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Summary The meeting agenda was distributed to those in attendance. Update on Meetings with Mid-Continent Pipelines and Terminals - Mr. Aaron Dillard of Conoco presented a summary of meetings between members of the Mid-Continent subcommittee and area pipelines and terminals. To date, meetings have been conducted with Equilon Pipeline, Arco Pipeline, Dynegy, Amoco Pipeline, Plains Marketing and Transportation and Equilon Terminal to discuss the proposed West Texas Sweet and West Texas/New Mexico Sour stream specifications. The pipelines and terminals were basically receptive to the proposed specifications but were not ready to commit to implementation at this time. Please contact the facilitator if you’d like a full copy of Aaron’s report. Aaron also discussed the memo sent out by the facilitator at the behest of the subcommittee to all COQA members who might ship in the Mid-Continent area. The memo urged each company to contact the common carriers they utilize and voice support for the specifications. Recent acquisitions have made both Plains and EOTT bigger players in the Mid-Continent area. They will therefore be approached by the subcommittee shortly to discuss the standard setting program. Follow up with all Mid-Continent carriers and terminals will be necessary. All attendees were asked to talk to their pipeline carriers about the standards. Sour Sulfur Specification and Presentation of Data to Date – Aaron also presented a summary of the testing results generated through March of 1999 compared to the proposed stream recommendations. Please note that minimum and maximum on the attachment refer to plus or minus two standard deviations from the calculated average.Parameters for Domestic Sweet look very much in keeping with the samples received. West Texas/New Mexico Sour may require some modifications. Sulfur is running higher as are metals. At the last meeting, it was proposed to add Nitrogen to the properties with recommended standards. To date, West Texas/New Mexico Sour appears to be running at 1200ppm, West Texas Sweet at 1000ppm and West Coast Sour at 4500ppm. Samples by Location - Shawna Ryder of ITS Caleb Brett presented information on samples received by location. There had been problems with sample receipts which seems to be resolved. However, labeling of the samples needs attention. Equilon Pipeline will follow up with the field personnel. Update on Basin Pipeline Specifications - Ms. Patti Edens of Equilon Pipeline updated the group on the Sweet and Super Sweet specifications. Equilon Pipeline has instituted a Quality Assurance program at each station to reinforce testing and sampling standards. Equilon needs to be sure their testing methods are acceptable in order to enforce any standards. Sulfur spikes have been occurring through out the system and are being investigated even though no enforcement is in place. Equilon is working with certain streams and may require some to be regraded to sour. Equilon is communicating with all connecting carriers on problem areas. Path Forward – Modifications to the recommendations for sulfur and metals need to be addressed for the sour stream. Also, the Nitrogen results need to be verified and that parameter added to the specification recommendation.
Harry Giles COQA Facilitator (216) 521-9213
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