Department of Defense Fuel Spending, Supply, Acquisition, and Policy

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Department of Defense Fuel Spending, Supply, Acquisition, and Policy Department of Defense Fuel Spending, Supply, Acquisition, and Policy Anthony Andrews Specialist in Energy and Energy Infrastructure Policy September 22, 2009 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R40459 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Department of Defense Fuel Spending, Supply, Acquisition, and Policy Summary Department of Defense (DOD) fuel consumption varies from year to year in response to changes in mission and the tempo of operations. DOD may consume upwards of 1% of the petroleum products refined in the United States annually. Petroleum products purchased and consumed overseas may double DOD’s consumption. The majority of DOD’s bulk fuel purchases are for jet fuel, which has ranged as high as 101 million barrels annually in the past decade. The U.S. refining industry has been supplying 50% of the jet fuel demand. DOD has consumed as much as 145 million barrels in overall petroleum products annually. In FY2000, fuel costs represented 1.2% of the total DOD spending, but by FY2008 fuel costs had risen to 3.0%. Over the same time, total defense spending had more than doubled, but fuel costs increased nearly 500%. Prices paid for military specification JP-8 and JP-5 jet fuel have exceeded the price of commercial equivalent fuel. In a recent move to contain fuel costs, DOD has begun substituting commercial grade jet fuel for some of its purchases, and upgraded the fuel to military-specification. Currently, 141 refineries operate in the United States. DOD’s top four fuel suppliers operate a combined 31 refineries in the United States, which represents nearly 6 million barrels per day of crude oil distillation capacity. A typical U.S. refinery yields a limited supply of jet and diesel fuel depending on the type of crude oil processed. Gulf Coast (Texas and Louisiana) refineries yield up to 8% jet fuel. Generally, refineries are set up to run specific grades of crude oil, for example light sweet crude or heavy sour crude. Light sweet crude is particularly desirable as a feedstock for gasoline refining because its lighter-weight hydrocarbons make it easier to refine. Heavier crude oils require more complex processing than light crudes, and sour crudes require desulfurization. Changing crude oil supplies have consequently forced refineries to upgrade their processes (thus increase refinery complexity) to handle heavier sour crude oils. At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken action to require lower sulfur content of diesel fuel, and has proposed a final rule that will require refineries to report their greenhouse gas emissions as a prelude to expected legislation that will limits emissions. The Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), which falls under the Defense Logistics Agency, has the mission of purchasing fuel for all of DOD’s services and agencies. In practice, DESC has typically awarded fuel contracts for lengths of one year, but there are other buying programs with longer contract periods. DESC uses fixed-price contracts with economic price adjustments. These adjustments provide for upward and downward revision of the stated contract price upon the occurrence of specified contingencies. DESC has determined that supplies and related services are eligible for the multi-year contracting provisions under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and has adopted contracting instructions for entering into multiyear contracts. Bulk petroleum contracts and direct delivery fuel contracts are likely to remain one-year contracts, however. DESC bases contract delivery price on the lowest cost to the government; however, the hidden logistical cost born by operational commands moving the fuel to their area of operations may not be fully accounted. The acquisition process for new military capabilities now requires that DOD account for fuel logistics when evaluating lifecycle costs. Congressional Research Service Department of Defense Fuel Spending, Supply, Acquisition, and Policy Contents Background ................................................................................................................................1 Fuel Purchases ............................................................................................................................2 DOD Fuel Cost vs. Commercial Fuel Price ...........................................................................3 DESC Fuel Cost vs. DOD Outlays ........................................................................................5 Refining, Suppliers, and the Crude Oil Supply ............................................................................6 Crude Oil Supply ..................................................................................................................6 Refining................................................................................................................................7 Sulfur Regulations ................................................................................................................9 Greenhouse Gas Regulations...............................................................................................10 U.S. Refiners Supplying DOD Fuel.....................................................................................10 Refinery Jet Fuel Yield and Supply .....................................................................................13 Fuel Acquisition........................................................................................................................14 Acquisition Regulations ......................................................................................................15 Multiyear Contracting Authority .........................................................................................15 Acquisition of Alternative Fuels ..........................................................................................16 Fully Burdened Cost of Fuel ...............................................................................................17 Policy Considerations ...............................................................................................................17 For Further Reading..................................................................................................................20 Figures Figure 1. Average Cost of All DESC Purchased Petroleum Products............................................3 Figure 2. DOD Fuel Costs vs. Commercial and Crude Oil Price ..................................................4 Figure 3. Crude Oil Supply 2007.................................................................................................6 Figure 4. Petroleum Products Boiling Range ...............................................................................7 Figure 5. Yields of Typical Gulf Coast Refineries ........................................................................9 Tables Table 1. DESC Fuel Product Purchased by Category ...................................................................2 Table 2. DOD Fuels Costs vs. Crude Oil Costs ............................................................................4 Table 3. DESC Fuel Costs vs. DOD Budget Authority & Outlay..................................................5 Table 4. Crude Oil Assays ...........................................................................................................7 Table 5. Top U.S. Fuel Suppliers to DOD FY2003 - FY2008..................................................... 11 Table 6. U.S. Refineries Operated by Top Suppliers...................................................................12 Table 7. Military Use vs. Commercial Use Jet Fuel, and Total U.S. Refined Products ................13 Table 8. U.S. Refined Military Jet Fuel Percentage of U.S. Refined Jet Fuel and All U.S. Refined Products....................................................................................................................13 Table 9. U.S. Refined Military Jet Fuel Vs. DESC Jet Fuel Purchases........................................14 Congressional Research Service Department of Defense Fuel Spending, Supply, Acquisition, and Policy Appendixes Appendix. Terms.......................................................................................................................21 Contacts Author Contact Information ......................................................................................................23 Congressional Research Service Department of Defense Fuel Spending, Supply, Acquisition, and Policy Background Department of Defense (DOD) fuel consumption varies from year to year in response to changes in mission and the tempo of operations. DOD may consume upwards of 1% of the petroleum products annually refined in the United States. Foreign purchased petroleum products may double DOD’s consumption. The Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), under the command of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), has the mission of purchasing fuel for all of DOD’s services and agencies, both in the continental United States (CONUS) and outside (OCONUS). DESC’s origins date back to World War II, when the Army-Navy Petroleum Board fell under the Department of the Interior. Its mission transferred to the War Department in 1945 and its designation changed to the Joint Army-Navy Purchasing Agency. In 1962, the agency became a part of the former Defense Supply Agency, now known as the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Designated the Defense Fuel Supply Center (DFSC) in 1964, it served as a single
Recommended publications
  • Role of Risk Management in the Oil and Gas Industry
    ROLE OF RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY: THE EFFECT OF DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS USED TO MANAGE OIL AND GAS PRICE RISK ON STOCK PRICE SENSITIVITY IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY DURING A PERIOD OF DECLINING OIL AND GAS PRICES by Andrew J. Neuberger Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Departmental Honors in the Department of Finance Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas May 2, 2015 ROLE OF RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY: THE EFFECT OF DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS USED TO MANAGE OIL AND GAS PRICE RISK ON STOCK PRICE SENSITIVITY IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY DURING A PERIOD OF DECLINING OIL AND GAS PRICES Project Approved: Supervising Professor: Mann Steve, Ph.D Department of Finance Morgan Ken, Ph.D Department of Geology 1 ABSTRACT This study focuses on the various risk management policies used by oil and gas producers in the energy industry. Oil and gas producers are highly exposed to commodity prices. Commodity prices are highly volatile and can fluctuate immensely with changing market conditions. Given the most recent commodity price downturn (June 2014 – December 2015), this study aims to analyze how different risk management policies can affect the stock price sensitivity of oil and gas producers during a commodity price downturn. This study will focus specifically on derivative instruments used by oil and gas producers to minimize their oil and gas price exposure, and whether or not these derivative instruments have any effect on the stock price sensitivity during a period of declining oil and gas prices. This study analyzes a sample of 50 North American oil and gas producers, their risk management policies and use of derivative instruments, and determines if there is a relationship between stock price sensitivity and use of derivative instruments during the most recent commodity price downturn.
    [Show full text]
  • The Risk Revolution
    Risk Practice McKINSEY WORKING PAPERS ON RISK The Risk Revolution Number 1 Kevin Buehler, September 2008 Andrew Freeman and Ron Hulme Confidential Working Paper. No part may be circulated, quoted, or reproduced for distribution without prior written approval from McKinsey & Company. The Risk Revolution Contents Introduction 2 Acknowledgements 3 The emergence of modern risk management 4 Table 1: Important theories and their applications 5 Risk in the financial sector 8 Goldman Sachs and the culture of risk 14 Risk for nonfinancial companies 16 Case study: TXU Corporation 19 A practical corporate risk-management process 22 Table 2: Examples of risk across industries 31 Selected sources 35 McKinsey Working Papers on Risk is a new series presenting McKinsey's best current thinking on risk and risk management. The papers represent a broad range of views, both sector-specific and cross-cutting, and are intended to encourage discussion internally and externally. Working papers may be republished through other internal or external channels. Please address correspondence to the managing editor, Andrew Freeman, [email protected] 2 Introduction In the past 18 months, we have witnessed a major credit and liquidity crisis in the banking system as losses from subprime mortgages, structured investment vehicles, and “covenant- lite” leveraged loans generated significant knock-on effects worldwide. Major financial institutions have taken more than $500 billion in write-offs, and central banks around the globe have initiated emergency measures to restore liquidity. CEOs have been replaced at such venerable institutions as Citigroup, Merrill Lynch, and UBS. Bear Stearns, a firm once viewed as having a conservative approach to risk management, has been the target of a rescue by JPMorgan that was driven and to some extent sponsored by the Federal Reserve.
    [Show full text]
  • Comments on Volcker Rule Regulations Regarding Energy Commodities
    Comments on Volcker Rule Regulations Regarding Energy Commodities Submitted by IHS Inc., February 2012 IHS CERA IHS Consulting IHS Global Insight IHS Inc. is pleased to submit this independent comment letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission regarding Restrictions on Proprietary Trading and Certain Interests in, and Relationships with, Hedge Funds and Private Equity Funds.1 Our research examines the impact on the U.S. domestic energy sector and economy as a whole, under the implementation, as proposed, of the market making provisions of section 13 of the Bank Holding Company Act, commonly known as the "Volcker Rule." This study has been commissioned by Morgan Stanley. The analysis and the opinions contained in this submission are entirely those of IHS Inc. and its related organizations and they are solely responsible for the contents herein. © Copyright 2012. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL INFORMATION, FORECASTS, AND PREDICTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE BELIEVED BY IHS GLOBAL INC. TO BE AS ACCURATE AS THE DATA AND METHODOLOGIES WILL ALLOW. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF HUMAN AND MECHANICAL ERROR, AS WELL AS OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS UNFORESEEN AND UNFORESEEABLE CHANGES IN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND IHS' CONTROL, THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. IHS AND ALL THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED TO ANY PERSON OR ENTITY AS TO THE ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF ANY OF THE INFORMATION OR FORECASTS CONTAINED HEREIN.
    [Show full text]
  • User Perspectives on Derivatives and Hedging Activities Disclosures Under IFRS
    USER PERSPECTIVES ON FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT RISK DISCLOSURES UNDER INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS Derivatives and Hedging Activities Disclosures (Volume 2) January 2013 User Perspectives on Derivatives and Hedging Activities Disclosures Under IFRS Foreword CFA Institute1 has undertaken a study to examine the quality of existing financial instruments risk disclosures. The overall study evaluated credit, liquidity, and market risk disclosures and disclosures for derivatives and hedging activities under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The study specifically focuses on IFRS Statement No. 7 (IFRS 7), Financial Instruments: Disclosures. This report, Volume 2, provides a user perspective on the disclosures of derivatives and hedging activities. It is an extension to Volume 1, which provided a user perspective on financial instrument credit, liquidity and market risk disclosures. Acknowledgements This report was developed with significant contribution from Gerry White, Tony Cope, the Advocacy and Outreach Team of the Standards and Financial Market Integrity (SFMI) division, Publications team, and several other colleagues who reviewed the report, and Catherine Kleszczewski who provided administrative support during the report-writing phase. We also acknowledge the participation and input of the CFA Institute members and non-member sell-side analysts who contributed their time and valuable insights. Authors Vincent T. Papa, PhD, CFA Director, Financial Reporting Policy CFA Institute Sandra J. Peters, CFA, CPA Head, Financial Reporting Policy CFA Institute 1 CFA Institute is the global association for investment professionals. It administers the CFA and CIPM curriculum and exam programs worldwide; publishes research; conducts professional development programs; and sets voluntary, ethics-based professional and performance-reporting standards for the investment industry.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of Hedging on Stock Returns and Firm Value: New Evidence from Canadian Oil and Gas Companies
    The Impact of Hedging on Stock Returns and Firm Value: New Evidence from Canadian Oil and Gas Companies Chang Dan, Hong Gu and Kuan Xu∗ ∗Chang Dan, Financial Analyst, Chang Jiang Securities, Wuhan, China. Hong Gu, Associate Pro- fessor of Statistics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. Kuan Xu, Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. Correspondence: Kuan Xu, Department of Economics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3J5. E-mail: [email protected]. We thank Shamsud Chowdhury, Iraj Fooladi, Greg Hebb, Yanbo Jin, Barry Lesser, Maria Pacurar, John Rumsey, Oumar Sy and participants of the School of Business and the Department of Economics Seminars at Dalhousie University for their helpful comments on the earlier draft of this paper. Remaining errors are, of course, the responsibility of authors. 1 The Impact of Hedging on Stock Returns and Firm Value: New Evidence from Canadian Oil and Gas Companies Abstract In this paper we analyze (a) the impact of hedging activities on the relationships between oil and gas prices/reserves and stock returns and (b) the role of hedging on firm value among large Canadian oil and gas companies. Differing from the existing literature this research attempts to explore possible nonlinear impact of hedging activities, which may not be fully revealed in the traditional linear framework. By using generalized additive models, we find that factors that affect stock returns and firm value are indeed nonlinear. The large Canadian oil and gas firms are able to hedge against downside risk induced by unfavorable oil and gas price changes.
    [Show full text]
  • Airline Treasury & Risk Management Forum Airline Fuel Hedging in 2016
    Airline Treasury & Risk Management Forum Airline Fuel Hedging in 2016 & Beyond Mike Corley, Mercatus Energy Advisors The State of Airline Fuel Hedging in 2016 and Beyond 4 October 2016 How many aircraft are in your company’s fleet? 26% 37% 1-25 26-50 51-75 76-100 5% 100 or more 21% 11% Company Ownership 21% 42% Publicly Traded Privately Held Government Owned 37% Fuel as Percentage of Total Costs 21% 37% 1-25% 26-35% 36-45% 42% Does your company hedge fuel price risk? 32% Yes No 68% Does your company have a hedging/risk policy? 8% Yes No 92% Primary purpose of your fuel hedging program? 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% ManageManage cash flowexposure volatility toManage short-term exposure fuel to price long-term increases fuel priceOther increases Who makes company’s fuel hedging decisions? 8% Board of Directors 23% Hedge or Risk Management Committee 8% Chief Financial Officer, VP of Finance, Treasurer Other 61% What fuel hedging instruments does your company utilize? 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Futures Forwards Swaps Call Collars Other (Physical) Options What is the maximum tenor of your fuel hedge positions? 8% 15% 8% 1-6 Months 8% 7-12 Months 15% 13-18 Months 19-24 Months 25 Months or More Other 46% % of fuel consumption hedged for coming 12 months 15% 8% 1-20% 46% 21-40% 41-60% 61-80% 31% Primary reference index 23% Brent Crude Oil US Gulf Coast Jet Fuel 8% Rotterdam Jet Fuel 69% (NW Europe and ARA) Anticipate credit related issues may limit your ability to hedge your fuel price risk in coming year? 25% Yes No 75% Do you utilize clearing for credit risk management? 0% Yes No 100% What type of firm is your primary counterparty(s) Global Financial Institution (i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • 2021 Commodity Outlook Reving up a Structural Bull Market
    18 November 2020 | 10:57AM GMT 2021 Commodity Outlook REVing up a structural bull market Jeffrey Currie +44(20)7552-7410 | [email protected] Goldman Sachs International Damien Courvalin +1(212)902-3307 | While the vaccine presents tactical upside, the pandemic itself represents a [email protected] Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC structural shift. Over the past decade the GSCI is down c.60%, erasing 3 decades Samantha Dart of gains. We believe this streak of poor returns has reached an end in the aftermath +1(212)357-9428 | [email protected] of the Covid crisis. Of course, negative oil prices are hard to top, and it’s easy – and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC largely accurate – to present the 2021 commodity outlook as a V-shaped vaccine Nicholas Snowdon +44(20)7774-5436 | trade. What we think is key, however, is that this recovery in commodity prices will [email protected] Goldman Sachs International actually be the beginning of a much longer structural bull market for commodities Michael Hinds driven by three key themes. +1(212)357-7528 | [email protected] Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC 1. Revenge of the old economy. Structural under-investment in the old economy Alison Li +852-2978-6088 | [email protected] due to a decade of poor returns, particularly in energy where ESG issues have Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. further reduced investment, was accelerated during 2020 in response to Covid, Mikhail Sprogis +44(20)7774-2535 | leaving inadequate production capacity to meet a V-shaped vaccine driven [email protected] Goldman Sachs International demand recovery.
    [Show full text]
  • Jet Fuel Hedging“
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by OTHES DIPLOMARBEIT Titel der Diplomarbeit „Jet Fuel Hedging“ Verfasser Guang Sheng Mai Angestrebter akademischer Grad Magister der Sozial- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften (Mag. rer. soc. oec.) Wien, im September 2012 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt: A 157 Studienrichtung lt. Studienblatt: Diplomstudium Internationale Betriebswirtschaft Betreuer/Betreuerin: o.Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jörg Finsinger Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................ I Preface – A Century of Flight ............................................................................. V Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 The Aviation Industry .................................................................................. 2 2.1 Deregulation .......................................................................................... 3 2.1.1 United States .................................................................................. 3 2.1.2 Europe ............................................................................................ 5 2.1.3 Asia-Pacific ..................................................................................... 5 2.1.4 Low-Cost Airlines............................................................................ 6 2.2 Oil Crises .............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Comments on Volcker Rule Regulations Regarding Energy Commodities
    Comments on Volcker Rule Regulations Regarding Energy Commodities Submitted by IHS Inc., February 2012 IHS CERA IHS Consulting IHS Global Insight IHS Inc. is pleased to submit this independent comment letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission regarding Restrictions on Proprietary Trading and Certain Interests in, and Relationships with, Hedge Funds and Private Equity Funds.1 Our research examines the impact on the U.S. domestic energy sector and economy as a whole, under the implementation, as proposed, of the market making provisions of section 13 of the Bank Holding Company Act, commonly known as the “Volcker Rule.” This study has been commissioned by Morgan Stanley. The analysis and the opinions contained in this submission are entirely those of IHS Inc. and its related organizations and they are solely responsible for the contents herein. © Copyright 2012. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL INFORMATION, FORECASTS, AND PREDICTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE BELIEVED BY IHS GLOBAL INC. TO BE AS ACCURATE AS THE DATA AND METHODOLOGIES WILL ALLOW. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF HUMAN AND MECHANICAL ERROR, AS WELL AS OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS UNFORESEEN AND UNFORESEEABLE CHANGES IN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND IHS’ CONTROL, THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. IHS AND ALL THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED TO ANY PERSON OR ENTITY AS TO THE ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF ANY OF THE INFORMATION OR FORECASTS CONTAINED HEREIN.
    [Show full text]
  • Fine-Tuning a Corporate Hedging Portfolio: the Case of an Airline
    JOURNAL OF APPLIED CORPORATE FINANCE JOURNAL OF APPLIED CORPORATE VOLUME 25 | NUMBER 4 | FALL 2013 Journal of APPLIED CORPORATE FINANCE Journal of Applied Corporate Finance c/o Wiley-Blackwell 350 Main Street Malden, MA 02148-5018 In This Issue: Risk Management Risk Management Navigating the Changing Landscape of Finance 8 James Gorman, Chairman and CEO, Morgan Stanley Reforming Banks Without Destroying Their Productivity and Value 14 Charles W. Calomiris, Columbia University How Companies Can Use Hedging to Create Shareholder Value 21 René Stulz, Ohio State University Do Trading and Power Operations Mix? 30 John E. Parsons, MIT Sloan School of Management Aligning Incentives at Systemically Important Financial Institutions: 37 The Squam Lake Group A Proposal by the Squam Lake Group Managing Pension Risks: A Corporate Finance Perspective 41 Gabriel Kimyagarov, Citigroup Global Markets, and Anil Shivdasani, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Synthetic Floating-Rate Debt: An Example of an Asset-Driven Liability Structure 50 James Adams, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Donald J. Smith, Boston University Hedge Fund Involvement in Convertible Securities 60 Stephen J. Brown, New York University; Bruce D. Grundy Uni- VOLUME 25 VOLUME versity of Melbourne; Craig M. Lewis, Vanderbilt University; and Patrick Verwijmeren, Erasmus University Rotterdam Fine-Tuning a Corporate Hedging Portfolio: The Case of an Airline 74 Mathias Gerner, European Business School and Ehud I. Ronn, University of Texas at Austin | NUMBER 4 A Primer on the Economics of Shale Gas Production 87 Larry W. Lake, University of Texas; John Martin, Baylor The Simon Business School is ranked #7 in the world Just How Cheap is Shale Gas? University; J.
    [Show full text]
  • Hedging Gone Wild: Was Delta Air Lines' Purchase of Trainer Refinery
    Hedging Gone Wild: Was Delta Air Lines’ Purchase Of Trainer Refinery A Sound Risk Management Strategy? Abdullah Mohammed Almansur Assistant Professor, College of Industrial Management King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals ([email protected]) William L. Megginson Professor and Price Chair in Finance, University of Oklahoma Saudi Aramco Chair in Finance, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals ([email protected]) Leonid Pugachev PhD Candidate, Price College of Business University of Oklahoma ([email protected]) July 25, 2017 Abstract In April 2012, Delta Air Lines (Delta) announced it would purchase the mothballed Trainer oil refinery to hedge fuel price risk. Analysts and academics emphatically derided the move, stressing that Delta’s management was ill-equipped to oversee large scale refining operations. However, we show that debt- and equity-holders responded significantly positively to the acquisition announcement, and confirm that Trainer subsequently reduced Delta’s equity exposure to fuel price shocks. The refinery's operations also reduced Delta’s bond and loan spreads over time. We conclude that this unique experiment in vertical integration and commodity price hedging proved successful for the airline. JEL Classification: G32, G31, L1 Keywords: Financial risk and risk management; Capital budgeting; Industrial organization-Market structure Please address correspondence to: William L. Megginson Price College of Business 307 West Brooks, 205A Adams Hall The University of Oklahoma Noman, OK 73019-4005 Tel: (405) 325-2058; Fax: (405) 325-7688 e-mail: [email protected] Hedging Gone Wild: Was Delta Air Lines’ Purchase Of Trainer Refinery A Sound Risk Management Strategy? * Abstract In April 2012, Delta Air Lines (Delta) announced it would purchase the mothballed Trainer oil refinery to hedge fuel price risk.
    [Show full text]
  • Department of Defense Fuel Spending, Supply, Acquisition, and Policy
    Department of Defense Fuel Spending, Supply, Acquisition, and Policy Anthony Andrews Specialist in Energy and Energy Infrastructure Policy March 20, 2009 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R40459 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Department of Defense Fuel Spending, Supply, Acquisition, and Policy Summary The Department of Defense (DOD) consumes up to 1% of the petroleum products refined in the United States annually. Foreign purchased petroleum products may increase DOD’s consumption by a third or more. In FY1997 fuel represented 1.2% of the total DOD budget authority, and by FY2007 fuel represented 1.9%. While the total defense budget authority increased 233% over the period of FY1997-FY2007 (in current dollars), fuel costs increased 373%. DOD’s fuel consumption varies from year to year in response to changes in mission and the tempo of operations. The majority of DOD’s bulk fuel purchases are for JP-8 jet fuel, which has ranged from 60 to 74 million barrels annually over the past decade (the equivalent of 165,000 to 200,000 barrels per day). Continental U.S. jet fuel purchases make up from 60% to 76% of DOD’s total petroleum product purchases. Generally, the price that DOD has paid for JP-8 and JP-5 jet fuels has tracked the price of commercial equivalent Jet A-1 jet fuel. A typical petroleum refinery yields a limited supply of jet and diesel fuel depending on the type of crude oil processed. Gulf Coast (Texas and Louisiana) refineries yield up to 8% jet fuel.
    [Show full text]