| TOPIC OF THE ISSUE |
 Russia/CIS sea shelf development: An attack of brains
The 9th International Conference on developing hydrocarbon resources in the Russian Arctic and the continental shelf of the CIS
The world's concern with having enough energy resources will lead to searches for new types of energy sources and to developing traditional resources in remote regions such as the Arctic. |
| PERSON OF THE ISSUE |
 Shukhrat Danbay,
general director Pavlodar refinery
Kazakhstanan's motor fuels market went into turbulence last summer and in September. Powerfull export flows drained motor fuels stocks at tankfarms in different regions of Kazakhstan. Giant oil producer, pumping some 1,43 mn b/d of crude, entered into truly embarrassing petrol crisis. The largest Central Asia city, 2 mn residents Almaty witnessed endless queues of petrol stations. Deputy minister of Energy and mineral resources Lyazzat Kiyinov had to admit: we were caught off guard by lack of stoks and massive lucrative exports. |
| PHOTO OF THE ISSUE |
 Powerful refinery blast in Puerto Rico
Firefighter Jose Velasquez watches the fire inside the warehouse and distribution center of Caribbean Petroleum Corp., owned by Gulf, in Catano, Puerto Rico, in the early hours of Friday, Oct. 23, 2009. An explosion at the Gulf gasoline facility rocked a neighborhood outside Puerto Rico's capital, causing at least some minor injuries and forcing evacuations as firefighters raced to prevent additional blasts. |
| REFINING |
 The low sulphur effect
In October, engineers from the Kremenchug refinery completed modernisation on one of two diesel fuel hydrotreatment units. The updates equipment will enable the facility to produce low-sulphur content (less than 50 ppm) diesel fuel that meets Euro-4 Standards. |
| EXPORTS |
 Saudi Aramco switches to Argus Sour Crude Index for US deliveries
Saudi Aramco announced on 28 October that it will begin using the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI) published by Argus Media as the benchmark price for all grades of crude oil sold to US customers. |
| NATURAL GAS |
 Gazprom seeks control over 25% of the world LNG market
The 24th World gas congress opened on 7 October in Buenos-Aires. This marked the first time the event was held in Latin America. The event was dedicated to a review of the use of natural gas in the global energy strategy and brought together about 750 experts and top-managers from leading companies from scores of countries. |
| COMPANIES |
 Gunvor flexes its muscles
Gunvor, one of the largest oil traders in the world, intends to participate in spot trades in other energy resources — LNG, coal and electricity. In October, the company announced it would finish forming a team to handle these operations on the international market. |
| COMPANIES |
 Rovnag Abdullayev: «Businessmen have stated their desire to buy wholesale and we are not turning them down»
Our company sees itself developing on the Ukrainian market. And to do this we have opened a representative office which will handle the details of studying the market and examining the possibility of mutually-advantageous cooperation with Ukrainian companies. We are interested in several areas: selling oil products, transport and refining. |
| COMPANIES |
 SOCAR comes to Ukrainian fuel market
On 12 October, the Azerbaijan state oil company SOCAR opened its representative office in Kyiv. |
| COMPANIES |
 Rosneft — for sale?
The state could reduce its stake in the oil company to a controlling block
The Russian government has over the past several months taken a serious look at its participation in strategic sectors of the economy with the goal of covering the deficit in the budget and could somewhat relax its control over a number of industry giants. Over $3bn in revenue may come from privatisation this year. |
| TECHNOLOGY |
 Honeywell provides security at Ceyhan terminal
A flame and gas leak detection system from Honeywell was installed at the Ceyhan terminal for the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline in August 2009. The system provides multi-level protection for staff, equipment and the environment. |
| TECHNOLOGY |
 A new hydraulic oil from ExxonMobil
In July 2009, ExxonMobil announced it was introducing a new series of oils called Mobil DTE 10 Excel to Europe, Africa and the Middle East. |
| TECHNOLOGY |
 The Truboprovod 2009 system for collective projects
InzhGeo launched a new version of its program for designing gas and oil pipelines. Tests with Truboprovod 2009, which operates in the Autocad environment, proved that is can very effectively make collective digital presentations of a pipeline and the environment in which it lies. At the same time, related departments and specialists in departments can work independently and at the same time on any part of the project. |
| TECHNOLOGY |
 Valves for the oil and gas complex — problems and solutions
Pipeline valves are an integral part of equipment at any enterprise in the oil and gas complex. An enterprise's operation reliability overall and to a certain extent its effectiveness depend on the quality, reliability and optimal constructive solutions of pipeline valves. At the annual exhibition PCVEXPO-2009 that has been in Crocus Expo Exhibition Centre in October, traditionally has been held the Forum «Pumps. Compressors. Valves». |
| TECHNOLOGY |
 LPG tanks cleaner
One of Ukraine's biggest LPG market operators, Propane Service Ltd in Kyiv to present technical innovation, met with excitement by a number of specialists and market operators. The company presented Hybrid LPG carrier manufactured by Czech VPS a.s. |
