Louisiana (St. James & LOOP)
The only US port that fully loads a VLCC. We arrange crude storage, VLCC freight and inspection at LOOP and the St. James river hub.
The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, about 18 miles south of Grand Isle, is the only US deepwater port where a VLCC can load or discharge a full cargo without lightering. Its three buoys sit in about 115 feet of water, and crude is stored in salt caverns at Clovelly.
Upriver, St. James on the Mississippi is where Light Louisiana Sweet (LLS) is priced, and the river corridor hosts some of the largest US refineries. We arrange storage, VLCC freight and inspection across both.
Two price points
Argus assesses LLS at St. James terminals and Mars, a medium sour grade, at Clovelly and LOOP. Pipelines such as Swordfish connect St. James with Clovelly, so crude can move between river storage and the offshore port.
- VLCC loading and discharge at LOOP
- Crude storage at St. James and Clovelly
- River tanker and barge movements
- Independent inspection at each transfer
Refineries on the river
The corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans hosts several large refineries, all reachable by tanker and barge.
| Refinery | Capacity (b/cd) |
|---|---|
| Marathon Garyville | 617,000 |
| ExxonMobil Baton Rouge | 523,500 |
| Shell Norco | 231,153 |
| Valero Norco | 215,000 |
Frequently asked questions
Why is LOOP unique?
Its water depth allows full-draft VLCC and ULCC loading and discharge, with no lightering.
What is LLS?
Light Louisiana Sweet, the light sweet crude priced at St. James and used in export and term contracts.
How does crude reach LOOP for export?
From Clovelly storage, which is linked to St. James by pipelines.
Related
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Read moreLoad a VLCC at LOOP
Send grade, volume and laycan. We will propose storage, freight and inspection.