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First Load of Diluent Arrived in Venezuela from US

Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:03 am
Posted by CitizenK
BR
Member since Aug 2019
14723 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:03 am
460,000 bbls of Naphtha arrived in Venezuela from the US. It's mixed 3:1 with very heavy crude at the wellhead to pipeline it to the coast. It gets the API gravity up from around 10 to 17 or 18 so that it flows more easily. Naphtha is raw natural gasoline aka Pentanes plus, or condensate from the oil field or the lightest liquid fraction in a refinery. It can become motor fuel if isomerized. It's the lighter fluid in Zippo lighters.

In the past out of the well Eagle Ford "crude oil" has been used as well. Unfinished diesel can also be used. In recent years, it has been shipped from Iran and Russia. Freight is a lot less expensive from the US Gulf Coast.

Canada does the same thing with its produced very heavy crude.
LINK
This post was edited on 2/3/26 at 7:12 am
Posted by waiting4saturday
Covington, LA
Member since Sep 2005
11015 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:08 am to
Posted by WeeWee
Member since Aug 2012
44511 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:10 am to
Explain it to me like I eat crayons. Does this lower gas prices and raise the value of my truck nuts stocks?
Posted by idlewatcher
Planet Arium
Member since Jan 2012
94299 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:12 am to
Any idea which refinery it originated from?
Posted by Drank
Member since Jun 1864
Member since Dec 2012
12287 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:17 am to
quote:

Explain it to me like I eat crayons

Posted by CitizenK
BR
Member since Aug 2019
14723 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:21 am to
This is one thing that Eagle Ford "crude oil" is good for, refining Eagle Ford as is, is something no refinery can be economically viable.

This competes with Canadian "Dilbit" crude pipelined to the Gulf Coast via several pipelines. May not help your truck nuts stock but will help price at the pump lower, and other more valuable products. Refineries couldn't stay open if they depended on gasoline and diesel profits
Posted by eitek1
Member since Jun 2011
2781 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:36 am to
quote:

Explain it to me like I eat crayons. Does this lower gas prices and raise the value of my truck nuts stocks?


The oil down there is too thick to flow well. Think of it being closer to asphalt than the oil you put in your car. Because of this, they need to add something to dilute it so it'll flow better and be more useful.

They add the one component to "thick" oil to make it flow, super thin "oil". That is what the Naptha is. Basically, it's lighter fluid and it thins out the thick stuff.
Posted by CitizenK
BR
Member since Aug 2019
14723 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:43 am to
It is shipped as very heavy crude at 10 API to Chevron Pascagoula, without any thinning, about one every other month. That is Boscan crude from the Maracaibo area.
Posted by bayouteche
The Beaches of Wham Brake
Member since Nov 2012
1741 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:46 am to
Crawfish nuts [ON] OFF
Posted by ragincajun03
Member since Nov 2007
28257 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:49 am to
quote:

my truck nuts stocks


The only truck nut stock I invest in is the Bawcomeville Bullz, Co. Some others may pay better dividends, but I don’t sell out my principles.
Posted by KemoSabe65
70605
Member since Mar 2018
6640 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:50 am to
Well gaugers used to call it drip gas and would run their trucks on it at times.
Posted by fightin tigers
Downtown Prairieville
Member since Mar 2008
77090 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:57 am to
quote:

Explain it to me like I eat crayons. Does this lower gas prices and raise the value of my truck nuts stocks?


Using naphtha to blend into the ven crude actually raises your gas prices.
Posted by fightin tigers
Downtown Prairieville
Member since Mar 2008
77090 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 7:58 am to
quote:

Any idea which refinery it originated from?


It shipped out of Houston 3-4 weeks ago
This post was edited on 2/3/26 at 7:58 am
Posted by DeCat ODahouse
Premium Member
Member since Jan 2017
1627 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 8:28 am to
quote:

Any idea which refinery it originated from?

FWIW- According to a Gemini AI search

In January 2026, the tanker Hellespont Protector loaded approximately 460,000 barrels of naphtha from Pasadena, Texas, for delivery to Venezuela.

It also listed these Naphtha exporting refineries that ship out of that port:
Terminal: Kinder Morgan Pasadena Pasadena, TX
Refiners- Marathon, Phillips 66, ExxonMobil

Terminal: ITC Pasadena Pasadena, TX
Major hub for Vitol and Trafigura trades
Posted by WeeWee
Member since Aug 2012
44511 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 9:00 am to
quote:

Explain it to me like I eat crayons. Does this lower gas prices and raise the value of my truck nuts stocks?


Using naphtha to blend into the ven crude actually raises your gas prices.


Well darn. Does this raise truck nuts stock prices to compensate?
Posted by fightin tigers
Downtown Prairieville
Member since Mar 2008
77090 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 9:05 am to
Truck nuts were slightly down in afternoon trading
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
19692 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 9:06 am to

Please correct if I'm wrong.

So they can ship a product to Venezuela that makes up 75% of the end product, then ship it back to the US, and still make a profit.

Damn, oil companies are screwing us.
Posted by fightin tigers
Downtown Prairieville
Member since Mar 2008
77090 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 9:10 am to
That 440kb goes a long way. Depending on their targets the naphtha will make up 10% or less of the crude sent back this way (or wherever it goes)

The shipping cost is realively minor in costs.
Posted by HogPharmer
Member since Jun 2022
3538 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 9:14 am to
How does this affect crawfish prices?
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
19692 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 9:15 am to
quote:


That 440kb goes a long way. Depending on their targets the naphtha will make up 10% or less of the crude sent back this way


The OP said they're mixing it 3:1 which is 75% Naptha to 25% crude.

You're saying it's closer to 10% or less.

Which one is the correct dilution?
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