Subscriber note: Platts proposes to narrow N Sea, Urals, Med, WAF crude assessment ranges

Effective August 1, 2013, Platts proposes to narrow the low and high assessment ranges of its North Sea, Urals, Mediterranean and West African crude assessments in order to better reflect the primary mid-point benchmark assessment. Platts proposes to publish a low-high assessment range of $0.02/barrel when the mid-point assessment is a round number and a $0.01/b spread when the mid-point is assessed to a half cent. This would apply to both the crudes' differentials to forward Dated Brent as well as their outright assessments. Platts currently publishes assessment ranges of between $0.01/b and $0.06/b for its North Sea, Urals, Mediterranean and West African assessments. In publishing tighter assessment ranges, Platts would bring all its EMEA crude assessments in line with the assessed ranges for the various Forward Dated Brent Strips and some North Sea crude assessments. The proposed change would not impact the underlying assessment methodology nor the published value of the mid-point assessment. The feedback period on this proposal will close June 14. Please send any comments, questions or feedback to europe_crude@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.com by that date.