Platts launches Bakken Blend assessments May 3

Effective May 3, 2010, Platts launched daily spot assessments for Bakken Blend crude injected at Guernsey, Wyoming, and at Clearbrook, Minnesota, on May 3, 2010. These assessments are named Bakken Blend ex-Guernsey and Bakken Blend ex-Clearbrook.

The Bakken Blend ex-Clearbrook assessment reflects an API gravity ranging from 38-40 degrees and 0.5% sulfur, the same stream sometimes associated with the name North Dakota Sweet. The Bakken Blend ex-Guernsey assessment reflects API gravity of 38-40 degrees and 0.2% sulfur, the same stream sometimes associated with the name North Dakota Light Sweet.

Trades with a minimum 1,000 b/d quantity are taken into account for assessment, and smaller volumes will be normalized to this volume basis. Both assessments reflect injection in the first forward month, and roll over on the 20th of each month to the next forward month. These assessments are published as a differential to calendar-month average WTI futures for the month of injection, and as a fixed price.

These assessments are published on Platts Global Alert page 171 and 596, in Crude Oil Marketwire, North American Crude Wire, Oilgram Price Report and Platts Dispatch.

For further details, please send inquiries to Matthew Cook, matthew_cook@platts.com, Esa Ramasamy, esa_ramasamy@platts.com, and a cc to pricegroup@platts.com.