Total capacity for virgin base oil stood at 208,400 barrels per day as of Jan. 1, according to the 2003 Lubricating Oil and Wax Capacities report, up 3,300 b/d from last year. The increase was due mostly to a 3,000 b/d expansion at Ergons naphthenic refinery in Vicksburg, Miss. ChevronTexaco increased capacity at its Richmond, Calif., plant by 1,000 b/d, while Calumet Lubricants lost an equal amount during the reconfiguration of its Shreveport, La., refinery. Capacities at several other plants fluctuated by 200 b/d or less.

On the paraffinic side of the market, Group I and premium stocks continued to head in opposite directions. Group I capacity dipped from 88,000 b/d to 86,900 b/d, while capacity for Group II and Group III rose from 71,800 b/d to 76,200 b/d. In the latter category, Calumet and ExxonMobil each added 1,600 b/d at their Shreveport and Baytown, Texas, facilities, respectively.

Capacities in Canada and Latin America were unchanged, at 24,000 b/d and 20,800 b/d, respectively.

The 2002 report listed U.S. capacity of 210,400 b/d, but that included 5,300 b/d of purchased base oil that Crompton Corp. was processing into white oils. Excluding that amount, capacity at the start of last year was 205,100 b/d. Likewise, the finished base oil capacity listed for Petro-Canadas Mississauga, Ontario, plant was reduced this year from 15,000 b/d to 12,500 b/d, but the company described the change as a correction and said that operations have not been altered.

Electronic versions of the 2003 report are available free to NPRA members. Non-members may purchase hard copies for $25. For information: www.npradc.org/publications/statistics/