- Q. Is natural gas feedstock for hydrogen production included when reporting natural gas quantity used as fuel (EIA product code 105) on the EIA-820?(11/10/2006)
- A. Exclude natural gas feedstock for hydrogen production on EIA-820. Report only the quantity of natural gas consumed as fuel at the refinery.
- Q. On the EIA-810 survey, where is hydrogen reported?(11/10/2006)
- A. Report receipts and inputs of hydrogen as "other hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and oxygenates" (line 090). Also report hydrogen inputs as "other hydrocarbons and hydrogen" (line 094). Quantities reported on line 094 are a subset of quantities reported on line 090, so there is no double counting. Quantities reported by refiners on lines 090 and 094 include hydrogen produced from hydrogen plants located at refineries and hydrogen purchased from third-party suppliers.
Reformers also provide hydrogen to refineries, but hydrogen produced from reformers must be excluded from lines 090 and 094 in order to avoid double counting inputs. Hydrogen input from refinery reformer units is counted indirectly as input of crude oil or unfinished oils.
- Q. On the EIA-810 survey, where are feedstock inputs for hydrogen production reported?(11/9/2006)
- A. Feedstock inputs for hydrogen production are not reported on the EIA-810.
See the question "How should I report still gas and naphtha on the EIA-810 when these products are used as hydrogen plant feedstock?" for further information.
- Q. How should I report still gas and naphtha on the EIA-810 when these products are used as hydrogen plant feedstock?(11/9/2006)
- A. Report still gas (line 045), special naphtha (line 051), and unfinished oil, naphtha and lighter (line 820) as shipments to a hydrogen plant when these products are used as hydrogen feedstock. Report any feedstock return streams from a hydrogen plant as receipts from the hydrogen plant and inputs at the refinery.
It is important to maintain consistent product classification of feedstock shipments to a hydrogen plant and receipts of any feedstock return streams. For example, if special naphtha (line 051) will be used as hydrogen plant feedstock and there will be a return stream of hydrogen feedstock to the refinery, then feedstock shipments to the hydrogen plant, feedstock receipts from the hydrogen plant, and inputs to the refinery must all be reported on line 051. Inconsistent product classification will result if, for example, the feedstock shipment were reported as special naphtha (line 051), and the return stream were reported as unfinished oil, naphtha and lighter (line 820).
The above discussion applies only to feedstock for hydrogen production. See the question "On the EIA-810 survey, where is hydrogen reported?" for information on reporting hydrogen from hydrogen plants and third-party suppliers.
- Q. For the EIA-810 survey, concerning product code 094, "Other Hydrocarbons and Hydrogen," and product code 090, "Other Hydrocarbons, Hydrogen and Oxygenates," how do I convert standard cubic feet of hydrogen to barrels?(11/9/2006)
- A. The conversion factor is 19,426 standard cubic feet per barrel of fuel oil equivalent. So, when you divide the number of standard cubic feet of hydrogen by 19,426, your result will be in barrels.
- Q. On the EIA-810 survey, sections are available for reporting "products of natural gas processing" and "liquefied refinery gases". Both sections include line items for ethane, propane, normal butane, and isobutane, but the product codes are different between the two sections for the same products. How do I determine where on Form EIA-810 to report these products?(10/25/2006)
- A. Section 2 of the EIA-810 survey includes "Products of Natural Gas Processing" that are usually called natural gas plant liquids (NGPL). Product codes for NGPL are:
- - 110 for ethane
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- - 231 for propane
-
- - 232 for normal butane
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- - 233 for isobutane, and
-
- - 220 for pentanes plus
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Natural gas plant liquids originate at natural gas processing plants where the ethane and heavier hydrocarbons are separated from natural gas. Normal butane, isobutane, and pentanes plus are often received and input at refineries for blending and for use in certain refining processes such as alkylation. Ethane and propane from natural gas processing plants are not normally input to refinery process units or blending operations and there are no refiners currently reporting input of NGPL ethane or propane on Form EIA-810. Olefin components (ethylene, propylene, normal butylene, isobutylene) are not reported in section 2 of Form EIA-810 because olefins are not present in natural gas (including NGPL) processed at gas processing plants. Olefins are created from cracking processes that take place at refineries and chemical plants.
Section 3 of the EIA-810 survey includes "Liquefied Refinery Gases" (LRG), where the product codes are:
- - 621 for ethane/ethylene
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- - 631 for ethylene
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- - 622 for propane/propylene
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- - 632 for propylene
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- - 623 for normal butane/butylenes
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- - 633 for butylenes
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- - 615 for isobutane/isobutylene, and
-
- - 634 for isobutylene
Section 3 captures production from refinery processing (distillation, cracking, etc.) of crude oil and unfinished oils. Olefins are included in section 3 because they are produced in refinery cracking units.
In some cases, it may be impossible to determine the source of receipts as NGPL or LRG. When in doubt, report receipts as NGPL. Another potential reporting issue arises when products of natural gas processing plants are commingled with liquefied refinery gases in storage. In this case, the following reporting procedure is often applied by refiners to produce a reasonable approximation of their activity.
- 1. Assume all receipts are products of natural gas processing plants unless otherwise identifiable as liquefied refinery gases. Receipts of liquefied refinery gases will always be zero in this case.
- 2. Assume all NGPL receipts are input in the month of receipt (i.e. input equal to receipts with zero stocks, shipments, fuel use, and loss).
- 3. Assume all stocks and shipments are liquefied refinery gases and report on the appropriate lines in section 3 of Form EIA-810.
- 4. Derive input or production of liquefied refinery gases by balancing each line using the following formula: Beginning Stocks + Receipts - Inputs + Production - Shipments - Fuel Use and Loss - Ending Stocks = 0. Stocks, receipts, shipments, fuel use, and losses will be known so the balancing item will be either input or production.
- 5. Report the olefin components of input or production of liquefied refinery gases on the appropriate lines.
Fractionating plants used for separating mixed NGPL products are considered outside of refineries for purposes of EIA-810 reporting. This is true even when a fractionation plant is physically located within a refinery. Exclude input of mixed NGPL products and production of fractionated NGPL products from EIA-810 reporting. Operators of fractionation plants report inventory on Form EIA-816 "Monthly Natural Gas Liquids Report". Back to Top
- Q. In the glossary for the EIA-810 survey, "still gas" is defined as "...principle constituents are methane, ethane, ethylene, normal butane, butylene, propane, propylene, etc." The products listed include several that are otherwise identified under separate product codes as liquefied refinery gases. How do I determine whether to report a product as liquefied refinery gas or still gas? (10/24/2006)
- A. Still gas, (product code 045) reported on the EIA-810 survey, includes methane as well as products otherwise identified on the form as liquefied refinery gases (LRG). The product codes for liquefied refinery gases are:
- - 621 for ethane/ethylene
- - 631 for ethylene
- - 622 for propane/propylene
- - 632 for propylene
- - 623 for normal butane/butylenes
- - 633 for butylenes
- - 615 for isobutane/isobutylene, and
- - 634 for isobutylene
Volumes must be reported as either still gas or LRG, but not both.
The usual difference between still gas and LRG is that liquefied refinery gases are fractionated or at least identified as separate products based on chemical analysis, while still gas is unfractionated. LRG products may be used as refinery fuel, or they may be shipped outside the refinery for use as fuel or input for chemical plants. Still gas is normally used as refinery fuel, though still gas may also be shipped to chemical plants.
Reports on the EIA-810 survey for refineries where still gas is used only as fuel typically show production equal to fuel use and loss with zero receipts, inputs, and shipments. Still gas may be shipped to a petrochemical plant, where the chemical plant operator extracts parts of the still gas stream needed for production of chemicals and then returns the remaining still gas to the refinery. The return stream is reported on line 045 in the "receipt" and "input" columns, and then under "production" and "fuel use and loss" when it enters the refinery fuel system. It is often the case that known quantities are still gas receipts, shipments, and fuel use and loss. In this case, input is assumed equal to receipts, and production is the balancing item for the line such that (receipts - inputs + production - shipments - fuel use and loss = 0).
Back to Top
- Q. For the EIA-810 survey, concerning product code 097 "Miscellaneous Products: Non-Fuel Use," how do I convert short tons of sulfur to barrels? (10/20/2006)
- A.The conversion factor is 3.17 barrels per short ton. So, when you multiply the number of short tons by 3.17, your result will be in barrels. Back to Top
- Q. For the EIA-810 survey, concerning Product Codes 820 through 850 - How can I calculate the net input or net production for these products?(5/5/2005)
- A. Product codes 820 - 850 are the four breakouts of product code 812 (Unfinished Oils). You should report either the (net) input or (net) production for each of these four unfinished oil breakouts. One way to determine the net input or net production of product codes 820 - 850 is to use the calculation shown below. Your ability to use this method depends on whether you are able to measure the beginning and ending inventory level, receipts, shipments, and fuel use & loss volumes for each of the four unfinished oil breakouts. This calculation basically backs into either a net input value or net production value and is based on the material balance equation where: Beginning stocks plus receipts, minus input, plus production, minus shipments, minus fuel use & losses, equal ending stocks.
Calculation
By individual product code (820 thru 850), add the beginning of the month's stocks to receipts received (from outside the refinery). Take this sum and subtract shipments, fuel use & losses, and end of month stocks volumes. The calculated result will be either a positive or negative number. If the calculated quantity is a negative number (as is in example 1 below), report the quantity as a positive number under the "Production" column. If the calculated quantity is a positive number, report the quantity as a positive number under the "Input" column. For example:
Example 1
If, during Jan 2005, you had the following information available for product code 820 "Naphthas and Lighter":
Beginning Stocks (BS) were "105"
Receipts were "50"
Shipments were "35"
Fuel Use and Losses were "0"
Ending Stocks (ES) were "200"
You would make the following calculation:
BS 105
Receipts +50
Shipments -35
ES -200
Equals -80
In this example, you should report a positive "80" under the "Production" column for product code 820. During the month, the refinery produced more of product code 820 than was input.
Once you have calculated the net input or net production for each of the four breakouts (product codes 820, 830,840, and 850), just sum the net inputs and net production and report the resulting sums on the unfinished oils total line (product code 812). Back to Top
- Q. How are different types of naphtha cargoes classified for reporting purposes? (7/27/2004)
- A. Naphtha that will be used as reformer feed is classified as unfinished oils, naphtha and lighter (EIA product code 820). Naphtha intended for gasoline blending is classified as motor gasoline blending components. If the naphtha is intended for gasoline blending but it's not already blended to form RBOB (EIA product codes 122 and 123), CBOB (EIA product code 139), or GTAB (EIA product codes 120 and 121), then it is classified as All Other Motor Gasoline Blending Components (EIA product code 138).
Naphtha classified as unfinished oil or motor gasoline blending components must have an associated processing facility when it is reported as being imported. The processing facility is either a refinery or a blending terminal where the naphtha will be processed or blended to produce finished gasoline or other finished products.
In addition to unfinished oils and motor gasoline blending components, naphtha may fall into one of two additional product categories depending on intended end use. One product is special naphtha (EIA product code 051). Special naphtha is the classification to use for naphtha that is intended for use as solvent. Another possible classification for naphtha is petrochemical feedstock (EIA product code 822). This would be the correct product classification for naphtha intended for cracking into olefins. Back to Top
- Q. Product Code 138 - What is meant by “Inputs of All Other Motor Gasoline Blending Components”? Is this the net production of the blending components, or components that were received? Would all of this have been included in Code 001 in the past? (7/27/2004)
- A. The inputs of “All Other Motor Gasoline Blending Components” (EIA code 138) are intended to be the net inputs (inputs minus production on the monthly EIA-810 report). Since this is a net number, it may be either positive (more inputs than production) or negative (more production than inputs) when reported on the weekly EIA-800 survey. The motor gasoline blending components reported using code 138 are all the motor gasoline blending components that aren't one of the other categories (RBOB, CBOB, GTAB). "All Other Motor Gasoline Blending Components" include reformate, alkylate, raffinate, and similar naphtha-range materials intended for blending into motor gasoline. Back to Top
- Q. Product Code 001 - What do you mean by net reruns and in previous instructions that "Blenders should report all materials used in blending finished products". Does this refer to blendstock receipts only? Blendstocks produced would have been included in the crude inputs. (7/27/2004)
- A. The total inputs (line 001 on Form EIA-800) should include your net re-runs of motor gasoline blending components including those reported using code 138. The form says to exclude the motor gasoline blending components, but that was actually causing more rather than less confusion, so we're going to remove the note and go back to the way things were under the old survey forms. Actually, the survey instructions still say to include net re-runs (same as net inputs) on line 001. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
The total inputs line on Form EIA-800 should include the following.
Inputs of Crude Oil
Inputs of Natural Gas Plant Liquids
Inputs of Other Hydrocarbons, Hydrogen, and Oxygenates (including fuel ethanol, MTBE, etc.)
Net Inputs of Unfinished Oils
Net Inputs of Motor Gasoline Blending Components (codes 122,123,139,120,121,138)
Net Inputs of Aviation Gasoline Blending Components (code 112 on Form EIA-810)
Refineries will typically report negative net reruns of RBOB and CBOB (codes 122, 123, and 139) because these are shipped out of the refineries to terminals where they are blended with fuel ethanol or in some cases MTBE. It's unlikely that Gasoline Treated as Blendstock (codes 120 and 121) would be present at most refineries because it is imported product typically blended at terminals. All other motor gasoline blending components (code 138) could be shipped out of a refinery for blending elsewhere in which case the net reruns would be negative (production greater than inputs). If a refinery received all other motor gasoline blending components from another facility then net reruns would be positive (inputs greater than production). A refinery that neither receives nor ships significant volumes of all other motor gasoline blending components would generally have a rough balance of inputs and production with small volumes of net reruns resulting mostly from changes in inventory. In the balanced case, a refinery would have either positive or negative net reruns in any given week depending on the inventory situation.
Naturally, there are circumstances, such as a shut down of crude oil processing, where a refinery that normally has a rough balance of input and production for all other motor gasoline blending components might show significant net inputs from inventory. After returning to normal crude processing, the same refinery would likely show large negative net reruns (i.e. net production) of motor gasoline blending components as inventory was replenished. Back to Top
- Q. Product Code 050 - Only crude oil charged to the crude tower that goes to fuels units, not chemical units? Does that mean that we need to back off any i.e. naphtha that was used to charge chemical units and add back in the chemicals that were blended? (7/27/2004)
- A. The instructions concerning inputs for making finished petrochemicals are intended to exclude any inputs (crude oil or otherwise) that went into the production of petrochemicals where the chemical products would not be reported on Form EIA-810 "Monthly Refinery Report". For example, suppose you were running crude oil and producing naphtha for petrochemical feedstock use (code 822 on Form EIA-810). You would report inputs of crude oil for producing petrochemical feedstocks. However, you would not report inputs of the naphtha chemical feedstocks when they were cracked into ethylene at a nearby chemical plant because the ethylene would not be reported as production on your refinery report. In general, every input reported has to have a corresponding production in order to make the processing gain/loss balance out correctly on the monthly EIA-810 survey. Naturally, your weekly reports on Form EIA-800 will never really balance because not all of your production can be reported since we only ask for selected "major" products.
Gross inputs reported on line 990 are used for calculating the utilization rate of your atmospheric crude oil distillation unit. The 990 inputs should include all the barrels of crude oil and other petroleum (unfinished oils etc.) input to your atmospheric crude unit. Since this number is only used for calculating the crude unit utilization rate, it also includes barrels that go through the unit more than one time during the reporting period. This is because every barrel counts against capacity for utilization purposes no matter how many times it goes through the unit. This is different from crude oil inputs because the crude oil input number is only telling us how much crude oil was used to produce the various product outputs from the refinery. The crude oil may be processed more than once in the various units, but in the case of crude inputs we just want to know how much was input to the refinery and not every time it went through a unit.
In general, gross inputs are expected to be greater than crude inputs because gross inputs include things other than crude oil as well as any re-runs of the same barrels through the atmospheric crude unit. However, some refineries run crude oil directly to their vacuum distillation or other units. In this case, there would be crude oil that never goes through the atmospheric crude unit. If enough crude oil bypassed the atmospheric crude unit then it would be possible for crude inputs to exceed gross inputs to atmospheric crude units. Obviously, gross inputs on line 990 also are quite different from total inputs. Back to Top
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