CALIFORNIA REFINERS BEAT DIESEL FUEL DEADLINE

California refiners are beating the deadline for meeting their state's tough new requirements to provide cleaner burning diesel fuel. ARCO has begun delivering the fuel to its dealers and distributors throughout California, weeks ahead of a state imposed Oct. I deadline. The state rules go far beyond federal requirements that kick in on the same date (OGJ, Aug. 30, p. 21).

Sept. 13, 1993

3 min read

California refiners are beating the deadline for meeting their state's tough new requirements to provide cleaner burning diesel fuel.

ARCO has begun delivering the fuel to its dealers and distributors throughout California, weeks ahead of a state imposed Oct. I deadline. The state rules go far beyond federal requirements that kick in on the same date (OGJ, Aug. 30, p. 21).

"We are proud to say that ARCO's Vinvale terminal in southern California is meeting the state's new diesel standards today, well ahead of schedule," said William C. Rusnack, president of ARCO Products Co., ARCO's refining and marketing division.

Meantime, Tosco Corp. started up a project to produce low sulfur, low aromatics diesel fuel that meets California specifications. The project, which involved an outlay of more than $30 million, will produce about 25,000 b/d of this higher valued fuel. First sales have been made.

Tosco has a 145,000 b/cd Martinez, Calif., refinery.

THE BENEFITS

ARCO's Rusnack said his company's diesel fuel provides reductions of 98% in sulfur dioxide, 7% in nitrogen oxides, and 25% in particulates from emissions of diesel generally burned in California.

California Air Resources Board (CARB) estimated such reductions will help eliminate 25-40% of the smoke visible in emissions from diesel cars and trucks, as well as from diesel off road, construction, and agricultural vehicles. Trains, marine vessels, and stationary diesel engines are not required to use the new diesel fuel.

Orange County Supervisor Harriett Wieder, a CARB member, said "Our other diesel plans include soot free emission standards for new bus engines and roadside smog checks for high polluting trucks."

The cost to produce CARB specification diesel fuel varies. CARB estimated the cost at 8-10/gal more than the cost to produce California diesel fuel today. CARB certified alternative formulas are estimated to cost 6-8/gal more to produce than the federal formula. Some refiners who can't comply with the CARB requirement by Oct. 1 will be charged a variance fee of 6/gal for noncomplying California diesel they sell after Sept. 1.

CARB established its diesel fuel specifications in November 1988, but all refiners have been given the opportunity to produce an alternative equivalent fuel formulation if the alternatives provide equivalent emission benefits.

ARCO took the latter approach and tested two alternative cleaner-burning diesel formulas in an independent laboratory. The laboratory engine tests, certified by CARB, showed the ARCO formulations had the same as, or better, overall emissions results than the CARB reference diesel fuel.

CARB certified the ARCO formulas last July. At the time, ARCO had completed a 2 year, $70 million modification at the company's Los Angeles refinery and therefore was able to begin producing the new fuel.

ARCO expects to produce about 15,000-20,000 b/d of complying diesel.