Pinnacle, a reliability data analytics company, released its Economics of Reliability report for the refining industry, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.
The report, which is the seventh installment of Pinnacle’s Economics of Reliability report series, analyzes the impact that reliability has on the refining industry. "US refiners are reporting record profits and are also running at well above average utilization levels,” said Jeff Krimmel, Chief Strategy Officer at Pinnacle. “This breakneck pace of activity puts real strain on US refining assets. There are important political and economic constraints that will prevent meaningful capacity addition in the US. As a result, domestic refiners have even more incentive to operate as efficiently and reliably as possible."
The report leverages data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and financial reports of 19 global refiners including ExxonMobil, Shell, and Chevron. Pinnacle analysts estimate that these companies, who are primarily based in the US, spent 2% of their downstream revenue on reliability and operated at an average utilization rate of 85% in 2021. As global demand for petroleum products skyrocketed, US refiners have expanded their utilization to account for the increase in demand. As of June 2022, US refiners are achieving near 95% utilization, a level that has only been exceeded about 10% of the time since 2001.
"Based on our analysis of these downstream operators, we observed that top performers typically achieve higher utilization while strategically targeting their reliability spending,” said Jace Thurman, Market & Data Analyst at Pinnacle. “Reliable operations and assets are imperative to maximizing utilization and capturing high profit margins. These top performers likely employ data-driven reliability programs that identify the most effective use of their capital. While current market conditions have translated to better earnings for downstream operators, optimizing reliability programs and spending will become a critical strategy for refiners to protect increased profit margins."
As per MRC, American Pinnacle Polymers, one of the main producers of polypropylene (PP) in the US, announced an increase in August prices for all grades of polypropylene (PP) in the US market. Thus, an increase in PP prices in the amount of 5 cents per pound or USD110 per ton will take effect on August 1, 2021 or under the terms of current contracts.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, PP shipments to the Russian market were 607,8900 tonnes in January-May 2021, up by 33% year on year. Shipments of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas deliveries of PP random copolymers decreased.
Pinnacle Midstream II, LLC is an independent midstream energy company headquartered in Houston, Texas. The Company is focused on providing high-quality natural gas services to producer customers throughout the Midland Basin.
mrchub.com
Worley and Chevron have entered into a global master services agreement covering Chevron’s upstream, midstream, and downstream business needs, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.
The agreement can be used by Chevron’s business units including those involved in onshore and offshore assets as well as during project development.
The agreement is designed to achieve higher performance progressively via a network of collaborative teams working across the globe to deliver engineering to support Chevron’s assets. It was developed based on Chevron’s operating model, which incorporates lessons learned from previous projects to achieve more competitive and predictable outcomes for investors.
Under the agreement, Worley will provide engineering and project-related services. This includes working with Chevron’s digital enablement specialists to optimize ways of working and improve efficiencies.
The services will be executed by Worley’s global offices with support from its Global Integrated Delivery (GID) team in India.
“We’ve worked with Chevron for many years, and we look forward to partnering on this important agreement. It will drive engineering quality, project competitiveness, and continuous improvement in delivery across Chevron’s assets worldwide,” said Karen Sobel, Group President, Americas at Worley.
As per MRC, Chevron Corporation completed its previously announced acquisition of Renewable Energy Group, Inc. following approval by REG stockholders.
As per MRC, QatarEnergy and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company (CPChem) have awarded the early site works contract for the Ras Laffan Petrochemical Project (RLPP) to Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC). The contract award marks the commencement of execution of the RLPP. CCC has secured a lump-sum contract to prepare the site for the new facility within Ras Laffan Industrial City. Early works on the project will begin in June, at the conclusion of which the EPC contract for the project is expected to be awarded.
mrchub.com
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. and JERA Co., Inc. have today concluded a memorandum of understanding (MoU) stipulating that they will jointly consider establishing a hydrogen supply chain based in the Ise Bay area, said Globalhydrogenreview.
On the back of demand for decarbonisation, hydrogen—which emits no CO2when burned—is expected to be used in large quantities at power plants and in industrial areas as a next-generation replacement for fossil fuels. It is essential, therefore, to develop large-scale receiving and supply bases near areas where hydrogen will be in demand.
The Ise Bay area, where many industries are concentrated, has the future potential to become a large-scale receiving and supply base. Idemitsu is engaged in the business of receiving and refining crude oil and supplying petroleum products in the area. JERA, meanwhile, owns thermal power plants and LNG receiving terminals in the area and strives to ensure a stable supply of electricity in the Chubu region.
Idemitsu and JERA will utilise their accumulated technology, knowledge, and assets to contribute to the establishment of a stable, economical supply chain for hydrogen as part of their efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. The two companies will also cooperate with “Hydrogen Utilisation Study Group in Chubu”, which is working to establish cross-industrial hydrogen supply chain throughout the Chubu region.
Idemitsu has adopted the ‘CNX Center’ concept of transforming existing manufacturing bases such as refineries and complexes into new low carbon and resource-recycling energy hubs. Idemitsu aims to establish a supply chain that supplies CO2-free energy by taking advantage of the unique characteristics of each of the group's sites while fulfilling responsibility for the stable supply of energy.
As per MRC, Idemitsu Kosan plans to cut its capacity by 13% in less than two years as the ageing and shrinking population in Japan and the global shift to greener energy eats into household demand for petroleum.
mrchub.com