Refining
HP Innovations: Innovations
Membrane element improves gas processingUOP's new Separex Flux+ membrane element is designed to increase natural gas processing capacity, compared with existing technology, allowing producers to captu..
Overflow systems are the last line of defense
The overflow system is the last line of defense against the excessive container filling. An overflow system consists of an overflow nozzle with internal and/or external piping and, in some cases, a si..
Chinese drivers pushing up gasoline consumption as diesel use plateaus
Gasoline is gaining market share as more Chinese buy private vehicles, which mostly run on gasoline. Diesel-fueled cars are a rarity in China, as government policy has often discouraged diesel use for private transportation. Gasoline consumption growth has gradually eclipsed diesel's in recent years.
Phillips 66 aims to refine only US, Canadian crudes
Phillips 66 said it boosted the share of discounted crude produced in the US and Canada that its refineries process to 68% of its feedstock, up from 60% last year. The company said relatively cheap oil from shale and Canadian sources is central to the company's midcontinent refineries.
Uganda eyes 120,000 bpd pipeline to export crude
The country is also planning to build a 30,000 bpd refinery to produce refined fuel products for the local market, allowing the pipeline to transport additional crude to export markets through neighboring Kenya, according to Kalisa Kabagambe, the ministry's permanent secretary.
Valero looks to boost refinery processing capacity for light, sweet crudes
Valero said it was spending about $500 million for new equipment at its refineries in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas, to increase their light, sweet crude refining capacity by a combined 160,000 bpd. The company was also planning to ship more crude oil from Texas to its refinery in Quebec City,
Union workers threaten strike at ExxonMobil refinery in Baytown
About 850 union employees could halt work on June 15 at the 584,000-bpd refinery unless new contract language is agreed to. The USW has raised concerns about safety in Baytown since June 2011, after a worker suffered burns on 25% of his body because of a problem with a steam vent valve.
Imperial Oil starts up Kearl oil sands production
Located in the Athabasca region of northeastern Alberta, production from Kearl's initial development is expected to reach daily production of 110,000 bbl by late this year. Expansion will add another 110,000 bpd by late 2015, and the project has the potential to produce a capacity of 345,000 bpd by 2020.
TransCanada delays planned Keystone XL start
The company pushed back the in-service date for its proposed Keystone XL pipeline to the second half of 2015 as it awaits US government approval for the controversial project. The US State Department is still reviewing the project, which is opposed by environmental groups.
Neste Oil to upgrade heaters at Porvoo refinery
As part of the investment, fired heaters at the refinery's crude distillation unit will be replaced with new-generation heaters, which Neste says will help ensure more consistent, incident-free operations at the site and yield annual energy savings worth an estimated €4 million.
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- Tampnet brings mission-critical connectivity to hydrocarbon processing industries 2/6
- Cheniere submits application to build massive LNG plant in Texas 2/6
- OQ and Kuwait Petroleum sign PDA for Duqm petrochemical complex project 2/6
- Phillips 66 to lay off workers as Los Angeles (U.S.) refinery shuts down 2/6
