Imperial Oil last week said it will stop base oil production at its Sarnia, Ontario refinery next year to focus on fuels. The plant has 2,800 barrels per day of API Group I and 3,800 b/d of Group II base oil capacity. Following a strategic review, Imperial has decided to discontinue the manufacturing of lubricant base stock at its Sarnia refinery site, Imperial Oil spokesman John Harding told Lube Report. The transition is expected to occur by mid 2011. The plant produces base oil, process oils...

Chevrons recently stated plans to downsize its global downstream business do not affect its commitment to its base oil business, a company official told Lube Report. In late January, Chevron said its downstream business will be smaller and less complex, though it didnt disclose whether or how the restructuring will impact its base oil or lubricants operations. The company said it expects to have more information to share in March. Our commitment to the base oil business – to be a global ...

Lubrizols additives segment posted record operating income of $191.4 million for the quarter ending Dec. 31, up 105 percent from $93.3 million in the year-earlier quarter. For the full year, the additives segments operating income reached $787.8 million, up 81.3 percent from $434.5 million total for 2008. In the fourth quarter, the Lubrizol Additives segment reported $838.8 million in revenue, 6.3 percent higher than in the year earlier period. For the full year 2009, the additives segments re...

A scrubber unit explosion Friday that damaged pollution control equipment at Calumets Shreveport, La. refinery forced the company to curtail base oil production at the site. The cause is under investigation. Calumets Shreveport facility experienced an explosion on Friday, Feb. 5, while performing maintenance to isolate equipment for repair, Calumet Shreveport spokeswoman Liz Swaine told Lube Report yesterday. There were no injuries, and the incident did not damage any processing units, but it d...

Coastal Blending and Packaging will manufacture antifreeze and windshield washer products that Recochem will sell throughout eastern Canada and New England, under an agreement announced last week. The two companies have had a partnership for the past 10 years. Montreal-based Recochem markets windshield washer and antifreeze products in the Canadian and U.S. markets under the Turbo Power name, and in Canada under other brands such as STP and Rain-X. Saint John, New Brunswick-based Coastal had ma...

Another week of good activity across all markets. Asia will probably succumb to the lunar holiday celebrations, but Europe continues to pump out plenty of cargoes. The U.S. is visibly tighter for prompt loading, with the exception of the trade lane to Asia. U.S. Gulf of Mexico A great deal of tightness is being felt through most of the routes that feed into the Caribbean and east coast of South America. Contractual business is definitely leading the way, but this means less open space for spot ...