Question

Alaska North Slope Crude Oil (ANS) $71.75/Bbl West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil (WTI) $73.06/Bbl As an oil refiner, you are able to produce $76 worth of unleaded gasoline from one barrel of Alaska North Slope (ANS) crude oil. Because of its lower sulfur content, you can produce $77 worth of unleaded gasoline from one barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude. Another oil refiner is offering to trade you 10,150 Bbls of Alaska North Slope (ANS) crude oil for 10,000 Bbls of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil. Assuming you currently have 10,000 Bbls of WTI crude, the added benefit (cost) to you if you take the trade is closest to

Answer 1

Answer:

Crude Oil

Added Benefit = $3,737.50 ($43,137.50 - $39,400.00)

Explanation:

a) Calculations:

Benefits from ANS = $4.25 per barrel ($76 -$71.75)

Benefits from WTI = $3.94 per barrel ($77 -$73.06)

Total benefits from ANS = 10,150 x $4.25 = $43,137.50

Total benefits from WTI = 10,000 x $3.94 = $39,400.00

b) It would benefit the company to undertake the exchange, with a net benefit of $3,737.50.  The difference occurs from the value derivable from refining each type of crude.  While Alaska North Slope Crude Oil (ANS) costs $71.75/Bbl, West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil (WTI) costs $73.06/Bbl.  In the same way, their benefits from unleaded gasoline per barrel differ.  The benefit from ANS is $76 per barrel against that of WTI $77 per barrel.