Volume 3 Issue 60

Shell: GTL Taps Will Gush in 5 Years

LONDON-Shell International Petroleum Co. Ltd. projects that the Shell gas-to-liquids plant in Qatar will be onstream in 2009, including base oil output of a half-million tons per year in the first year. The projected GTL base oil production will include both API Group III and Group II stocks. Shell has offered some high quality base oils from GTL feedstocks since 1993, William King, Shell International Petroleums GTL base oil manager, told last weeks ICIS-LOR World Base Oils Conference here. But...

Quick Lubes Decry VW Oil Tie-in

The Automotive Oil Change Association has filed a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission accusing Volkswagen of prescribing its own brand of motor oil in violation of rules against tie-in sales provisions. The association claimed that the automaker has predicated warranty coverage for some vehicles on use of oil that VW alone is selling – and selling for a whopping $12.25 per quart. Officials said they are concerned not only about the loss of potential business from VW owners, bu...

Russia Earmarks More Oils for Export

LONDON-Russian base oil production rose 12 percent in 2003, while domestic consumption fell. Attractive prices in the international base oil market make it more profitable for Russias refiners to export their oils around the world. Five million tons is the nameplate capacity of Russian base oil plants, Igor Krylovski, deputy head for lubricants and specialties at Lukoil, told the ICIS-LOR World Base Oils Conference here Feb. 20. But that figure overstates capacity. Three and a half million tons ...

Phosphate Ester Prices Climbing

Great Lakes Chemical Corp. announced recently that it will raise prices for phosphate esters 7 percent, effective March 1. The increases were attributed to rising costs for energy and raw materials. Phosphorus prices have risen significantly, other suppliers said. Great Lakes, which is based in Indianapolis, is one of two principal suppliers of phosphate esters for the North American lubricant industry, which uses the material in high-temperature and fire-resistant applications. The other main s...