Royal Dutch Shell PLC has let a contract to KBR Inc., Houston, to provide technology for a solvent deasphalting (SDA) unit at subsidiary Shell Nederland Raffinaderij BV’s 404,000-b/d Pernis refinery in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Source: News

Pennsylvania’s government developed a four-point strategy to limit methane emissions from natural gas operations in the state. The plan would require the best available technology (BAT) on new unconventional well pads and more stringent leak detection and repair (LDAR) measures during exploration and development, processing, and transmission. Source: News

JSC Gazprom Neft-MNPZ, a subsidiary of Russia’s PJSC Gazprom Neft, St. Petersburg, has increased production of Euro 5-compliant fuels at its 12.15 million-tonne/year refinery in Moscow. Source: News

Lundin Malaysia BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Swedish independent Lundin Petroleum AB of Stockholm, has completed drilling the Bambazon exploration well on Block SB307/SB308 offshore eastern Malaysia. Source: News

John P. McGinnis, currently Seneca Resources Corp.’s chief operating officer, will succeed Matthew D. Cabell as president of the company effective May 1. Source: News

Global energy demand will increase 25% between 2014 and 2040, driven by population growth and economic expansion, according to ExxonMobil Corp.’s 2016 Outlook for Energy. Most of this growth will occur in nations outside the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Source: News

Duqm Refinery & Petrochemical Industries Co. LLC (DRPIC), Muscat, a joint venture of state-owned Oman Oil Co. and the United Arab Emirates’ International Petroleum Investment Co. (IPIC), has revealed its shortlist of prequalified tenderers selected to bid on design and construction of a grassroots 230,000-b/d refinery to be built in Oman’s Duqm Special Economic Zone […]

The Henry Hub natural gas spot price of $1.93/MMbtu in December 2015 marked the lowest monthly average since March 1999. However, US gas prices are expected to rise over next 2 years, reflecting consumption growth, mainly from the industrial sector, that outpaces near-term production growth. Source: News

Light, sweet crude oil prices soared by more than $2/bbl on the New York market Jan. 22, settling at $32.19 for March delivery while Brent crude oil prices climbed by nearly $3/bbl on the London market to settle at $32.18/bbl. Source: News

The US Department of the Interior’s Jan. 15 announcement that it will not issue new leases while it reexamines its coal program may have made oil and gas producers wonder if the federal onshore program for those resources might be next. Source: News