Gas processing - 16 March 2011

An update of news from refineries across the US.

China’s second largest refiner is halting operations at one refinery due to safety concerns, while cutting processing at another due to poor margins.

Significant cuts are planned in refining and marketing, while investing heavily in new projects to increase production.

An explosion partially halts operations at Amuay, while units also shut at Curacao’s Isla complex.

CB&I has been awarded an EPC contract by Imperial Oil Resources for the Kearl oilsands project worth in excess of US$ 900 million.

Contributions are to be distributed through the Japanese Red Cross Society as refineries across the country continue to experience problems.

Global prices for oil products look set to rise dramatically after the tsunami that hit Japan last week. As a result of the loss of nuclear electricity generating capacity, oil will have to be used as a substitute until the reactors can be repaired.