The Oil and Gas Journal articles from August 1997

The Oil and Gas Journal archives from August 1997

On the global front, Enron forecasts plentiful and reasonably priced natural gas for the long term. (through 2015)(OGJ Newsletter)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... On the global front, Enron forecasts plentiful and reasonably priced natural gas for the long term. It predicts global gas use will rise an average 3.4%/year through 2015 vs. overall energy consumption growth of 2.4%/year. "We estimate...

Offshore drilling continues to strengthen worldwide. (Jul 1997)(OGJ Newsletter)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Offshore drilling continues to strengthen worldwide. Global Marine says strong day rates resulted in a July Summary of Current Offshore Rig Economics (Score) of 65%--1.3% more than June's Score and 14.9% more than July 1996. ...

Amoco Corp. and Argentina's YPF have formed a limited partnership.(OGJ Newsletter)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Amoco Corp. and Argentina's YPF have formed a limited partnership to operate their reserves in the Texas panhandle and western Oklahoma. The Amarillo-based combine, Crescendo Resources, is designed to cut costs and increase profits.

The string of upstream development failures off Viet Nam lengthens. (offshore oil and gas exploration)(OGJ Newsletter)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... The string of upstream development failures off Viet Nam lengthens. A Mobil group pulled out of the Thanh Long (Blue Dragon) project in the South China Sea, citing a lack of commercially viable reserves. Partners were Japex, Inpex, JNOC, and...

Big changes are ahead in India's upstream and downstream sectors. (petroleum industry)(includes multiple briefs)(OGJ Newsletter)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Big changes are ahead in India's upstream and downstream sectors. India's government has granted greater operating freedom to nine leading state enterprises. McKinsey & Co. recommends sweeping changes in the upstream activities of...

Petrochemical investments by Gulf Cooperation Council countries will total $33 billion by 2000, says Gulf Industrial Consultants.(OGJ Newsletter)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Petrochemical investments by Gulf Cooperation Council countries will total $33 billion by 2000, says Gulf Industrial Consultants. Petrochemical output in the region will total 19.5 million metric tons vs. current output of 7 million...

Two major oil companies have retailiated against Greenpeace.(OGJ Newsletter)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Two major oil companies have retaliated against Greenpeace after the pressure group stepped up its campaign to stop oil exploration in the North Atlantic and arctic Alaska by staging blockades against ARCO and BP. At OGJ presstime, BP...

North Sea dilemna. (UK licensing policy discourages North Sea oil and gas development by innovative independent firms)(Editorial)
August 25, 1997... Innovation has been key to the development of North Sea reserves. This week's special report, beginning on p. 49, shows that Europe's off-shore industry continues to look for new ways to improve operations. Operators, contractors,...

EPA's air rule looks safe. (Congress and Clinton administration will not rescue economy from threat posed by clean air regulation)(Editorial)
August 25, 1997... Unless minds change, Congress will not rescue the U.S. economy from the Environmental Protection Agency. EPA's July rule on ozone and soot looks immune to legislative challenge. Bills in the House and Senate would slow EPA's lurch to...

Canadian natural gas export pipeline race heating up.
August 25, 1997... Canada's natural gas pipelines are in a crowded race to add new export capacity to U.S. markets, but some competitors are expected to lag or change before their projects reach the finish line. Analysts and industry sources concede the...

Wingas starts work on Yamal gas link. (pipeline from Yamal Peninsula, Russia, to Germany)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Germany's Wingas, a 65/35 joint venture of Wintershall AS and Russian gas giant Gazprom, has started work on a new pipeline link for import of gas into Germany from Russia's Yamal Peninsula. The Jagal pipeline extends 330 km from Mallnow...

Firms to study Thai onshore gas line.(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... A plan to lay a new intraregional gas pipeline in Thailand has taken a major step forward with three firms agreeing to pursue the project by conducting a feasibility study. Thailand's state-owned Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT),...

Pdvsa completes study of Venezuela-Florida oil pipeline. (Petroleos de Venezuela S.A.)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Venezuela's state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (Pdvsa) has completed a technical feasibility study for building a 3,190-km, $3.6 billion pipeline to transport crude oil from eastern Venezuela to Florida. According to a recently...

Merger of Venezuelan refineries delayed. (Amuay and Cardon refineries)
August 25, 1997... The merging of Venezuela's two largest refineries, Amuay and Cardon--the first step in plans by state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (Pdvsa) to drastically restructure its operations, has been delayed to the end of August, industry...

Monterey Resources agrees to Texaco merger.(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Texaco Inc. and Monterey Resources Inc., Bakersfield, Calif., have agreed to a merger involving heavy oil reserves in California. The $1.4 billion transaction will add 385 million bbl of proved reserves to Texaco's U.S. assets. ...

BP hits back at Greenpeace.
August 25, 1997... In the last column, I reported how John Campbell, technical director of London's E&P Forum, advises oil companies to take a non-confrontational stance to environment campaign groups (OGJ, Aug. 18, 1997, p. 27). Since then, BP Exploration...

Safety in China. (agency working on mine safety laws)
August 25, 1997... The Chinese Bureau of Mine Safety and Health Inspection is working with the U.S.-based China Industrial Information Institute (C3I) to improve China's mining and oil and gas safety and health laws. Within 2 years, the Labor Ministry plans...

AIOC lets contract for full Caspian development work.(Azerbaijan International Operating Co.)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Azerbaijan International Operating Co. (AIOC), an international group led by BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd., has let contract for first-phase full-scale development of three Caspian Sea oil fields. AIOC expects soon to begin early...

BG/Agip to sell Texaco stake in Karachaganak.(British Gas PLC)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Kazakhstan's government has approved a move by BG plc and Agip SpA to sell a 20% interest in supergiant producing Karachaganak oil and gas field to Texaco Inc. Although the value of the deal was not disclosed, Texaco said it is joining...

Enron awarded new onshore PSC in China.(Enron Oil and Gas China Ltd. production-sharing contract)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Development stands to advance in one of China's oldest producing areas. China National Petroleum Corp. awarded a production-sharing contract (PSC) to Enron Oil & Gas China Ltd., a unit of Enron Oil & Gas (EOG) Co., Houston. The PSC...

U.S., Lima firms to explore Peruvian block.(oil exploration contract)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Mosbacher Energy Co. and PanEnergy Corp., both of Houston, and Buenaventura Ingenieros SA, Lima, have signed an exploration and development license with Perupetro SA, the state oil regulatory company, to explore Block 85 in Peru's central...

El Paso Energy International Co. (to build power plant in Brazil)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... El Paso Energy International Co., an El Paso Energy Corp. unit, will build a 250-MW power plant at Manaus, Brazil. The $100 million project is the third in Brazil recently disclosed by the company. Others include a 150-MW power plant in Mato...

Saudi Aramco. (contract)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Saudi Aramco and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. (HPCL) let contract to ABB Lummus Global, Bloomfield, N.J., for a detailed feasibility study for a proposed refining/power complex at Bhatinda, Punjab, India. The project includes an oil...

U.S. Department of Energy. (contract)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... U.S. Department of Energy selected Energy BioSystems (EBS), The Woodlands, Tex., to receive funding for a planned $2.4 million project dedicated to developing a biocatalytic desulfurization (BDS) system for gasoline. EBS said the award will...

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (contract)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (Adnoc) let two contracts to Snamprogetti SpA. The first is for a 280,000 b/d condensate refinery to be built next to Adnoc's existing Ruwais refinery. Included are downstream naphtha stabilization, kerosine...

Imperial Oil Ltd. (oilsands plant planned)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Imperial Oil Ltd., Toronto, plans to begin construction of its 30,000 b/d Mahkeses oilsands plant at Cold Lake, Alta., in mid-1998 instead of this fall (OGJ, Mar. 3, 1997, p. 40). The $500 million project expansion has been delayed almost 1...

Husky Oil Ltd. (contract)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Husky Oil Ltd., Calgary, signed an agreement with China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) covering enhanced oil recovery in Pucheng field, Henan province, about 342 miles south of Beijing. A Husky unit will spend $100 million during 5 years on...

Pengrowth EnergyTrust. (to acquire oil fields)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Pengrowth EnergyTrust, Calgary, agreed to acquire Imperial Oil Ltd.'s interests in three Alberta fields for $595 million (Canadian). Involved are a 98.1% interest in Judy Creek Beaverhill Lake, 94.6% in Judy Creek West Beaverhill Lake, and...

Overseas Private Investment Corp.(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Overseas Private Investment Corp. signed a $116 million commitment letter covering Marathon Oil Co.'s participation in the Sakhalin II project off Russia's Sakhalin Island (OGJ, July 29, 1996, p. 38). OPIC estimates the project will use about...

U.S. Export-Import Bank. (lays foundation for financing Azerbaijan oil projects)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... U.S. Export-Import Bank signed an agreement with Azerbaijan that lays the foundation for possible financing of U.S. exports to the former Soviet republic. The pact provides a framework for financing U.S. sales to Azerbaijan where repayment is...

Columbia Gas System. (acquisition of Alamco Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Columbia Gas System acquired Alamco Inc., an Appalachian basin oil and gas producer, for about $101 million. The combined company will have at least 125 MMcfd of gas production extending from Tennessee to New York.

Indonesia's Pertamina. (plans to take over Pekanbaru field)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Indonesia's Pertamina will take over the coastal plain Pekanbaru oil field at Riau, Sumatra, from PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia when Caltex's contract expires in 2001, according to Pertamina officials. Caltex wanted to extend its 30-year...

Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. (finances)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Mitchell Energy & Development Corp., The Woodlands, Tex., will invest in its energy businesses $460 million of net after-tax proceeds from sale of its real estate subsidiary. Mitchell will use $100 million to repurchase common stock and $200...

Enron Corp. (merger with Enron Global Power & Pipelines LLC)(Companies)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... EnronCorp. and Enron Global Power & Pipelines LLC (EPP) agreed to merge in a sweetened deal valued at $437.5 million, or $35/share, for the 12,500,000 EPP shares in the public market. Initially, the deal called for Enron to pay $32/share...

PT Petro Indokimia Sentre. (to build olefins plant)(Petrochemicals)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... PT Petro Indokimia Sentre, a Salim Group unit, is planning a $1.56 billion basic olefins plant, Indonesia's second, at an undisclosed site. The plant will produce 850,000 metric tons/year of ethylene, 425,000 metric tons/year of propylene,...

Koch Hydrocarbon Co. (capacity boost at Mont Velvieu, TX)(Natural gas liquids)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Koch Hydrocarbon Co., Wichita, and Union Pacific Fuels Inc., a unit of Union Pacific Resources Group Inc., Fort Worth, plan to boost production capacity at their Mont Belvieu, Tex., NGL fractionation complex. Expansion will hike output to...

Mapco Inc. (joint venture with Enterprise Products Co. to form system for transportation and distribution)(Natural gas liquids)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Mapco Inc., Tulsa, and Enterprise Products Co., Houston, agreed to form a 50-50 joint venture to develop a natural gas liquids transportation and distribution system. It's anticipated the system will be capable of distributing product from...

Texaco Inc. (will acquire Amoco Poland Petroleum Products)(Marketing)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Texaco Inc. signed an agreement to acquire Amoco Poland Petroleum Products Sp.zo.o, making Texaco one of the largest western retail fuel operators in Poland. Agreement is subject to Polish government approval. Terms call for Texaco to acquire...

Saboteurs. (spilled oil from Royal Dutch/Shell pipeline, Nigeria)(Pipelines)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Saboteurs deliberately spilled an estimated 2,000 bbl from an oil pipeline operated by Royal Dutch/Shell's Nigerian unit in Nigeria's Bayelsa state, claimed Shell Petroleum Development Co. of Nigeria. Shell said a protective cage was cut open...

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. (plans Eastern Express Project 2000)(Pipelines)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., a unit of El Paso Energy Corp., disclosed initial plans for its Eastern Express Project 2000, an extension of the Eastern Express project (OGJ, Apr. 14, 1997, p. 28). Officials said 400-500 MMcfd of incremental...

Northern Natural Gas Co. (East Leg 2000 requests for gas exceed target volume)(Pipelines)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Northern Natural Gas Co., a unit of Enron Corp., disclosed its East Leg 2000 open season resulted in requests totaling more than 650 MMcfd, exceeding the target volume of 450 MMcfd. More than 20 potential shippers made requests. Northern now...

KN Wattenberg Transmission LLC. (plans natural gas pipeline from Wyoming to Colorado)(Pipelines)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... KN Wattenberg Transmission LLC, a unit of KN Energy Inc., Lakewood, Colo., plans a natural gas pipeline serving customers in the Denver metropolitan area along Colorado's Front Range. The proposed 100-mile pipeline would extend from the...

Florida Gas Transmission Co. (planned expansion)(Pipelines)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Florida Gas Transmission Co. (FGT), Houston, jointly owned by Enron Corp. and Sonat Inc., is conducting a system open season through Sept. 15 for potential shippers seeking incremental firm transportation service under FGT's FTS-2 rate...

Distribuidora de Gas Natural de Mexicali SRL de CV. (started delivery of natural gas)(Gas distribution)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Distribuidora do Gas Natural de Mexicali SRL de CV (DGN) started natural gas delivery to Mexicali, Baja California. The project was Mexico's first natural gas privatization license (OGJ, Sept. 9, 1996, Newsletter). DGN will invest $25 million...

Sullum Voe. (petroleum terminal for U.K. North Sea plans greater capacity)(Terminals)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Sullom Voe terminal, which handles crude oil and processes gas output that comes ashore via pipelines from U.K North Sea fields northeast of Scotland, marked the 6 billionth bbl of oil moved through the terminal. Operated by BP Exploration,...

Northwest Europe's operators show creativity in new developments.(Offshore Northern Europe)
August 25, 1997... Northwest Europe's offshore operators have boosted their oil and gas production dramatically in recent years, and while the area is now mature, a steady stream of developments continues. In the boom days of the late 1970s and 1980s, a...

Aker develops new floating production concept for small fields. (Aker Maritime A/S's Buoyform)(Offshore Northern Europe)
August 25, 1997... OSLO-BASED CONTRACTOR Aker Maritime AS has developed a new floating production concept, known as Buoyform, intended for serial exploitation of small fields. Construction costs will depend on the type of fields to be developed, but Aker...

World's first subsea separation and injection plant destined for Troll C. (Offshore Northern Europe)(ABB Offshore Technology AS's Subsis subsea separation/injection system for Troll C platform used for oil exploration off Norway)(includes related article on Norway's free-swimming survey submersible)
August 25, 1997... In the future, commercial oil and gas production will require equipment that can be operated at great depths and far from existing infrastructure. Greater water depths, longer distances to infrastructure, and more stringent legislation call...

Extended well testing boosts prospects for development of marginal fields. (Offshore Northern Europe)(oil and gas exploration in North Sea)(includes related article on construction of gas floater in Norway)
August 25, 1997... The future for oil and gas production in the North Sea appears bright. However, to maintain production and profitability, operators must find ways of bringing smaller and more marginal fields on stream while reducing development costs....

Czech crude oil supplies diversified by new pipeline.(MERO-IKL crude oil pipeline)
August 25, 1997... The Czech crude-oil storage and transportation company MERO CR A.S., Kralupy nad Vltavou, has taken steps in the past 2 years and plans more by 2000 to diversify the Czech Republic's sources of crude oil. Since August 1995, the company...

Refiner improves steam system with custom simulation/optimization package.(petroleum refiner Ruhr Ol GmbH)
August 25, 1997... As an integral part of its profit improvement program, Ruhr 0l GmbH has implemented a steam-system simulation and optimization package at its Scholven refinery in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. By manipulating the back-pressure/condensing...

New test identifies completion fluid compatibility problems.(fluid/crude oil compatibility)
August 25, 1997... A new test procedure simulates reservoir conditions to improve the accuracy for determining completion fluid/crude oil compatibility. Laboratory and field studies(1) have shown that calcium chloride, calcium bromide, and zinc...

Oil States Industries, Inc.(purchases HydroTech Systems)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Oil States Industries, Inc., Arlington, Tex., has acquired HydroTech Systems, Inc., Houston, which will operate as a new division, Oil States HydroTech Systems, Inc. Robert Wittman will continue as president of Oil States HydroTech...

Oilfield Equipment Manager.(appoints Kenneth E. DuBose president)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Oilfield Equipment Manager, Houston, Tex., has named Kenneth E. DuBose president and managing general partner. OEM offers buyers and sellers a new way to exchange oilfield equipment via the Internet.

Smith International, Inc.(purchases Faster Oilfield Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Smith International, Inc., Houston, Tex., has acquired the assets of Faster Oilfield Services Inc. The asset purchase does not include Faster Rentals Inc. Faster Oilfield Services, Nisku, Canada, operates a major downhole drilling...

CB Turbocharger Products Group.(of Cooper Energy Services signs contract with Air Solutions Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... CB Turbocharger Products Group of Cooper Energy Services (CES), a division of Cooper Cameron Corp., Houston, Tex., has announced the expansion of its product representation to the Rocky Mountain area of the U.S. through the addition of Air...

Drilling Specialties Co.(increases production of Soltex drilling fluid additive)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Drilling specialties Co., Houston, Tex., a division of Phillips Petroleum Co., is expanding its Conroe, Tex., plant to boost production of its Soltex drilling fluid additive by 40 percent. Soltex is a modified ashpalt widely used in...

What's been drilled, found in world's deepwater areas.(deepwater oil well exploration)
August 25, 1997... The first wildcat drilled in deep water for oil exploration predates by two years the onset of the Deep Sea Drilling Project. Pan American abandoned the Pan Am-10E Tors Cove D-52 well 300 km southeast of Newfoundland in 710 m of water in...

Graham Ferris.(appointed president of Shell Chemicals Europe)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Graham Ferris has been named president of Shell Chemicals Europe, London. He succeeds Jean-Pierre Meurin, who has retired. Rein Willems succeeds Ferris as director, petrochemicals outside Europe.

Ronald J. Burns.(appointed president and CEO of Entergy Corp.)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Ronald J. Burns has been named president and chief executive officer of Entergy Corp., New Orleans. Gerald McInvale, executive vice-president and chief financial officer, has been promoted to chairman.

C.G. (Gene) Gradick.(appointed president of USX-Delhi Group and Delhi Gas Pipeline Corp.)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... C.G. (Gene) Gradick has been elected president of USX-Delhi group and Delhi Gas Pipeline Corp., both of Pittsburgh.

Joseph T. Williams.(appointed president of MCNIC Oil & Gas Co.)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Joseph T. Williams has been named president of MCNIC Oil & Gas Co., a subsidiary of MCN Investment Corp., Detroit

Mike S. McConnell.(appointed president of Houston Pipe Line Co. and Louisiana Resources Co.)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Mike S. McConnell has been named president of Houston Pipe Line Co. and Louisiana Resources Co.

Joe Becraft.(appointed president and CEO of Aquila Gas Pipeline Corp.)(Brief Article)
August 25, 1997... Joe Becraft has been named president and chief executive officer of Aquila Gas Pipeline Corp., San Antonio, Tex.

World oil prices are showing renewed strength after falling briefly as a result of Iraq's resumption of limited oil exports.(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... World oil prices are showing renewed strength after falling briefly as a result of Iraq's resumption of limited oil exports. London Brent for September closed at $18.99/bbl Aug. 13, up 41c/bbl in 2 days. It fell below $18.50/bbl after...

U.S. State Department says it will consider levying sanctions on non-U.S. companies that invest as little as $20 million in Iran's oil and gas sector, half the previous threshold.(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... U.S. State Department says it will consider levying sanctions on non-U.S. companies that invest as little as $20 million in Iran's oil and gas sector, half the previous threshold. The higher level was set after 1996 passage of the Iran...

A U.S. federal judge has declined to expand to all producers a ruling that Interior cannot collect royalties on gas contract settlements that involved no exchange of gas. (Judge Royce Lamberth, Washington, D.C.)(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... A U.S. federal judge has declined to expand to all producers a ruling that Interior cannot collect royalties on gas contract settlements that involved no exchange of gas. IPAA says that will force hundreds of companies to file individual...

A National Research Council panel says the U.S. may have to consider global warming policies to discourage driving and develop autos that use cleaner fuels or less gasoline.(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... A National Research Council panel says the U.S. may have to consider global warming policies (see editorial p. 13) to discourage driving and develop autos that use cleaner fuels or less gasoline. It says U.S. cars and trucks account for...

Texas has become the first state in the U.S. to adopt a code of conduct for the transortation of natural gas.(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... Texas has become the first state in the U.S. to adopt a code of conduct for the transportation of natural gas (OGJ, May 5, 1997, p. 46). Texas Railroad Commission officials said the code, when combined with the TRC's informal complaint...

Mexico's Pemex is advancing plans for a major enhanced oil recovery project in Campeche Sound. (Petroleos Mexicanos)(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... Mexico's Pemex is advancing plans for a major enhanced oil recovery project in Campeche Sound. The project will serve the Cantarell oil complex. Bids close Aug. 29 for construction and operation of a nitrogen plant to be built at a...

India is looking for more revenues to offset mounting government red ink. (may allow oil and gas prices to rise)(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... India is looking for more revenues to offset mounting government red ink (see Watching Government, p. 21). Natural gas price concessions long enjoyed by India's industries may soon be a thing of the past, and refined product prices could...

Exxon will develop an integrated refining/petrochemical project in China.(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... Exxon will develop an integrated refining/petrochemical project in China. Exxon China Inc.'s joint-venture project with Fujian Petrochemical Co. Ltd. focuses on Fujian's refinery at Xiaocuo, Fujian province. Fujian Petrochemical is...

Privatization is advancing in Asia, but some plans by Peru are not.(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... Privatization is advancing in Asia, but some plans by Peru are not. China Development Corp. (CDC)--advising Taiwan on privatization of state-run Chinese Petroleum Corp. (CPC)--recommends CPC be privatized before June 1999 as a single...

Old fields, new opportunities. (Kern River, CA, field)(Column)
August 18, 1997... Old fields, some discovered a century ago, still produce oil at significant rates. New technology and reduced costs are keys for exploiting them. California's Kern River field, discovered in 1899 with a 40-ft deep, hand-dug well,...

Babbitt and climate change. (Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt)(Editorial)
August 18, 1997... By declaration of a cabinet-level official, oil companies based in the U.S. are un-American, conspiratorial, and fraudulent. They got that way by disagreeing with the Clinton administration over global warming. On a July 21 National...

BP slates world-scale expansions at its Grangemouth complex. (British Petroleum Co. PLC; includes related article on polymer cracking process at Grangemouth, Scotland)
August 18, 1997... British Petroleum Co. plc has ambitious expansion plans for its Grangemouth refinery and petrochemical complex near Edinburgh, to maximize use of its unusual combination of nearby sites. The complex is unique within the company in having...

California's Benton seeks PSA in Jordan. (Benton Oil & Gas Co.; contract with Medallion-Huber Jordan Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... Oil and gas development stands to advance in Jordan. Benton Oil & Gas Co., Carpinteria, Calif., signed a letter of agreement with Medallion-Huber Jordan Inc. (MHJ) that enables Benton to apply to acquire rights to MHJ's existing...

Brazil's petroleum deregulation law signed.(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... Brazil's President Fernando Henrique Cardoso has signed into law new petroleum deregulation measures recently approved by Brazil's Congress. The new law ends more than 4 decades of monopoly by Brazil's oil giant Petrobras SA, which now...

API: U.S. oil demand up, oil output down. (American Petroleum Institute report)(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... Deliveries of petroleum products to the U.S. market surged during July to almost 19 million b/d, the American Petroleum Institute reported. Deliveries of distillate increased a hefty 9%, jet fuel was up 6.1%, and gasoline was up 3.2%...

Indian politics. (plans to end petroleum product subsidies, raise prices)(Column)
August 18, 1997... India still is under pressure to raise domestic petroleum product prices to international levels. Due to its subsidy program, the government owes about $5.3 billion to domestic oil companies for selling products below market prices....

U.S. gasoline demand rising. (U.S. Energy Information Administration report)(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports U.S. gasoline demand has been gaining strength and estimates summer demand will be about 2% above 1996 levels. EIA predicts a 1.3% year-to-year growth rate for the second quarter and a...

Pipeline spill drill tests industry's response capability. (Houston Ship Channel used for test site)(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... About 250 people representing nine major oil companies and three government agencies participated in an emergency-response oil spill drill along the Houston Ship Channel last week. The drill began at about 3:30 a.m., when a hypothetical...

Oil firms in environmentally sensitive areas learning to balance stakeholder interests. (includes related article on Conoco Inc.'s exploration project in Ecuador)
August 18, 1997... In late 1991, faced with mounting pressure from environmental groups and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), Conoco Inc. sold its share of a major petroleum exploration project in Ecuador's eastern rain forest and left the country....

TransCanada plans complicate Canada gas line picture. (TransCanada PipeLines Ltd.'s TransVoyageur line)(Brief Article)
August 18, 1997... TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. (TCPL), Calgary, has disclosed a new gas pipeline project and equity investments giving a web of connections to major U.S. export markets. The proposed TransVoyageur line, with as much as 2 bcfd capacity, would...