Shale changes drive heavy turnarounds

摘要

US refiners increased turnaround activity in the first quarter, following a comparatively busy season in September-November (AGM, 27 September, p3). Many refiners have not elaborated on the nature of extended turnaround work. But changes to US refineries are increasingly skewed to assimilating shale developments and their cheaper light sweet crude output. Shale-driven expansions are rife, as US refiners move to expand light sweet crude capacity. “Whenever we do a turnaround, we do low-cost expansions to increase our opportunities to take advantage of these crudes when they present themselves on the market,” ExxonMobil senior vice-president Mike Dolan says.