Americas
Senators ask Trump EPA chief pick to disclose energy industry ties
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Democrats on the US Senate's environment panel on Wednesday asked President-elect Donald Trump's choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency to disclose his ties to the energy industry ahead of his confirmation hearing early next year.
Oil rallies in thin trade, adds to year's gains
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Oil gained 1.5% Tuesday, continuing its year-end rally with support from expectations of tighter supply once the first output cut deal between OPEC and non-OPEC producers in 15 years takes effect on Sunday.
Venezuela says to cut 95,000 bpd crude output in OPEC deal
CARACAS (Reuters) -- Venezuela said on Tuesday it will cut 95,000 bpd of oil production in the New Year in fulfillment of a producers' deal to reduce global output and strengthen prices.
ACC: US specialty chemicals markets rise during 4Q 2016
WASHINGTON – The American Chemistry Council (ACC) reported that US specialty chemicals market volumes rose 0.4% in November.
Oil gains post-Christmas ahead of OPEC, non-OPEC cuts
TOKYO (Reuters) -- US oil prices extended gains on Tuesday in post-Christmas trading, as OPEC and non-OPEC members are set to start curbing output in less than a week to support oil prices.
EPA amends risk management program for chemical facilities
WASHINGTON – The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule amending its Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations to reduce the likelihood of accidental releases at chemical facilities and improve emergency response activities when those releases occur.
US refiners cash in on Mexico's record fuel imports
NEW YORK/HOUSTON (Reuters) -- US Gulf Coast refiners are cashing in on rising fuel demand from Mexico, shipping record volumes to a southern neighbor that has failed to expand its refining network to supply a fast-growing economy.
ABS-classed VLEC loads first ethane shipment
HOUSTON -- ABS is pleased to announce that the ABS-classed Ethane Crystal, the world’s first Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC), has loaded its first shipment of ethane cargo at Enterprise Products Partner’s Morgan’s Point Terminal.
EIA: Crude stocks rise unexpectedly, product inventories down
(Reuters) -- US crude stocks rose last week as refineries hiked output, while gasoline stocks decreased and distillate inventories fell, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.
US Energy Department offers $2B loan to Lake Charles Methanol
WASHINGTON — The US Department of Energy offered a conditional commitment to guarantee loans of up to $2 billion to Lake Charles Methanol, LLC to construct the world’s first methanol production facility to employ carbon capture technology in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

- CNOOC completes construction on $2.9-B, 1.8-MMtpy integrated complex in east China 8/22
- bp's Whiting refinery (U.S.) continues to flare days after severe thunderstorm 8/22
- Bachmann introduces latest version M-Target for Simulink 8/22
- U.S. to rule on biofuel waivers, but big oil refiners may need to wait 8/22
- Chinese independent refiner Hongrun buys Canadian, Brazilian crude 8/22
- Ukrainian attack suspends Russian oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia 8/22