Denunciation of Iran after emergency meetings in Mecca of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Arab League obscured hints of hope for relations between Qatar and four countries blockading it. Source: News
Marathon Oil closes Kurdistan divestiture
Marathon Oil Corp. closed on the sale of its 15% participating interest in the Atrush block in Kurdistan, where first-quarter production averaged 2,400 net boed. The divestiture marks the company’s exit from the country. Source: News
Baker Hughes: US rig count down 1 unit to 984
The US drilling rig count gained a single rig to reach 984 rigs working for the week ended May 31, according to Baker Hughes data. The count is down 76 units from the 1,060 rigs working this time a year ago. Source: News
SOCAR, Tefken eye urea plant in Azerbaijan
State Oil Co. of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and Tekfen Holding, Istanbul, have signed a memorandum of understanding on construction of a urea production facility at Sumgayit, Azerbaijan. Source: News
ESAI: Russian oil production set to recover
Russian production fell by 170,000 b/d from April to May as the disruption to oil exports caused output to fall to 60,000 b/d less than the production-cut commitment. The last hurdle is restoring 750,000 b/d via the northern leg of Druzhba. Source: News
EPA final rule will permit year-round E15 fuel sales
A final rule signed May 31 by US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew R. Wheeler that waives summertime Reid Vapor Pressure limits and allows year-round sales of gasoline with a 15% ethanol blend was met with disappointment by refiners and with delight by corn ethanol producers. Source: News
Cameron LNG ships first cargo from Train 1
Cameron LNG has shipped the first commissioning cargo of LNG from Train 1 of its facility in Hackberry, La., said Sempra Energy subsidiary Sempra Energy LNG. Commissioning cargos are a critical step in the start-up process and support stabilizing production and performance testing, the company said. Source: News
Santos acquiring 3D survey off Western Australia
Santos Ltd., Adelaide, and its joint venture partner Carnarvon Petroleum Ltd. have started a 3D seismic survey over the Dorado, Roc, Roc South, and near-field prospects in the Bedout subbasin offshore north-western Western Australia. Source: News
EPA issues temporary emergency fuel waivers
The US Environmental Protection Agency issued emergency fuel waivers for Allegheny County, Pa., to ensure that fuel supplies remain adequate following damage to a pipeline that supplies the area. Source: News
Petronor begins turnaround at Bilbao refinery
Petroleos del Norte SA (Petronor) has started planned maintenance on the largest of two crude distillation units at its 240,000-b/d refinery at Muskiz near Bilbao, Spain. The more-than 140,000-b/d Refining Unit 1 was taken offline on May 27 for a scheduled turnaround that will run through the first half of July, Petronor said. Source: […]