Sudan’s production of Dar blend crude to reach 300k bpd

June 13, 2009 (SINGAPORE) — Sudan will manage to boost its output of the heavy sweet, acidic Dar Blend from 270,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 300,000 by the end of 2009, according to Platts website.

The average production of the Dar Blend crude was 200,000 bpd in 2007 and was expected to reach 275,000 bpd in 2008, but volumes have been well below that until recently.

Chinese refiners are the main buyers of Dar Blend.

This brand of crude is less generally popular among refiners due to its high acidic nature though it can be used fuel oil blending.

China, the largest economic partner of Sudan, is the main buyer of the Dar Blend crude.

A source in the Petrodar Operating Company in Sudan told Platts website that two new fields will be added to production including Gumry and Moleeta.

Furthermore the source said that the new fields produce less acidic crude but cautioned that it is too soon to say what the total acid number (TAN) would be.

Petrodar’s shareholders include China National Petroleum Corp. (41%), Malaysia’s Petronas Carigali (40%), China’s Sinopec (6%), the UAE Al-Thani (5%), Egypt Kuwait Holding (5%) and Sudapet (3%).

Sudan is heavily dependent on oil exports which have declined sharply in terms of proceeds and volume in the wake of a financial crisis that swept developed nation and caused demand to plunge.

(ST)