into petroleum product terminals by investing $85 million to become a majority owner of Lightfoot Capital Partners, the company said on Monday. Lightfoot Capital is the majority-owner of Arc Terminals, which operates petroleum product terminals in eight US states.

Algenol begins construction on Florida bio-refinery

Algenol Biofuels has broken ground on construction of its pilot-scale integrated bio-refinery, which will include the first large-scale deployment of Algenol's patented Direct To Ethanol technology to produce ethanol directly from carbon dioxide, sunlight and salt water using blue-green algae in patented photobioreactors (PBRs).

CB&I to design, engineer sulfuric acid alkylation unit in China

CB&I subsidiary Lummus Technology has been awarded a contract by Ningbo Haiyue New Material Co. for the license and engineering design of a grassroots sulfuric acid alkylation unit to be built near Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, China.

US September oil demand up 2.5% from 2010 - API

At 19.9 million bpd, total US petroleum deliveries (a measure of demand) rose 2.5% in September compared with September a year ago, according to figures released on Friday from the American Petroleum Institute (API). While motor gasoline demand was up only slightly by 0.3%, distillate demand reached a record for the month, the trade group said.

Hydrocarbon Processing forecasts 2012 global HPI spending to rise to $222 billion

Spending for the hydrocarbon processing industry is expected to exceed $222 billion next year, up 1.1% over 2011 spending, according to information released on Friday at Hydrocarbon Processing magazine's 38th annual HPI Forecast and Breakfast.