Refinery exports reach new monthly high

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U.S. refineries set new November records for gross inputs and exports of refined products, the American Petroleum Institute (API) reported.

Gross inputs in November 2014 rose by 0.9 percent from last year to average 16.3 million barrels per day, while exports were up 5.5 percent to average 4.2 million barrels per day.

With many plants back online after their scheduled turnaround, the API put the overall refinery capacity utilization rate at an average of 91.4 percent in November. This was up 2.6 percentage points from October, up 0.8 percentage points from November 2013, and was the highest November rate in 10 years.

Meanwhile, imports of refined products dropped 27.3 percent year-on-year to the lowest level since May 1995 at 1.4 million barrels per day.

Total U.S. petroleum deliveries last month reached a seven-year high, increasing by 1.9 percent from November 2013 to average 19.9 million barrels per day. At the same time, total petroleum imports were down by 5.2 percent from November last year, averaging just under 8.9 million barrels per day -- the second lowest level since February 1996.

Welcoming the uptick in U.S. production and deliveries, API chief economist John Felmy said: "It has been several years since we've seen this level of demand in November. The economy overall appeared to be in good shape last month, and production of crude, natural gas and refined products all remained quite strong."

Earlier this month, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said that U.S. refineries were processing a record volume of crude oil for this time of year and were operating at 93.4 percent of their capacity in the last week of November.

US shale gas production overtakes non-shale

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Shale gas wells became the largest source of total natural gas production in the United States last year, surpassing production from non-shale natural gas wells.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), total U.S. natural gas gross withdrawals reached a new high of 82 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2013. This measure encompasses full well stream production including all natural gas plant liquids and non-hydrocarbon gases after oil, lease condensate and water have been removed.

Within that total, gross withdrawals from shale gas wells increased to 33 Bcf/d in 2013, from 5 Bcf/d in 2007, representing 40% of total natural gas production.

New technology has enabled producers to focus their production on resources that are now easier to reach and have lower drilling costs. These trends have been reflected in the lower market price of natural gas, the EIA said.

U.S. shale production has expanded significantly since 2007, when shale gas wells accounted for just 8% of total natural gas produced in the country and 63% of shale gas production came from Texas.

The distribution of shale gas production by state has changed most notably in Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Arkansas. These states accounted for 26 Bcf/d, or 79% of U.S. shale production in 2013.

Total U.S. gross natural gas production from non-shale natural gas wells has decreased by 25%, from 41 Bcf/d in 2007 to 31 Bcf/d in 2013.

Roche Optimizes its Critical Solvent-Handling Operations with Almatec Pumps

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Roche Diagnostics GmbH gets the reliability, efficiency and safe operation it needs when handling the oftentimes hazardous solvents in pharmaceutical production from a high-capacity, ATEX-certified Almatec E-Series Air-Operated Double-Diaphragm (AODD) Pumps. E-Series pumps are ideal for Roche’s operation because they feature solid-block construction with abrasion-resistant materials while utilizing stainless-steel ring technology that eliminates the need for mechanical seals.