-ExxonMobil on Thursday reopened its gasoline terminal in Baton Rouge, La., which was recently idled amid deliveries of bad fuel to local filling stations. Via The Advocate, ExxonMobil said the 120,000 barrels of bad gasoline it produced in mid-March contained an “atypical variation” that can gum up automobile engines. The company said this variation had not been seen in fuel produced more recently.
-Phillips 66 is giving up its search for a buyer for its Whitegate refinery in Ireland. Via the Wall Street Journal’s “Corporate Intelligence” blog, Phillips 66 has spent nearly a year trying to unload the plant, which is suffering amid a tough European refining environment. Murphy Oil announced this week it would consider shutting down its Milford Haven refinery in Wales after talks to sell the facility to a private equity firm broke down.
-U.S. crude oil imports fell in 2013, but the nation’s dependence on oil from Canada, Saudi Arabia and Mexico has increased, the EIA reported today. Oil from those three countries accounted for 61% of total U.S. net imports last year.
-The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission today announced more than $224 million will be invested in Pennsylvania communities via fees paid by natural gas producers. Producers are required by state law to pay a local impact fee, the proceeds of which are disbursed to a special fund that aids housing, infrastructure and environmental projects.
