HOUSTON, April 14 (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil is delivery a cargo of crude produced from its deepwater Julia discipline within the Gulf of Mexico to its refinery in Rotterdam, Netherlands, marking the primary export of offshore oil to depart a U.S. port since a ban was lifted.

The crude got here from preliminary properly assessments carried out on the Julia undertaking, Aaron Stryk, an organization spokesman, stated in an emailed assertion on Thursday.

The oil firm is sending a modest 18,000 barrels of oil on a Panamax tanker, the PGC Marina, based on a invoice of lading revealed at Bloomberg terminals and Thomson Reuters vessel monitoring information. Refiners sometimes do assessments to see how new crudes will influence yields from making fuels.

While solely a small quantity, the cargo is the primary identified export of offshore oil from the United States since Congress lifted a ban final December. Until now, all different shipments had been of sunshine onshore oil.

The vessel departed from Gramercy, Louisiana, in early April and is predicted to reach in Rotterdam on April 19, based on the info.

It was not clear whether or not Exxon would proceed to export Julia crude, however the agency anticipates an preliminary manufacturing of 34,000 barrels per day (bpd) following the startup of the sector within the second quarter of this yr, based on its web site.

Initial testing on the Julia discipline, a three way partnership between Norway’s Statoil and Exxon Mobil positioned roughly 200 miles south of New Orleans, Louisiana, started in March. .

Commissioning actions are underway for the startup of the sector, Stryk stated in an e mail. Two wells are accomplished, and the corporate is within the technique of drilling a 3rd properly. (Reporting by Liz Hampton; extra reporting Marianna Parraga; Editing by Franklin Paul, Terry Wade and Diane Craft)

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