New Zealand refinery enters planned maintenance

New Zealand Refining Co. Ltd. (Refining NZ), the country’s sole refiner, has started the shutdown of selected units at its 107,000-b/d Marsden Point refinery at Northland in preparation for its previously announced April turnaround. Source: News

MARKET WATCH: NYMEX oil price for May holds fairly steady awaiting rig count

Light, sweet crude oil prices for May delivery edged up 2¢ to stay above $38/bbl on Mar. 31 awaiting release of the weekly rig count on Apr. 1 from Baker Hughes Inc., and prices dropped in early Apr. 1 trading on news reports of Saudi comments about the proposed production freeze by some producers. […]

Maersk Oil to close Houston office, trim Chissonga group

Maersk Oil, a wholly owned subsidiary of AP Moller-Maersk AS of Copenhagen, reported that it will cut about 100 staff positions, reflecting the closure of its Houston office and reduction of its Luanda team. Source: News

API: Regulatory onslaught may keep producers out of methane program

An eruption of proposed US Environmental Protection Agency regulations in the last year could create such substantial compliance costs for oil and gas producers that many would not be able to participate in EPA’s voluntary Methane Challenge Program, two American Petroleum Institute officials warned. Source: News