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Diesel

Release of strategic oil reserves: New form of economic stimulus

On June 23 International Energy Agency (IEA) members announced the release of 60 million barrels of strategic oil reserves over a month—the equivalent of 2 million barrels per day (bpd) for 30 days. Half of this amount—30 million barrels—will come from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which currently holds 726.5 million barrels of crude. The release of 60 million barrels over 30 days will temporarily increase world oil supply by about 2.3 percent.

New diesel hydrotreater from Axens starts up at Ras Tanura refinery

A grassroots diesel hydrotreater unit (Prime-DTM), licensed by Axens, has successfully been put into production at Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery, company officials said on Friday.

Lubrizol shareholders approve sale to Berkshire

At a special meeting on Thursday, shareholders of specialty chemicals firm Lubrizol overwhelmingly approved the acquisition of the company by Berkshire Hathaway for $135/share in an all-cash transaction.

Honeywell to begin work on new transportation fuels refinery in Iraq

UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, said Wednesday that its technology has been selected for a new transportation fuel refinery to be built in Iraq, with design to begin in the second quarter of 2011.

Oil refiner Holly joins Endicott's US biodiesel project

Endicott Biofuels has teamed up with US petroleum refiner Holly Corp. to form the Sabine Biofuels joint venture, in which the companies will collaborate on a 30mn gal/year biorefinery currently under construction in Port Arthur, Texas.

US petroleum demand rises in April as distillate gains offset lower gasoline use - API

A strong increase in distillate fuel demand this April over a year ago drove an overall rise in petroleum product demand, offsetting a decline in gasoline demand, the American Petroleum Institute (API) trade group said on Friday.

Margins surge for US inland refiners as Cushing crude bottleneck leads to WTI discount - study

US refinery margins surged in the first quarter, led mostly by inland refineries amid historically low prices for WTI-priced inland crude oils relative to waterborne alternatives, according to a study released on Tuesday from consulting firm Baker & O’Brien.

ExxonMobil shuts parts of two Louisiana crude pipelines amid flooding concerns

ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. has shut down parts of two pipelines in Louisiana amid increased flooding concerns along the Mississippi River, the company said on Friday.

Albemarle acquires biodiesel catalyst firm Catilin

US specialty chemicals firm Albemarle has expanded its presence in the biofuels market by acquiring Catilin, a technology leader in the development and application of heterogeneous biodiesel catalysis.

Total completes deep conversion at Port Arthur refinery, new units on-stream

Total on Thursday announced the completion of a three-year, $2.2 billion expansion of its Port Arthur refinery, with all new units successfully started and on-stream.