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Naphtha
Naphtha is a blend of light hydrocarbons used as a feedstock for either gasoline blending or for further processing into petrochemical derivatives.
Mount Belvieu TET (LDH) purity ethane (C2) is a byproduct of petroleum refining and found in natural gasoline. Its chief use is as petrochemical feedstock for ethylene production. The product is priced out of Mount Belvieu’s natural gas liquids facility in Texas.
The product of the catalytic reforming process and used for motor or aviation gasoline blending, reformate has a typical Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 and a Motor Octane Number (MON) of 85. The typical boiling point is 383 degrees F (195 degrees C) for the summer grade product and 365 degrees F (185 degrees C) for winter grade product. The Reid Vapour Pressure for summer grade is typically 9.5 psi and 13.5 psi for winter grade.
LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)
LPG is the generic name for commercial propane and commercial butane. These are hydrocarbon products produced by the oil and gas industries. Commercial Propane predominantly consists of hydrocarbons containing three carbon atoms, mainly propane (C3H8). Commercial Butane predominantly consists of hydrocarbons containing four carbon atoms, mainly n- and iso – butanes (C4H10). They have the special property of becoming liquid at atmospheric temperature if moderately compressed and reverting to gases when the pressure is sufficiently reduced. Advantage is taken of this property to transport and store these products in the liquid state, in which they are roughly 250 times as dense as they are when gases.
VGO (Vacuum Gasoil)
This product is utilized as a feedstock for fluid catalytic conversion units (FCC) which break down the large, complex hydrocarbon molecules into smaller more useful ones, such as high octane gasoline base stock or base oils.
Gasoil and Heating oil are middle distillate fuels used either as an automotive fuel (diesel), as a fuel for plant and machinery, or as a domestic/light industrial heating fuel. In some regions, the material is produced as a dual-purpose fuel. Diesel fuel has additional quality specifications to ensure efficient combustion and environmental standards for automotive use. Both diesel and gasoil fuel qualities vary between regions depending upon climatic conditions and seasons.
Fuel Oils
Residual fuels represent the heavy yields from the refining processes. Straight-run fuel oils are produced solely from atmospheric distillation and are generally used as an intermediate feedstock for further processing within the refining system to increase the yields of lighter products. Cracked fuel oils are used as fuel for power generation, marine bunkers and large industrial heating plants. Generally categorised between high and low-sulphur grades, with the latter containing less than 1.0 % sulphur by weight.
ICIS pricing quotes feedstocks in Europe and the USA
To find out more about Feedstocks Methodology – 28 October 2013
