Crude oil
Iran expands tanker fleet in bid to maintain exports
Iran has added seven new Very Large Crude Carriers to its fleet since the beginning of the year, including four in the last four months. National Iranian Tanker Co.'s fleet now numbers 37 VLCCs, with a total capacity of 64 million bbl, and 14 smaller tankers, with a capacity of 12.5 million bbl.
Taiwan sees rising crude oil imports, falling LNG
The country's two refiners, government-owned CPC Corp. and privately run Formosa Petrochemical, refined a combined 3.76 million kiloliters of crude oil, up 4.26% from a year earlier, the bureau said in a monthly report. Refinery utilization fell to 62.54% in June from 66.08% in the previous month, it said.
Study: Keystone XL pipeline would not impact US greenhouse gas emissions
According to the new IHS study, the proposed Keystone XL pipeline would have “no material impact” on US GHG emissions. In the absence of the pipeline, alternate transportation routes would result in oil sands production growth being more or less unchanged, the study says.
US officials tighten crude-by-rail shipping rules
Federal railroad officials are investigating whether some crude shipments contain chemicals from fracking that make them more hazardous than their classification indicates.
China posts record high in monthly crude imports
China, the second-largest oil consumer after the US, imported 26.11 million metric tons, or 6.17 million bpd, of crude in July, customs authorities said Thursday. This was 20% more than the same month last year, and up 18% from June, according to calculations by The Wall Street Journal.
KBR wins FEED work to raise US refinery's capacity to handle heavy crudes
During the feasibility phase, KBR’s expertise will focus on determining the optimum economic configuration to increase overall heavy crude processing capability and flexibility. The refinery currently processes light sweet crudes and aims to take advantage of fluctuations in the crude oil pricing market.
New TransCanada pipeline to carry crudes from Alberta to East Canada
TransCanada plans to seek regulatory approval for the project from Canada's National Energy Board by the end of the year, and, if it succeeds, to start construction in 2016. Service to refineries in Montreal and Quebec City would begin the following year and then to Saint John in 2018.
HP Boxscore Construction Analysis: Outlook for major revamp projects—Part 2
Worldwide, refiners are investing billions in upgrading and modernizing projects. These efforts are focused on:Increasing flexibility to process heavier, sourer crudesImproving energy efficiencyMeetin..
HP Brief
Train accident raises concerns on safetyThe train derailment that killed at least 38 people in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, has heightened safety concerns about crude oil shipments by rail. It has been ..
HP Impact: Dilbit poses no extra pipeline risk
Diluted bitumen (dilbit) has no greater likelihood of accidental pipeline release than other crude oils, says a new report from the National Research Council. The report found that diluted bitumen has..
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- Indonesia urges EU to remove biodiesel import curbs after WTO ruling 8/25
- Liquid Sun launches eSAF production pilot with ABB, Finnair, Fortum and Finavia 8/25
- Novatek to reduce naphtha exports due to fire at Ust-Luga complex 8/25
- China's Sinochem to sell two bankrupt refineries to local operators 8/25
- Iraq raises refining capacity to 1.3 MMbpd 8/25
