05 Jun 2013

Houston, Texas - Intertek, the leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide, announced today that Jerry Difede, Vice President Global Cargo Inspection, will discuss crude oil quality and quantity concerns in a rapidly changing crude oil market, and participate in a conference presentation and panel discussion focused on "New Pathways to the Market – Logistics, Quality and Opportunity" during the Argus North American Crude Transport Summit in Houston on Friday, June 7, 2013.

The Intertek presentation, "Crude Quality and Quantity Issues", provides insight and investigates notable crude oil issues being observed in the field and the lab, as more shale oil, condensates, and oil sand crude are produced and transported across North America by 'non-traditional' methods.

"With the increased usage of trucks, railcars, and barges to move domestic crude oil to market, the question of what is happening with the quality and quantity of new crudes being delivered to refineries is becoming an issue", said Jerry Difede. "Stakeholders should be aware of new and unique supply-chain challenges and variations which can occur as a consequence of decentralized methods of crude oil collection and transportation. With massive shale and oil sands production, we're in a much different crude oil logistical world than one which depends upon seagoing vessels, large shore-tanks, and dedicated pipelines for moving imported crude to refineries. Just like with other crude oil sources, shale and oil sand crude oil quality and quantity issues affect refinery operations, efficiencies, and profitability."

Intertek expertise provided to the North American oil and gas industry includes crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids testing, inspection, certification, metering, calibration, cargo additives treatment, and other services. Intertek personnel support client exploration & production, product transportation, loss control, and quality control activities.

Technical services are tailored to meet the needs of clients operating in shale and oil sands environments, with personnel providing crude oil field sampling and inspection services working with storage tanks, railcars, barges, and pipelines, to accepted industry and safety standards. Intertek measurement specialists offer professional calibration and gauging of storage tanks and railcars.
Intertek shale oil, oil sands, & natural gas services:

Business Contact:

Tony Nguyen 
Shale Oil & Gas Business Development
Tel: +1 713 407 3500
Email: tony.nguyen@intertek.com

Global Marketing and Media:

Erik Holladay
Global Marketing Director, Commodities
Tel: +1 713 407 3500
Email: erik.holladay@intertek.com

About Intertek

Intertek is the leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide.  From auditing and inspection, to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value to customers' products, processes and assets.  With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 35,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies' success in a global marketplace. Intertek helps its customers to meet end users' expectations for safety, sustainability, performance, integrity and desirability in virtually any market worldwide.  Visit www.intertek.com.