Friday, May 31, 2019
Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 19
1 Trade wars tip oil toward biggest monthly drop in six months
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-idUSKCN1T1056
Oil was on track for its biggest monthly drop in six months on Friday as U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up trade tensions, weighing on the demand outlook.
2 Can Canada Become Energy Independent By 2030?
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Can-Canada-Become-Energy-Independent-By-2030.html
Andrew Scheer—leader of Canada’s Conservatives who are currently in opposition but leading Liberals in the polls ahead of the October federal elections—has recently outlined his vision for Canada that includes the country becoming energy independent by cutting off all foreign oil imports by 2030.
3 LNG mega-projects face funding evolution
https://www.petroleum-economist.com/articles/midstream-downstream/lng/2019/lng-mega-projects-face-funding-evolution
The shifting risk and reward equations created by LNG’s commoditisation will lead to fundamental changes in financing
4 Shale Drillers Keep On Falling Into The Same Trap
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Shale-Drillers-Keep-On-Falling-Into-The-Same-Trap.html
Despite the hype of lower breakeven prices, and despite the hype around longer laterals, energy digitalization, and other technological breakthroughs, most shale companies are still not profitable.
5 EIA’s new liquids pipeline projects database shows new U.S. crude oil pipeline capacity
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=39672
EIA recently launched a new liquids pipeline projects database that tracks more than 200 crude oil, hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGL), and petroleum products pipeline projects. Rising domestic crude oil production has led to several changes in Gulf Coast crude oil supply and demand patterns, creating a need for more pipeline capacity.
6 Analysis: Potential Reliance, Aramco tie-up seen as ‘match made in heaven’
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/analysis-potential-reliance-aramco-tie-up-seen-as-match-made-in-heaven/
Talks for Saudi Aramco to buy a stake in the downstream segment of India’s Reliance Industries are in advanced stages, sources have told S&P Global Platts, a potential tie-up that could open a window of opportunity for both companies to nurture their refining and petrochemical expansion dreams.
7 Total to move ahead with using palm oil at biodiesel refinery
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-total-biofuels-lamede-idUSKCN1SZ1V9
Total is set to start up a biodiesel refinery using palm oil whose planned launch last summer sparked opposition from farmers producing vegetable oil and from environmental activists.
8 ExxonMobil backs LNG imports to world’s biggest exporter
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-gas-outlook-idUSKCN1T00T2
Imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Australia – the world’s biggest LNG exporter – now appear “highly realistic” as the country struggles to fill a looming gas shortage, U.S. energy giant Exxon Mobil Corp said on Thursday.
9 Smart Money Turns Increasingly Bearish On Oil
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Oil-Prices/Smart-Money-Turns-Increasingly-Bearish-On-Oil.html
Over the past month, hedge funds and other portfolio managers have been liquidating some of their bets that oil prices will rise, as concerns about the future of global economy grew amid an intensifying U.S.-China trade war.
10 Bechtel scores $9.5 bln Rio Grande LNG EPC deal
https://www.lngworldnews.com/bechtel-scores-9-5-bln-rio-grande-lng-epc-deal/
US LNG export project developer NextDecade has signed two contracts with Bechtel for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG project in Brownsville, Texas, totaling $9.565 billion.
11 Pemex’s oil exports tumble 11% in April from March
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-oil-idUSKCN1SV007
Pemex’s oil exports dropped by 11% in April compared to the previous month, while production slipped by 0.9%, data from the Mexican state oil firm showed on Friday.
12 Expert insights on choosing the right plastics for medical applications
https://www.plasticstoday.com/medical/expert-insights-on-choosing-right-plastics-medical-applications/16899970660867
The material selection process for a medical application must consider many of the same issues as for any other product—the material’s physical properties, the environment(s) in which the product will be used, the cost of the material, the manufacturing process, and so forth
