GS Caltex announced January 4 that it will invest US$981 million in a fourth facility for heavy-oil upgrading (HOU) at Yesou, South Korea – enabling the conversion of more heavy bunker “C” residual fuel oil into low-sulfur diesel and gasoline.

California-based contractor Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., announced January 5 that it has received a three-year contract from Canada’s North Atlantic Refining Ltd. for turnaround and small capital work services at the company’s Newfoundland refinery.

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC) plans to begin marketing its refined oil production in the U.S., Brazil and other parts of the world to boost the firm’s revenue base, according to a January 5 report by the Azerbaijan Press Agency (APA).

Emirates National Oil Co. (ENOC) plans to expand refined oil products storage capacity in the United Arab Emirates sheikhdom of Fujairah for trading and local supply, according to a January 5 Bloomberg report citing the head of ENOC.

Enterprise Products Partners LP entered 10-year agreements to handle a substantial portion of Chesapeake Energy Corp.'s liquids-rich gas production in the Eagle Ford shale.

France-based Axens announced January 6 that it has signed a deal with Criterion Catalysts and Shell for the purchase of Criterion’s catalytic-reforming catalyst business.

Private Brazilian refinery Manguinhos Refinaria de Petroleos has signed a preliminary agreement with U.S. firm Astra Oil Trading for possible partnerships in biodiesel production and crude oil storage, as well as in refining and logistics, the company said in a January 5 statement.

Vietnam has selected French contractor Technip, Japanese engineering firm JGC Corp. and Spanish oil engineer Tecnicas Reunidas S.A. to build the US$5-billion Nghi Son oil refinery, according to a January 5 report quoting an official with the country’s state-owned oil group.