The deal was struck with the US Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Indiana is expected to cut 90% of the refinery’s flaring-related emissions. A similar deal was struck between the EPA and Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC) for six of the company’s refineries.
The capability to process the nastier oil sands crude should lower the cost of crude to BP and improving the company’s margins. Oil sands crude has been selling at a discount of as much as $20/barrel to WTI crude and even more to Brent crude.
The Whiting refinery is expected to start refining oil sands crude next year.
Paul Ausick