Shell Australia’s Prelude floating LNG (FLNG) project in the Browse basin off northwest Western Australia has started production. The company reported it had opened the subsea wells in the field to enter the project’s start-up and ramp-up phases, the initial stages during which gas and condensate is produced and moved through the giant facility. Source: […]
SOCAR commissions unit, wraps Phase 1 of Baku refinery revamp
State Oil Co. of Azerbaijan Republic has commissioned a bitumen plant as part of program designed to modernize and expand operations at the company’s Heydar Aliyev (formerly New Baku) refinery at Baku in Azerbaijan, completing the first phase of the 120,500-b/d refinery’s long-planned modernization project. Source: News
Grassroots methanol project revived for Louisiana
South Louisiana Methanol (SLM) and new joint-venture partner Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corp. are planning a $2.2-billion capital investment to build a grassroots methanol complex in St. James Parish, La. Originally announced in 2013 as a project of ZEEP and Todd Corp., SLM—which is now majority-owned by Todd—will pursue the JV methanol project with a […]
Shell wraps Geismar alpha olefins expansion project
Shell Chemical has commissioned its $717-million project to increase alpha olefins production at its Geismar, La., chemical manufacturing plant along the Mississippi River, about 20 miles south of Baton Rouge. Initially started up in December 2018, the 425,000-tonne/year capacity expansion brings total AO production at Geismar to more than 1.3 million tpy. Source: News
Eni agrees to acquire 70% Oooguruk stake
Eni SPA says its prospective acquisition of a 70% interest in Oooguruk oil field in the Beaufort Sea offshore Alaska will complement work at nearby Nikaitchuq oil field. It has agreed to acquire the interest from Caelus Natural Resources Alaska LLC and become operator. It now holds 30%. Source: News
India offering 14 blocks in OALP-2
Oil and gas operators may submit bids until Mar. 12 for 14 blocks in India offered under the government’s second round in its Open Acreage Licensing Program (OALP). The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas opened OALP-2 bidding on Jan. 7. Source: News
MARKET WATCH: NYMEX ends week at nearly $48/bbl
Crude oil prices ended the week higher overall on New York and London markets Jan. 4, with light, sweet crude oil and Brent reporting their first weekly gain in a month. On a daily basis, crude oil price futures had gained for five consecutive days as of the Jan. 4 closing. Source: News
Aramco, Petronas near startup of Malaysia’s RAPID refinery
The jointly held Saudi Aramco-Petronas $27-28 billion Pengerang Integrated Complex in southeastern Johor, Malaysia, is preparing for official startup of Pengerang Refining & Petrochemical subsidiary Pengerang Refining Co.’s 300,000-b/d refinery and petrochemical integrated development (RAPID) project. Source: News
Baker Hughes: US rig count falls 8 units to 1,075
The US rig count fell 8 units during the week ended Jan. 4 to reach 1,075 units working, according to Baker Hughes data. This count was up 151 units from the 924 units working in the US this week a year ago. US rigs drilling on land fell 6 units to 1,050 vs. last week. Offshore […]
Michigan’s new governor seeks review of pipeline replacement plans
Michigan’s new governor, Democrat Gretchen Witmer, has asked Atty. Gen. Dana Nessel (D) for a legal opinion of recent legislation to replace Enbridge Inc.’s pipeline in the Mackinac Straits and the new Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority (MSCA) created by her predecessor, Republican Rick Snyder. Source: News