Amoco Oil Co. is introducing comprehensive refining/marketing environmental initiatives in the Washington-Baltimore-Richmond area of the U.S. East.
They include:
- Providing three grades of reduced emission gasoline.
- Installing new, more effective Amoco design gasoline pump vapor recovery nozzles.
- Establishing a used motor oil recycling center for motorists.
- Installing a compressed natural gas outlet for fleet vehicle use.
The latter three elements are operating on a demonstration basis at an Amoco service station in Washington. Amoco has been delivering reduced emission gasoline to its Washington area outlets since the first of October.
Amoco Marketing Vice Pres. Robert Rauscher called the effort "the most comprehensive set of environmental alternatives presented by one company in a single market."
Some of those initiatives are in place in other markets, but Amoco targeted its southern mid-Atlantic market for the multifaceted program. Plans to expand or introduce elements of the program in other markets are under study.
REFORMULATED GASOLINE
Amoco said its reduced emission gasoline, when fully introduced, will meet 1992 requirements of the Clean Air Act.
Earlier this year the company began marketing reduced volatility gasoline in Washington. The low Reid vapor pressure (9 psi in summer) gasolines were then reformulated to meet CAA standards for 1992.
Amoco gasoline sold in Washington also contains an average 0.8% benzene and 30% or less aromatics. In addition, Amoco will add 15% methyl tertiary butyl ether in Washington gasolines during winter to cut carbon monoxide emissions.
Rauscher warned, however, that even stricter 1995 CAA requirements pose a formidable challenge because of a very short lead time and technological advances needed to meet tough new targets for further emissions cuts.
Capital investments of as much as $2 billion are expected for modifications to Amoco refineries to produce gasolines required by the Clean Air Act, Rauscher said.
OTHER INITIATIVES
Other Amoco stations in Washington, Baltimore, Richmond, and Roanoke, Va., areas will offer three grades of reduced emission gasoline and a used oil recycling program.
Amoco will install the new vapor recovery nozzles at all of its 49 branded stations in Washington by early 1991.
Amoco's CNG station is a joint research experiment with a natural gas industry group led by Washington Gas Light Co.
It plans further testing to advance market development of CNG as an alternate motor fuel.
Amoco's recycled oil demonstration program at its 9th Street and Pennsylvania station in Washington accepts used motor oil from customers who change their own oil.
Used oil is transported to refineries for reprocessing into lube oil or boiler fuel.
Expansion of oil recycling hinges on market size, need for recycling centers, and availability of transportation and recycling facilities that can handle the used oil in an environmentally sound manner, Amoco said.
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