Daily News Energy Headlines from September 21, 2017

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News highlights gathered by Industrial Info and IIR Energy (Sugar Land, Texas) dealing with the energy markets.

REFINING
Exxon Mobil: Baytown and Beaumont Refineries Begin Fuels Production - Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) said today that its Baytown and Beaumont refineries have begun producing fuels at reduced rates and that crude oil and refined product pipelines in the Gulf and other regions of Texas have restarted as recovery continues from Hurricane Harvey. (Business Wire)

NATURAL GAS
Hot Midwest Increases Natural Gas Use - Hotter-than-normal temperatures have caused gas flows to the U.S. Midwest to increase 7% in the last week, reaching 1.7 billion cubic feet a day on Thursday, the most since May 13. (Bloomberg)

CRUDE OIL
Russia to Step Up Crude Exports to China - Chinese oil refineries are gearing up to receive more Russian oil transported through an expanded Siberian pipeline network from January, likely cementing Russia's position as China's largest oil supplier in a close race with Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)

Oil Traders Empty Key Storage Hub - Oil traders are emptying one of the world's largest crude storage facilities, located near the southernmost tip of Africa, as the physical market tightens amid booming demand and OPEC production cuts. Total SA (NYSE:TOT), Vitol Group and Mercuria Energy Group Limited are selling crude they hoarded in Saldanha Bay, South Africa, during the 2015-2016 glut when the market effectively paid traders to store oil, according to people familiar with the matter. (Bloomberg)

Shale Billionaire Says Government Overinflating Shale Oil Predictions - Billionaire oilman Harold Hamm says the government was way too optimistic with its prediction of more than 1 million new barrels a day in U.S. production, and the snafu is "distorting" global crude prices. This year's rise is likely to be closer to about 500,000 barrels, far off an initial forecast by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, according to Hamm, the chairman of Continental Resources Incorporated (NYSE:CLR). (Bloomberg)

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Energy asset information on power plants, oil refineries and natural gas infrastructure is now more important than ever. A unit of Industrial Info Resources, IIR Energy provides infrastructure information on these assets, as well as real-time tracking of planned and unplanned interruptions affecting the trading, logistics and marketing communities. We are the number one source for information about electricity outages, refinery turnarounds and midstream natural gas disruptions.

About Industrial Info
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.