Refining
Jacobs wins engineering work on Afipsky refinery expansion in Russia
Jacobs was awarded a contract from Afipsky Refinery, located in the Krasnodarskij region of Russia, to develop a basic engineering package for an amine regenerator unit, a sour water stripper and an expected 55 tpd sulfur recovery unit (SRU). Officials did not disclose the contract value.
Petroplus UK administrator aims to sell Coryton refinery within month
The administrator of Petroplus Holdings’ UK subsidiaries says he aims to reach a deal to sell the Coryton refinery in England within 30 days. "A couple of potential buyers and investors are now in the due-diligence stage," said Unite trade union regional industrial organizer Russ Ball.
Chevron sees downstream margins up in refining, down in marketing
US energy major Chevron says its downstream earnings in the first quarter are expected to be higher, reflecting improved refining and chemicals margins, lower operating expenses, and gains on asset sales. International refinery crude-input volumes were up slightly compared to the fourth quarter.
China adjusts fee for foreign JV energy projects
Foreign joint ventures involved in oil and gas production in China will now be charged a compensation fee calculated on production value rather than volume. China first levied a fee on foreign joint ventures based on production volume in 1990. However, it suspended the fee in November 2011.
Oneok plans US crude pipeline from Bakken Shale to Cushing storage hub
ONEOK Partners plans to invest $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion between now and 2015 to build a 1,300-mile crude oil pipeline with the capacity to transport 200,000 bpd. Construction is expected to begin in late 2013 or early 2014 and be completed by early 2015, the company said.
BG Group to invest $2bn on R&D in Brazil oil sector
BG Group plans to invest more than $2 billion on research and development in Brazil's oil industry in a bid to become the country's biggest foreign producer by 2020, the Financial Times newspaper reported. The R&D budget of more than $2 billion would be spent by 2025, an official said.
Phillips 66 to focus on chemical, pipeline units, less on fuels - CEO
The ConocoPhillips downstream spinoff will focus on growing its chemical and midstream segments at the expense of refining due to the weak outlook for fuel demand.
Marathon agrees to limit refinery pollution in US Clean Air Act settlement
The US DoJ and EPA said Marathon Petroleum agreed to reduce air pollution from all six of the company's petroleum refineries as part of a settlement over alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. Marathon, headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, will also pay a civil penalty of $460,000. It had no immediate comment.
Shell considering gas-to-diesel plant in Louisiana
Royal Dutch Shell is considering building a giant plant in Louisiana that would convert natural gas into diesel fuel, several people familiar with the company's plans said. The Anglo-Dutch company is expected to take up to two years to develop detailed engineering plans to determine if the plant is economically viable.
PetroChina in talks with Shell, Hess about shale oil joint venture
PetroChina, China's largest energy producer, is in talks with Royal Dutch Shell and Hess Corp. about forming a joint venture to develop shale oil in the Santanghu Basin in northwestern Xinjiang province. China had an estimated 354 billion bbl of shale oil resources as of 2008, the World Energy Council said.
- 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
