Saudi Arabian Oil Co. and its U.S. refining joint-venture Motiva Enterprises are ahead in the race to acquire LyondellBasells Houston refinery, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing multiple anonymous sources, who claimed an announcement is expected this week. Lyondell Spokesman Michael Waldron told Lube Report the company doesnt comment on market speculation, and Motiva could not be reached for comment. The refinery’s base oil plant has 3,600 barrels per day of naphthenic and 1,000 b/d of API Group II production capacity. Saudi Aramco and Shell in March announced plans to separate the assets of Motiva Enterprises LLC, with its 40,300 b/d capacity Group II base oil plant in Port Arthur, Texas, becoming solely owned by Saudi Arabian Oil.