Mitsubishi buys stake and offtakes ammonia in Texas from ExxonMobil
The Japanese trading house Mitsubishi announced on Friday that it had reached an agreement in principle to purchase a stake and take delivery of low-carbon ammonia produced by ExxonMobil at its hydrogen plant in Texas. As part of its decarbonisation campaign, Japan aims to increase the use of ammonia and hydrogen in power plants and for other uses, such as steel and automobiles. Mitsubishi stated that ExxonMobil was expecting to produce up 1 billion cubic feet per day (bcf), which would be about 98% CO2 removed. And more than 1,000,000 tons of low carbon ammonia each year.
Powerful Earthquake Shuts Down Fifth of Japan's Oil Refining Capacity
Japanese refiners led by the biggest, Eneos Corp, shut down a fifth of the country's crude oil refining capacity after a powerful earthquake struck northeastern Japan knocking out power, bullet train lines and injuring more than 150 people.The refinery shutdowns in the world's fourth-biggest oil importer are another potential hit after the pandemic led to the evaporation of crude demand over the last year.As much as 743,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil-processing capacity has been idled, nearly 22% of Japan's…
Japan's Refiners Facing Stagnant Market May Cut Capacity
Japanese refineries may be forced to shut down capacity once again unless they see a strong recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. They've been hit by declining use for fuel at home, competition from newer refineries in China and South Korea dominating in other markets, as well. Idemitsu Kosan on Tuesday reported an annual loss, like its competitors have done in recent days. Executive Officer Noriaki Sakai said Japan's second-biggest refiner expects fuel sales to fall 30% in the year through March 2021 while President Shunichi Kito said the company "may need to consider some measures (to consolidate refineries) in the mid-2020s".
Equinor's $466M Floating Wind Farm Plan Approved
Norway approved on Wednesday Equinor's 4.8 billion Norwegian crowns ($466 million) plan to build floating offshore wind turbines that will provide electricity to North Sea oil and gas platforms, the energy ministry said.The long-planned project is going ahead despite Equinor's decision to cut investment following a plunge in oil prices that has reduced the company's cash flow.Five platforms at Norway's Snorre and Gullfaks fields will be the first in the world to receive power from a floating wind park, the oil company said in a separate statement."As the whole industry is currently experiencing much uncertainty…
Japan's Oil Refiners Keep Running Even as Coronavirus Curbs Fuel Sales
Sales of petroleum products are slumping in Japan as the coronavirus outbreak worsens in the world's fourth-biggest importer of crude, but the country's biggest refiners say they are not planning to cut production.Oil product sales, including gasoline and jet fuel, slumped more than a quarter last week, the most recent period for which figures are available. Jet fuel sales sunk nearly 80% as Japanese and global airlines cancelled flights to China and other destinations.The coronavirus outbreak that started in China late last year is spreading across the world at an increasing rate…
PGNiG Acquires Duva Field in Norway
PGNiG Upstream Norway, a subsidiary of Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG), has obtained a final administrative consent to purchase additional 10% interests in the PL636 and PL636B licences in the North Sea.Following the transaction, PGNiG Upstream Norway’s (PUN) interests in both licences increased to 30%. As a result, the volume of Duva field gas production attributable to the Company will rise to 0.2 bcm per year.“Acquisition of fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf is one of the investment priorities of the PGNiG Group.
Pandion Energy Completes Duva Stake Sale
Norwegian oil and gas company Pandion Energy has completed the sale of its 10 percent non-operated interests in PL 636, comprising the Duva oil and gas field, and PL 686B.According to Pandion Energy it was previously announced transaction with Solveig Gas Norway AS.The Duva oil and gas field is located in the northern North Sea and was discovered in the autumn of 2016. The Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) was approved in June 2019 with first production expected in late 2020 / early 2021.Pandion Energy has also sold 10% non-operated interests in the same licenses to PGNiG Upstream Norway AS.
Asian Refiners Strive to Finish IMO Preparations
At SK Energy's largest refinery in South Korea, engineers are rushing to complete a new processing unit ahead of schedule as the firm looks to boost sales of low-emission fuels before new marine fuel standards take effect in just one month.In Japan, the country's second-biggest refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co is taking a more cautious stance, increasing capacity for low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO), but also relying on blending to produce IMO 2020 compliant bunker fuel.The different approaches come as refiners across the…
PGNiG Ups Stake in Duva Field, Norway
PGNiG Upstream Norway bought 10 percent shares in the PL636 and PL636B licenses in the North Sea from Pandion Energy, thus increasing its ownership in the Duva field to 30 percent.Duva oil and gas field (formerly Cara) is located in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea at a water depth of 360m. The field is jointly owned by Idemitsu Petroleum Norge (30%), Neptune Energy Norge (30%, operator), Pandion Energy (20%) and Wellesley Petroleum (20%).“Increasing our share in the deposit, which is close to starting production…
Contract Awarded for Hywind Tampen
Gulen Industrial Harbour in Sogn og Fjordane county has been awarded the contract for assembly site for the floating Hywind Tampen wind turbines before they are transported to the field in the North Sea.No work will commence prior to an investment decision for Hywind Tampen.Hywind Tampen could become the world’s first project to use wind turbines for electrification of oil and gas installations. Reduction of CO2 emissions from the five oil and gas platforms at the Snorre and Gullfaks fields is estimated at more than 200…
Nghi Son Refinery Begins Commercial Production
Vietnam's Nghi Son oil refinery has officially begun commercial production following months of tests, the owner of the refinery said on Monday.Commercial production had begun from Nov.
How Refiners Plan to Grapple With Fuel Oil Output After 2020
High-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO), essentially the leftovers of an oil refiner's output, will still flow from refineries around the world even after new rules start up in 2020 curtailing its use in the global shipping fleet, a Reuters survey showed.Sixty percent of the 33 refineries contacted by Reuters in a global survey will still produce HSFO in 2020 although the supply will tighten as 70 percent of these refiners plan to reduce their output.Starting that year, ships will have to use marine fuel, which primarily consists of residual fuel oil…
Lundin Petroleum Says Arctic Oil Test Points to Bigger Reservoir
Swedish oil firm Lundin Petroleum expects to increase its resource estimate for the Alta discovery in Norway's Arctic region following a successful two-month production test.Finding significant oil reserves in the Norwegian Arctic has been challenging for oil firms, but Alta is among the exceptions along with ENI's Goliat field and Equinor's Johan Castberg discovery.Lundin and its partners are considering developing the discovery as a subsea field connected to a floating production and storage vessel, and may also tie in the smaller Gohta find…
Equinor Explores Floating Wind Turbines to Power N.Sea Oilfields
Norway's Equinor said on Tuesday it is considering whether to build a pioneering offshore wind farm with floating turbines to supply electricity to two North Sea oilfields as part of a strategy to curb greenhouse gas emissions.The project at the Gullfaks and Snorre oilfields would cost around 5 billion Norwegian crowns ($592 million) and could reduce Norway's emissions of carbon dioxide by more than 200,000 tonnes per year, Equinor said."This could be the first time an offshore wind farm is directly connected to oil and gas platforms," state-controlled Equinor said in a statement.
Norway Oil Workers, Employers Reach Deal to End Strike
Norwegian drilling rigs workers will end their industrial action after the union representing 1,600 striking employees reached a deal with the group acting for their employers, the parties said on Thursday.The strike began on July 10 after the Safe union and the Norwegian Shipowners' Association could not come to an agreement over wages and pension conditions. The industrial action led to the shutdown of one Shell-operated field."The strike is over ... All workers will go back to work today," the lead negotiator for the Safe union told Reuters.The action had limited impact on output from Norway…
Hundreds of Oil Workers Strike in Norway
Hundreds of workers on Norwegian offshore oil and gas rigs went on strike on Tuesday after rejecting a proposed wage deal, leading to the shutdown of one Shell-operated field and helping send Brent crude prices higher.One union said hundreds more workers would join the strike on Sunday if an agreement over union demands for a wage increase and pension rights was not reached.Royal Dutch Shell said that due to the strike it was temporarily closing production at its Knarr field, which has a daily output of 23,900 barrels of mostly oil…
Hundreds of Norway Oil Workers Go On Strike
Hundreds of workers on Norwegian offshore oil and gas rigs went on strike on Tuesday after rejecting a proposed wage deal, leading to the shutdown of one Shell-operated field and helping send Brent crude prices higher.One union said hundreds more workers would join the strike on Sunday if an agreement over union demands for a wage increase and pension rights was not reached.Royal Dutch Shell said that due to the strike it was temporarily closing production at its Knarr field, which has a daily output of 23,900 barrels of mostly oil…
Idemitsu Founding Family to Accept Showa Shell Merger
Idemitsu, Showa Shell to merge next spring via stock swap; Idemitsu to make family member as director of merged company. Idemitsu's founding family will drop its opposition to plans for a merger of Idemitsu Kosan and Showa Shell Sekiyu, paving the way for the Japanese oil firms to combine, the Nikkei reported. The family, led by descendants of founder Sazo Idemitsu and which has a little over 28 percent stake in Idemitsu, has said the two firms are too different for any merger to work, while the Idemitsu management says the combination is necessary to compete in Japan's shrinking oil products market.
Norway Awards Oil Permits to 11 Firms in Arctic Licensing Round
Norway has awarded 12 oil and gas exploration licences to Equinor and 10 other companies focused mostly on the Arctic, where Oslo believes it has the greatest potential for significant new discoveries.Nine of the licences are located in the Barents Sea and three in the Norwegian Sea off central Norway, the Ministry of Oil and Energy said on Monday."This licensing round confirms that the oil companies see opportunities for further profitable petroleum activity in the north," Oil and Energy Minister Terje Soeviknes said in a statement.Equinor…
Idemitsu Names Shunichi Kito as New CEO
Current CEO to continue to seek integration with Showa Shell; Idemitsu, Showa Shell to send execs to each other. TOKYO, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Japanese oil refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co says it has named Executive Vice President Shunichi Kito, 61, as its next president and CEO, effective as of April 1. Idemitsu President and CEO Takashi Tsukioka is to become chairman as of the same date. Tsukioka said the changes are to accelerate business collaboration with Showa Shell Sekiyu. Tsukioka said he would continue to lead efforts to gain support from Idemitsu's stakeholders for its goals of integrating with its smaller rival.
