Industry News

Trafigura halts oil trade with Venezuela

Global commodities firm Trafigura has decided to stop trading oil with Venezuela due to U.S. sanctions on the OPEC nation’s energy sector, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said.

LyondellBasell technology selected for polypropylene plant in India

LyondellBasell, the world’s largest licensor of polyolefin technologies, announced HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL), has selected LyondellBasell’s fifth-generation Spheripol polypropylene process technology for a 500 KT per year plant in Bathinda, India.

Citgo Petroleum to dismiss workers in Aruba over U.S. sanctions -prime minister

A Citgo Petroleum Corp refining unit in Aruba plans to dismiss workers following sanctions imposed by the United States on Venezuela's state-run PDVSA, the parent company of the U.S. refining firm, the island's prime minister said.

Shrinking demand may necessitate OPEC production cut extension

Even as OPEC begins implementing the output cuts they agreed in December, the world’s crude requirements are shrinking further, suggesting that they will need to extend the deal through the second half of the year.

Aramco comes out to play on an empty playground

According to Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia’s energy and industry minister and chairman of Saudi Arabian Oil Co., “the world is going to be Saudi Aramco’s playground.”

BP energy outlook 2019 envisions rapid growth, low-carbon future

The Energy Outlook explores the forces shaping the global energy transition out to 2040 and the key uncertainties surrounding that transition.

South Africa's Sapref to close for routine maintenance

South Africa’s largest refinery, the 180,000 barrel per day Sapref plant in the east coast city of Durban will shut down for routine maintenance from the last week of May until the end of July, a refinery official said.

Uganda expects first oil production to be delayed to 2022

Uganda expects to begin producing oil in 2022, its energy minister Irene Muloni said, indicating a slight delay from the east African country’s revised target of 2021.

China's Zhenhai refinery exports first diesel, jet fuel to Europe

Sinopec Corp unit Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Corp has exported diesel and jet fuel to Europe for the first time, Sinopec said.

McDermott on Cameron LNG Project

McDermott International, Inc. commented on its assessment of the financial position of the Cameron LNG project as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2018.

Los Angeles abandons new natural gas plants in favor of renewables

Los Angeles will abandon a plan to replace three aging gas power plants along its coast with newer natural gas technology and will instead invest in renewable energy as it seeks to move away from fossil fuels, the city’s mayor said.

Egypt plugs hub status as Shell, Eni, Exxon win energy concessions

Royal Dutch Shell, Eni, BP and Exxon Mobil were among the winners in one of Egypt’s largest ever oil and gas exploration tenders, as the country looks to sustain an investment upswing spurred by major discoveries.

Rowan executes contract with Petronas Mexico for Rowan Renaissance

Rowan Companies plc has announced that the Rowan Renaissance, an R-Class ultra-deepwater drillship, has been awarded a one-well contract in Mexico by PC Carigali Mexico Operations, S.A. de C.V. for an estimated duration of 80 days that is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2019.

Texas shale forces big oil cost revolution, Chevron CEO says

For Mike Wirth, the future of Big Oil lies at home, under the dusty fields of West Texas.

Oil extends gain on Saudi output pledge, Trump trade flexibility

Oil climbed for a second day after Saudi Arabia pledged to deepen production cuts and U.S. President Donald Trump said he might extend a deadline for additional tariffs on China.

Next-generation catalyst achieves high activity and selectivity at styrene monomer production facility

Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, announced the successful performance of its StyroMax UL3 ethylbenzene dehydrogenation catalyst at the styrene monomer production facility of Shandong Yuhuang Chemical (Group) Company.