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Crude oil

IEA sees high refinery activity boosting fuel supply

The Paris-based energy watchdog, which represents major oil-consumer nations, expects refiners to process around 75.7 million bpd of crude in the third and fourth quarters, 1.3 million bpdmore than in the last quarter of 2011. Behind the output rise is unexpectedly high production in developed economies.

Shell proceeds with Alberta oil sands CO2 capture

Starting in late 2015, Quest will capture and store deep underground more than 1 million tpy of carbon dioxide produced during the bitumen processing, reducing direct emissions from the upgrader by up to 35%. Shell Canada owns 60% of the joint venture, which also includes Chevron and Marathon Oil.

US reiterates tough stance against BP on Gulf spill

In the filing, made in response to a previous BP request to accept a $7.8 billion settlement between the company and thousands of plaintiffs over economic losses and property damage, the Department of Justice said that BP had a culture of recklessness, and also pointed the finger to Transocean.

BNSF expands Bakken US oil rail capacity by 25%

The expansion will help oil producers move their oil to market. The boom in domestic crude production has caused a parallel increase in railway use. Tesoro, Phillips 66 and Statoil have all purchased rail cars - and in Tesoro's case, built rail lines - to move oil from increasingly productive US fields.

Maximize diesel production in an FCC-centered refinery, Part 1

For refineries with an FCC unit as the main conversion vehicle, the debate is how existing refinery assets can best be used to economically increase diesel production.

Redefining reforming catalyst performance: High selectivity and stability

Axens: Le Goff, P.-Y.  |  Lopez, J.
Axens North America: Ross, J.

Highly developed CCR catalysts are more robust to ensure extended service over 7–9 years.

Upgrade heavy oil more cost-efficiently

Ivanhoe Energy: Cabrera, C. A.  |  Silverman, M. A.

A new technology can economically upgrade and significantly improve the properties of heavy oil by reducing viscosity, increasing gravity and removing contaminants.

Increase FCC processing flexibility by improved catalyst recycling methods

UOP LLC, a Honeywell Company: Wolschlag, L. M.
UOP LLC, a Honeywell Co.: Lippmann, M.

The dynamic global refining market emphasizes the need for greater operating flexibility in the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit.

HP Brief

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

European refiner affirms renewables project Total has reaffirmed its partnership and financial backing to the technology of renewable products company Amyris, the companies said in a recent statement...

HP Impact: Taking a glance at mergers and acquisitions

Hydrocarbon Processing Staff: Thinnes, Billy

Energy price fluctuations present both near-term challenges and interesting opportunities for the oil and gas mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market. As Deloitte Consulting points out in a recently rel..