The meeting agenda was distributed to those in attendance.

Data to Date – Mr. Aaron Dillard of Conoco reminded the group that the sampling and testing program had been discontinued. By next meeting, he hopes to have a summary of results for each stream. Equilon Pipeline still monitors the crude oil for their Sweet and Super Sweet gravity and sulfur criteria. Ms. Patti Edens of Equilon Pipeline will check to see if Equilon will share that data with shippers.

Enforcement Implementation – Patti Edens updated the group on Equilon Pipeline’s efforts to deliver on spec Domestic Sweet and Super Sweet at Cushing.  The enforcement program previously instituted was not working well so a team strategy was put together by all connecting carriers and Equilon Pipeline. Instead of a punitive program, the new strategy is in the form of a shared goal to deliver on-spec crude. Training sessions and meetings were held and alarm points established. The alarm points are set at a level to guarantee that Cushing receipts do not exceed the 0.42% specification. When the alarm point is reached, the carrier is given an hour to fix the situation before shut down occurs. After three months, no violations on the composite samples of all receipts at all incoming stations have occurred.

Pipeline Summit – It was agreed by all that plans for a Summit should continue, targeted for first quarter fo next year. In the interim, the Mid-Continent Subcommittee will work on drafting a letter to be signed by all shippers and sent to all carriers reiterating the need for quality in crude oil. A group discussion ensued as to what should be covered in a summit. Aaron asked each person in the room to state the current concerns in his/her refining system. The following is a list of everything mentioned with no prioritization:

• Educational forum
• Gravity and sulfur are indicators, they alone do not define a crude oil
• Metals and metals’ interface
• Simulated Distillation (importance of the information, techniques comparisons, using sim dist information to segregate crudes)
• Water (free water, measurement, affect on Sim Dist results, water shocks, carrying costs)
• Sediment
• Phosphorous
• Arsenic
• Acids
• Asphaltene and Asphaltene stability when blending crudes
• H2S and safety
• Viscosity
• Pour Point
• Concarbon
• Contamination of crude (production chemicals, phosphorous, organic chlorides)
• Consistency of crude (butane blending, dumbbell crudes, refinability)
• Communication between production, pipeline, trading, refinery (need to get producers more involved in quality discussions, understanding each other’s limitations)
• New production into existing common streams
• Mixing of crude within the transportation system
• Think of gasoline as a chemical not a fuel - crude oil is a "chemical feedstock"
• Synthetic crudes
• Hydrostatic testing regulations

Other – The Mid-Continent Subcommittee will continue to meet. Anyone with speakers for the meeting or the Summit should please contact the COQA facilitator.