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Refining

US petroleum demand rises in April as distillate gains offset lower gasoline use - API

A strong increase in distillate fuel demand this April over a year ago drove an overall rise in petroleum product demand, offsetting a decline in gasoline demand, the American Petroleum Institute (API) trade group said on Friday.

Employees for engineering services firm MISTRAS set safety milestone at Shell US refinery

For the 14th consecutive year, employees with engineering services firm MISTRAS have gone without a recordable injury while working at the Shell Oil refinery in Martinez, Calif., officials said on Friday.

IEA warns that high oil prices are hurting economy, seeks additional supply for refiners

The governing board of the International Energy Agency (IEA) says it has serious concerns that that the rise in oil prices is constraining the global economic recovery. In a statement issued on Thursday, the board said there was a “clear, urgent need for additional supplies on a more competitive basis to be made available to refiners to prevent a further tightening of the market”, particularly given the seasonal increase in demand from May to August.

Fuel prices unlikely to deter Memorial Day travel – US auto group

The American Automobile Association (AAA) projects 34.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the approaching Memorial Day holiday weekend, a slight increase of 0.2% – or 100,000 travelers – from the 34.8 million people who traveled one year ago.

US predicts active 2011 hurricane season, may threaten Gulf refiners, petchems

The Atlantic basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued on Thursday from the US National Weather Service, potentially threatening refining and petrochemical operations along the US Gulf coast and eastern seaboard.

US Senate blocks two oil bills as Democrats, GOP clash over gas prices

Two oil-related bills were blocked this week in the US Senate along partisan lines, as Democrats and Republicans continue to propose differing solutions to reduce retail fuel prices.

CB&I wins $50mn Canadian oil sands project

Engineering and construction firm CB&I said on Wednesday that it won a $50mn project to build storage tanks at a Canadian oil sands project near Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Motiva picks KBR to build coker for refinery expansion in Port Arthur, Texas

KBR announced that its subsidiary Roberts & Schaefer (R&S) has been selected to construct a petroleum coker (pet coke) material handling system for Motiva’s refinery expansion project in Port Arthur, Texas.

Plains to build 300,000 bpd pipeline from Eagle Ford shale to Corpus Christi

Plains All American Pipeline plans to build a 130-mile, 300,000 bpd crude oil and condensate pipeline, a marine terminal facility and 1.5mn bbl of storage capacity to service growing Eagle Ford shale production in south Texas.

US refiner Sunoco acquires controlling interest in Ohio refined products pipeline

US refiner Sunoco has acquired a controlling interest in Inland Corp., a firm which consists of an active 350-mile refined products pipeline and related facilities in Ohio that service multiple Ohio refineries and terminal markets.