HOUSTON, July 30 (Reuters) - The chief executive of U.S.

oil refiner CVR Energy ( CVI ) on Tuesday said the Sugar Land, Texas,

company is exploring strategic transactions in refining.

The Carl Icahn-controlled company has placed a bid in the

U.S. court-auction of a Citgo Petroleum parent that is expected

to lead to new ownership of the seventh-largest U.S. refiner by

volume, Reuters has reported

"Diversification from or in addition to mid-con

(mid-continent) oil refining market would be a good thing for

CVR Energy ( CVI ), CEO David Lamp said on an conference call with Wall

Street analysts.