-Refining industry lobbyists have a date with the Obama Administration next week, but the conversation may get awkward very quickly. A FuelFix report examines the oil industry’s effort to get the administration to raise its tight cap on sulfur content in fuel. The American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) will meet with the Office of Management and Budget Wednesday to discuss the EPA’s proposed 10-ppm cap on sulfur in gasoline. AFPM and the American Petroleum Institute have said refiners would need more time to make the upgrades necessary to comply with the rule if it became law. The EPA, however, hasn't shown any signs it will budge.
-A natural gas pipeline blast in southern Kentucky destroyed two homes and sent two people to the hospital on Thursday. Columbia Gulf Transmission, which owns the pipeline, said it is investigating the cause.
-Murphy Oil may sell up to $3 billion in oil and gas assets in Asia, according to a Reuters report. Sources say Murphy’s interest in exiting the market was piqued by high demand seen during recent Asia asset sales by Newfield Exploration and Hess Corp.
-Apache President Roger Plank announced his retirement Friday. Plank is a 32-year veteran of Apache who served as CFO and oversaw communications, investor relations, government affairs and planning before being named president in 2009. Apache also named Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Alfonso Leon as its new CFO. Current CFO Tom Chambers has been named senior vice president for finance, a newly created position.
-Enbridge also announced a number of executive management moves Friday that will take effect next month. Stephen J. Wuori, president of Liquids Pipelines & Major Projects, will become an advisor to company President and CEO Al Monaco. Guy Jarvis, an official within the liquid pipelines group, will succeed Wuori and will also assume the role of president of Enbridge Pipelines.
