SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts launches assessment for WCS crude at Nederland, Texas

With effect from Monday, February 8, 2016, Platts is to launch a new assessment for Western Canadian Select heavy sour crude in Nederland, Texas.

Pipeline flows to the US Gulf Coast from the US Midwest have nearly doubled over the past year, to 1 million b/d.

Direct imports of Canadian crude to the US Gulf Coast have averaged 82,000 b/d, with 66% of those volumes delivered to the Port Arthur/Nederland area, according to US Energy Information Administration data.

This assessment reflects the value of heavy Canadian crude in the Port Arthur-Nederland-Beaumont, Texas area.

The quality reflect Western Canadian Select (WCS) typical specifications.

The assessment reflects 1,000 b/d of ratable crude, for a minimum of 25,000 barrels in total, delivered over the course of the prompt pipeline month on a Free In Pipe (FIP) basis.

Western Canadian Select (WCS) ex-Nederland will be assessed as a differential to the calendar month average of the NYMEX light sweet crude oil contract (WTI CMA).

The new daily assessment will be published as an outright price in $/barrel and as a differential to WTI CMA.

It will appear on Platts Global Alert pages 210, 214, 222, and 230, in Platts Crude Oil Marketwire, Platts North American Crude and Products Scan, Platts Oilgram Price Report, and in Platts database under the following codes:

AAYAY00 - WCS Nederland AAYAX00 - WCS Nederland vs WTI CMA

For questions or comments, please email americas_crude@platts.com, with a cc to pricegroup@platts.com.

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing.

Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.