Oil’s climate agenda

What’s the best way to respond to climate change? Watch oil and gas companies. Source: News


Crude quality imbalances

Since 2012 most of the growth of global oil production has been concentrated in light crude from the US, surpassing that of heavier grades by 1.7 million b/d as of November 2018, and by 2.6 million b/d as of January 2019. Source: News


Unipetrol lets contract for unit revamp at Litvinov refinery

Unipetrol RPA SRO-Rafinerie, the refining arm of Unipetrol AS and parent company Polski Koncern Naftowy SA (PKN Orlen), has let a contract to McDermott International Inc. to provide engineering, procurement, and construction management services for a unit upgrading project at its 108,400-b/d refinery in Litvinov, Czech Republic. Source: News


OGCI unit lets carbon-capture contract

Oil and Gas Climate Initiative Climate Investments has let a “multimillion-dollar” contract to Wood PLC for conceptual engineering in its gas power and industrial carbon capture work. The project includes engineering and concept design for a full-scale gas power plant with carbon capture. Source: News


Lake Charles LNG project agreement signed

Energy Transfer LP and Shell US LNG have moved toward a final investment decision on the conversion of Energy Transfer’s regasification terminal at Lake Charles, La., into a 16.45 million-tonne/year natural gas liquefaction plant. Source: News


MARKET WATCH: NYMEX, Brent crude oil prices close mixed

Light, sweet crude oil for May delivery declined on the New York market to settle slightly above $58.80/bbl on Mar. 25 while Brent crude oil for May delivery gained slightly in London to settle just above $67.20/bbl. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said President Donald Trump’s administration will not “stand idly by” while Russia […]


Watching Government: Venezuela’s petro-diplomacy

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez promoted Petrocaribe as a regional social improvement program in 2005 when he inaugurated it to sell Venezuelan crude oil at deep discounts to countries across Latin America that did not have their own production. Source: News


Oil supply cushion insures against Venezuela output loss

Until recently, Venezuela’s oil production had stabilized at about 1.2 million b/d. However, the country’s recent electricity crisis has paralyzed it for substantial periods of time. Source: News


Texas AG sues ITC after petrochemical storage facility fire

Texas Atty. Gen Ken Paxton filed an environmental lawsuit against Intercontinental Terminals Co. on Mar. 22 following a fire that broke out at the company’s petrochemical storage facility at LaPorte near Houston on Mar. 17 and was not contained until 3 days later. The action on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality charged ITC […]


EPA starts to rank 40 chemicals under the amended TSCA

The US Environmental Protection Agency published a list of 40 chemicals on Mar. 20 that it intends to review and prioritize for risk evaluation under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). It said it was releasing the list to give the public opportunities to submit relevant information such as the uses, hazards, and exposure […]