Azeri BTC crude loadings from the Turkish port of Ceyhan resumed on Wednesday after a delay of several days caused by increased checks for chloride contamination, several industry sources told Reuters.
Excessive levels of organic chlorides had been found in some crude oil cargoes, several industry sources told Reuters on Tuesday. Each cargo was tested before loadings could proceed, a trade source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.
“BTC has been made aware of a potential quality issue related to organic chlorides in some BTC blend loadings. BTC is currently assessing the quality of the crude oil across all the facilities along the pipeline,” BP, operator of the Azerbaijan and Georgia sections of the BTC pipeline, and the BTC Ceyhan terminal, said.