Singapore's SRC partially shuts refinery for turnaround

Market: Oil products
22/08/24

Singapore Refining Company (SRC) has partially shut its refinery for a scheduled maintenance in August, market participants said.

SRC, a joint venture between Singapore Petroleum Company (SPC) and Chevron, has shut a crude distillation unit for a scheduled turnaround at its 290,000 b/d Jurong Island refinery. The shutdown will last about one to two months market participants said.

SRC produces oil products ranging from naphtha, reformate, alkylate, gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and low-sulphur fuel oil. The cargoes are typically distributed domestically and exported to markets in Asia-Pacific, according to SRC. Some of SRC's naphtha is also sent via pipeline to Petrochemical Singapore (PCS), according to a 2023 PCS document.

By Aldric Chew

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14/10/24

High inventories dampen German heating oil demand

Hamburg, 14 October (Argus) — Demand for heating oil in Germany fell last week as a result of high consumer stocks, contrary to sellers' expectations of continued buying. Private heating oil tanks were on average 61pc full on 10 October, an increase of almost two percentage points from the same time in 2023 and more than three percentage points from 2022, data from Argus MDX show. Consumers have in recent weeks been taking advantage of lower distillate prices to stock up on heating oil ahead of winter. Heating oil prices in September reached their lowest since June 2023. Although there was a sharp rise in prices at the start of October, sellers experienced another surge in demand. This was driven by consumers buying because of escalating tensions in the Middle East and a subsequent jump in Ice gasoil futures. But demand for heating oil fell significantly in the middle of last week, largely because consumers had stocked up sufficiently and no longer felt the need to buy at a premium. A logistical bottleneck for deliveries further reduced demand. Demand for imported diesel is also decreasing. An economic slowdown in Germany continues to suppress diesel demand. This trend could continue until at least the end of the year, federal government data show. Operators are able to run barges at full capacity. This, coupled with overall low demand, is leading to a fall in freight costs from the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub into Germany. There is increased domestic supply in western Germany. A major supplier at Shell's 334,000 b/d Rhineland refinery resumed spot sales of heating oil and diesel last week, having halted them because of an unplanned unit shutdown. By Natalie Mueller Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Florida fuel supply edging toward normal post-storm

11/10/24

News

11/10/24

Florida fuel supply edging toward normal post-storm

Houston, 11 October (Argus) — Some Florida fuel terminals and a major refined products pipeline expect to restore operations over the weekend thanks to minimal damage from Hurricane Milton, but a return to normal in Port Tampa is being hampered by power outages. Kinder Morgan's Orlando terminal is operational but the company is still assessing its Tampa area terminals and the Central Florida Pipeline (CFPL) after Hurricane Milton made landfall as a category 3 storm late Wednesday, a spokesperson said at 3pm ET Friday. Kinder plans to have its Tampa fuels rack and 16-inch CFPL pipeline online by late Saturday and the 10-inch CFPL pipeline online by the end of the weekend. The company's three Tampa bulk terminals are likely to remain offline Friday due to widespread power outages and damage to the surrounding area. The CFPL pipeline transports gasoline, diesel, ethanol and jet fuel to Orlando, including to Orlando International Airport, and is connected to Kinder's Tampa refined products terminal that has 1.8mn bls of storage. Nearly half of Florida's supply of petroleum and refined products passes through Port Tampa Bay, the majority via waterborne cargo from the US Gulf coast. Port Tampa Bay is still assessing its land and seaside operations, port officials said this morning. It re-opened for limited operations late Thursday having avoided widespread flooding, though power outages in the area remain an issue. Global Partners' Tampa terminal is without power and running on generators, the company said today. Employees are cleaning up minor damage and Global expects the facility to be "fully operational soon". Buckeye Partners' Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, terminals are fully operational and the company is working to restore operations at its two Tampa terminals, a Buckeye spokesperson said today. Chevron is repairing damage at its Tampa terminal, but did not give a time line for a return to normal operations. The company's Port Everglades and Panama City terminals are online and selling fuels, the company said today. Citgo expects its Tampa terminal to restore operations by mid-to-late next week, the company said today. The St Petersburg-Clearwater International airport (PIE) west of Port Tampa is expected to open at 4pm ET Friday according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport further south is expected to reopen early Saturday morning. Miami airport is open and Orlando International resumed commercial flights today. Prices for Florida CBOB delivered at Tampa and Port Everglades fell by 1.87¢/USG to $2.15/USG today. Cash differentials were stable in the Florida gasoline cargo markets at Argus Gulf coast Colonial CBOB +10¢/USG. Prices for Florida ULSD delivered to Port Everglades fell by 0.44¢/USG to $2.39/USG today. Cash differentials were unchanged in the waterborne ULSD cargo markets at Argus Gulf coast Colonial ULSD +12.25¢/USG. By Nathan Risser Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Feds probing fatal Pemex Deer Park accident

11/10/24

News

11/10/24

Feds probing fatal Pemex Deer Park accident

Houston, 11 October (Argus) — The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are both launching independent investigations into this week's fatal accident at Pemex's 312,500 b/d Deer Park, Texas, refinery. A hydrogen sulfide (H2S) release that killed two workers and injured dozens more occurred on Thursday evening at the plant located near Houston. It also led to shelter-in-place orders for surrounding communities, which have since been lifted. The CSB will investigate the causes of the fatal release, the agency said Friday. The CSB is responsible for investigating industrial accidents in the US, such as the deadly 2022 explosion at BP's Toledo refinery in Ohio and a probe into operations at Marathon's Martinez renewable diesel plant after several fires earlier this year . A representative for CSB was not immediately available for comment. OSHA — charged with enforcing compliance with federal workplace safety laws — is also investigating the incident, and has "up to six months" to complete the investigation, according to an OSHA representative. OSHA would not stop company operations during the duration of the investigation, but "could not speak for other agencies at the site," an OSHA official told Argus. The Harris County Sheriff's department has also opened an investigation into the incident. The release occurred as workers began planned maintenance on a unit. An H2S leak was detected, resulting in several units being shut down as staff sought to secure the leak. The Deer Park refinery had previously been damaged in a February 2023 fire, resulting in two weeks of repairs. A slew of accidents at Deer Park and several other Mexican state-owned Pemex's refineries in part led Fitch Ratings to downgrade Pemex's credit rating in July 2023 . By Gordon Pollock Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Pemex Deer Park refinery H2S leak kills 2: Update

11/10/24

News

11/10/24

Pemex Deer Park refinery H2S leak kills 2: Update

Adds comment from Mexican energy minister, context from regulatory filings. Houston, 11 October (Argus) — A hydrogen sulfide (H2S) leak at Pemex's 312,500 b/d Deer Park, Texas, refinery on 10 October killed two workers and injured 35 more. The leak occurred accidentally during maintenance, according to a regulatory filing submitted by Pemex this morning. Several units, including an amine unit, an alkylation unit, a hydrocracker and a sulphur recovery unit were promptly shut and flaring was initiated so the leak could secured. Mexican energy minister Luz Elena Gonzalez said in a press conference in Mexico City Friday morning that the refinery was expected to restart operations later today. Deadly accidents at US refineries usually require extensive regulatory investigations by federal agencies, however, which require facilities or certain units at a plant to remain shut down. H2S is an extremely hazardous gas commonly produced as a byproduct of refining, which can be processed into pure sulphur in a sulphur recovery unit (SRU) or removed by hydrotreating. Shell's Deer Park petrochemical facility, located adjacent to Pemex's refinery, said it was doing a "controlled slowdown" of its operations as of 8:52pm yesterday in response to the accident as a precaution. A flaring event was initially reported by a Deer Park Office of Emergency Management (OEM) social media account at 6:23pm ET on 10 October. A shelter in place advisory was issued for all Deer Park residents in a follow-up notice and Texas State Highway 225 running adjacent to the refinery was also closed to traffic. Areas of nearby Pasadena were also placed under a shelter in place advisory. The Deer Park shelter in place was lifted at 10pm ET. The Pemex refinery had previously reported an aromatic concentration unit (ACU) leak on 6 October. Amine units strip H2S from methane gas generated by hydrotreaters. Alkylation units produce high-octane blendstocks used in gasoline. Hydrocrackers use hydrogen, pressure, and catalyst to produce distillates and gasoline low in contaminants like sulphur. SRUs help to remove sulphur and other impurities from refinery products and gas streams. By Gordon Pollock Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Florida ports, fuel supplies, begin recovery: Update 2

10/10/24

News

10/10/24

Florida ports, fuel supplies, begin recovery: Update 2

Updates more port and terminal conditions, adds daily CBOB/ULSD prices. Houston, 10 October (Argus) — Port Tampa Bay, Florida, docks did not sustain significant damage from Hurricane Milton, the port authority said Thursday, a positive sign for resuming fuel imports into the storm ravaged state. Some port buildings were damaged and power remains out, according to preliminary assessments, but the port docks appear to have escaped major damage, according to the port authority. Many roads leading to the port remain flooded, but the port's main gates are accessible. There is no current timeline for the port's re-opening. Damage to Global Partners' Florida fuel terminals is less severe than the company expected, a spokesperson said Thursday afternoon. Global is loading cargoes from its three Port Everglades terminals. Its Tampa terminal is offline and running on generator power due to power outages, but staff are on site working to restore operations. Kinder Morgan is continuing to assess its terminals and pipeline, a spokesperson said Thursday afternoon. Chevron's Tampa refined products terminal remains closed and damage assessments will begin once crews can safely access the facility, a company spokesperson said Thursday morning. The company's terminals in Panama City and Port Everglades are operational. Citgo said it found no major damage at its Tampa terminal after an initial assessment but a more detailed inspection is ongoing as it works to restore operations. Buckeye, which shut Tampa terminals ahead of the hurricane, did not immediately respond to requests for information on the status of its operations. Tampa spared the worst Florida governor Ron DeSantis said Thursday that Port Tampa avoided the worst-case scenario in terms of storm surge and that eastern Florida ports on the opposite side of the state from where Milton made landfall appear largely undamaged. Nearly half of Florida's supply of petroleum and refined products passes through Port Tampa Bay, the majority via waterborne cargo from the US Gulf coast. Tampa Bay is also the site of major fertilizer operations, including Mosaic's Riverview phosphate plant. The state has 1.5mn USG of diesel and about 1.1mn USG of gasoline available to deploy in its emergency response, DeSantis said. Florida's highway patrol continues to escort fuel tankers making deliveries to gas stations and has completed about 130 escorts after some stations ran dry earlier this week as Floridians stocked up on fuel and evacuated coastal regions. DeSantis said he expects gas stations to reopen "very quickly, at least that's our hope." Prices for Florida CBOB delivered at Tampa and Port Everglades rose by 8.51¢/USG to $2.17/USG today while prices for Florida ULSD rose by 7.09¢/USG to $2.39/USG. Cash differentials in the waterborne ULSD markets and gasoline cargo markets were little changed. About 3.4mn Floridians were without power early today after Hurricane Milton came ashore south of Tampa Bay late Wednesday night as a category 3 storm. Utility crews are assessing the damage from high winds, tornadoes and flooding, and starting to restore power. The number of customers without power dipped below 3mn Thursday afternoon. Restrictions were lifted Thursday at a number of Florida ports closed for the storm, the Coast Guard said, while others are expected to open in the next day. By Nathan Risser and Cooper Sukaly Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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