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Crude oil

Industry Metrics

The European market saw stronger domestic demand amid gasoline export opportunities to West Africa and higher volumes of naphtha and fuel oil to Asia, fed by continued strong demand in that region. After recovery from the impact of the Colonial Pipeline outage, US refinery runs have risen, mainly in the USGC, taking advantage of stronger export opportunities and ahead of the spring maintenance season.

Business Trends: Africa—Will increasing demand spark downstream capacity builds?

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Nichols, Lee

Over the past decade, Africa’s oil demand has increased by more than 1 MMbpd, to nearly 3.9 MMbpd. Africa’s oil production is more than double the amount it consumes, but lack of investment, failing infrastructure and inadequate refining capacity force the continent to rely on imports to satisfy increasing fuel demand.

Expand crude diet flexibility through comprehensive oil management

Baker Hughes: Arensdorf, J.  |  Hoffman, G.

One of the primary means for refiners to boost profitability is to improve crude diet flexibility. Many refiners are challenged with increasing their margins while the quality of the global crude oil supply declines.

Oil down on record US crude stocks, flat Russian output

LONDON (Reuters) -- Oil prices fell on Thursday after US crude stocks hit an all-time high and official data showed Russian oil production unchanged in February, with no further cuts to tighten the market and drain global oversupply.

Saudi Arabia may raise light crude price to Asia for third straight month in April

(Reuters) -- Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia could raise the price of Arab Light crude it sells to Asia in April for a third straight month after Middle East benchmark Dubai crude strengthened on OPEC cuts, four of seven respondents said in a Reuters survey of refiners and traders on Wednesday.

Nigerian lawmakers to investigate $17-B subsidies received by state oil firm

ABUJA (Reuters) -- Nigeria's upper house of parliament will investigate allegations the state oil company illegally inflated funds it collected from an official subsidy scheme to $17 billion between 2006 and 2015, lawmakers said on Wednesday.

Sinopec to start operating Zhanjiang commercial oil tanks; SPR site delayed

BEIJING (Reuters) -- Sinopec Corp is expected to start operating by June a new commercial crude oil tank farm in the southern Chinese city of Zhanjiang, where a large strategic reserve site is also under construction, three industry sources said this week.

Driving innovation in the downstream: IRPC returns to New Delhi

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Adrienne Blume

Gulf Publishing Company and Hydrocarbon Processing are pleased to announce that IRPC 2017 will be held April 18–20 in New Delhi.

Editorial Comment: Corrosion prevention starts at fabrication

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Andrew, Bob

Preventing corrosion begins with the choice of materials and methods used to fabricate the equipment, piping, valves and instruments that will be exposed to varying process conditions and weather. At present, designers and fabricators can select from a multitude of modern materials and methods. Once in service, effective asset integrity programs will use smart condition monitoring and, where needed, a treatment regime to sustain the useful working life of all components. In the Special Focus section of this issue, we provide several articles that illustrate good practices in vessel fabrication, corrosivity analysis and corrosion prevention treatment.

China to issue non-state crude oil import licenses to 5 refiners

BEIJING (Reuters) -- China will issue non-state crude oil import licenses to five refiners, including China National Chemical Corp and four independent refiners, the country's commerce ministry said on Tuesday.