Platts to stop assessing Laurel conventional gasolines

Platts is planning to stop assessing conventional gasoline delivered through the US' Laurel pipeline system from December 31, 2010.

Under the proposed change, Platts will stop publishing its Laurel pipeline conventional 87, 89 and 93 octane gasolines.

Platts intends to end these assessments because Buckeye Partners, L.P. stated in a July 13 notice to shippers that it will only ship 91 octane (CBOB Premium) and 84 octane (CBOB) gasoline on Laurel beginning with the 181L cycle.

That cycle is expected to begin on September 16, meaning the Laurel line will only ship CBOB in the fall and winter seasons of 2010/2011.

Between September 13 and December 31, Platts' Laurel conventional gasoline assessments will be established by applying the spread between Platts' existing US Buckeye pipeline conventional gasoline assessment and Buckeye CBOB assessments to the Laurel CBOB assessment.

Platts has separately announced plans to launch a Laurel CBOB assessment from September 13.

The 350-mile Laurel pipeline moves refined oil products throughout Pennsylvania, shipping oil westward from four refineries and a connection point in Philadelphia to the Colonial pipeline system to terminals in Reading, Harrisburg, Altoona/Johnstown and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Please send comments by August 13, 2010 to Alison Ciaccio at alison_ciacco@platts.com; Esa Ramasamy at esa_ramasamy@platts.com and a cc to pricegroup@platts.com.