Asia/Pacific
Saudi Aramco signs 20-year crude supply pact with Korean refiner S-Oil
South Korea-based refiner S-OIL said it signed 20-year long-term crude supply contract with Saudi Aramco. S-OIL’s refining capacity is 669,000 bpd and Saudi Aramco’s total annual supply volume to S-OIL is approximately 230 million bbl in respect of the refiner’s production size.
India boosts Iran oil imports, largely offsets China reduction - sources
India has boosted its imports of Iranian oil, becoming the Islamic Republic's largest customer last month and largely offsetting a cut in Chinese purchases as sanctions fail to dent Tehran's sales for now, people within the oil industry said this week. Iranian crude exports to India were up 37.5% from December.
BP to sell global LPG bottles, tank filling business
BP plans to sell its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) bottles and tank filling operations in Portugal, UK, Austria, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, China and South Africa, as well as its non refinery-integrated wholesale business. The company expects to complete any deal by the end of 2013.
Global automation groups form single solution for device integration
The five major automation foundations have developed a single common solution for field device integration (FDI). FDI Cooperation’s mandate is to develop a single technology for the management of information that comes from all intelligent devices throughout all areas of the plant.
Shaw lands technology upgrading deal for FCC unit at Thailand refinery
The Shaw Group was awarded a contract to provide the technology license and process design package for the revamp of a residue fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) unit for Star Petroleum Refining Co. in Map Ta Phut, Thailand. The upgrade will incorporate the latest advances in reactor system technology.
SI Group plans new phenolic resin plant in China
US-based SI Group said Friday that it plans to invest $30 million to build an additional phenolic resin manufacturing site in the Nanjing Chemical Industry Park (NCIP) in China. The site, chosen because of strong logistics operations and access to raw materials, is set to commence operation in May 2013.
PetroChina buys 20% stake in Canada shale gas project from Shell
Shell confirmed it agreed to sell a 20% stake in a Canadian shale gas project to state-controlled PetroChina, saying that the move was the latest example of its strategic co-operation with parent China National Petroleum Corp. The natural gas output of the Groundbirch project is 125 million cubic feet/day.
Consider total value when optimizing catalytic cracking units
Low rare-earth catalysts balance activity and selectivity against cost
Increase energy efficiency for your refinery
Behavioral and organization changes are often needed to effectively maximize operating profits
Use advanced catalysts to improve xylenes isomerization
This refiner wanted to increase ethylbenzene conversion while limiting aromatics losses

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