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Crude oil

Neste Oil plans €60mn process safety upgrade for Finland refineries

Neste Oil will spend about €60 million in 2012 on process safety improvements for its Porvoo and Naantali refineries in Finland. Investments will focus on further improving process, fire, and personnel safety by modernizing process automation and automated safety systems, the company said.

Halliburton acquires oilfield service firm Multi-Chem

Energy products and services major Halliburton has completed its previously-announced acquisition of oilfield chemicals firm Multi-Chem. Initially announced in September, the acquisition further strengthens Halliburton’s total offering while improving its competitiveness in a rapidly expanding global business, the company said.

Enbridge expands N America crude pipeline access

Enbridge on Monday announced a pair of projects that will provide increased access for refineries in the US Midwest and in Ontario, Canada, to light crude oil produced in the western US and Canada.

HP Innovations: HPInnovations

Mercaptan oxidation in aqueous waste   Fig. 1. Mercaptan destruction rate.  Tert butyl mercaptan (TBM) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) are oxidized to destruction in an aqueous-waste so..

Shell seeks shipper commitments for proposed Louisiana-to-Houston crude pipeline

Shell has started a non-binding solicitation of interest period for firm capacity on its proposed St. James to Houston pipeline project, known as the Westward Ho pipeline. The Westward Ho pipeline would enhance access to the anticipated increased domestic production of US Gulf of Mexico and foreign crude available at St. James, La., the company said.

US shale boom lifts petrochemical exports - report

The US shale gas exploration and production boom continues to fuel significant cost advantages for North American commodity chemicals producers as relative costs of natural gas and oil-based feedstocks remain far apart, according to a new report from credit-watch firm Fitch Ratings.

Enterprise, Enbridge plan Cushing-to-Gulf pipeline

Enterprise Products and Enbridge are planning to design, construct and operate a new pipeline to transport crude oil from the oversupplied Cushing hub in Oklahoma to the Texas Gulf Coast refining complex outside Houston.

Shell shuts down large Singapore refinery after fire

Shell is in the process of shutting down its 500,000 bpd refinery in Pulau Bukom, Singapore, following the recent fire at the facility, company officials said on Thursday. The fire, which began on Wednesday and may have been started during maintenance work, has been extinguished. However, there are still traces of fuel vapor, according to Shell officials.

API seeks delay of US EPA refinery emissions rules

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is asking the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for additional time to make comments on EPA's proposed rules for emissions from the production of oil and natural gas. API also asked for the EPA to delay its proposed rule for refinery emissions to allow adequate time for EPA to review emissions data submitted by industrial facilities this month, it said.

ConocoPhillips to sell or shut Pennsylvania refinery

ConocoPhillips is seeking to sell its 185,000 bpd refinery in Trainer, Pa., and associated pipelines and terminals, the company announced on Tuesday. ConocoPhillips will immediately begin the process of idling the facility and will permanently close the plant in six months if a sales transaction is unsuccessful, it said.