6–10 Jul · Singapore 2–6 Nov · Rio de Janeiro 5 Days 5-Star Hotel
About This Course
Course Overview
This intensive 5-day course provides a comprehensive and practical overview of crude oil characteristics, its value in different refining configurations and pricing assessment in global oil markets. Participants gain effective, practical knowledge of how different crude oil grades are valued by different refiners and how they are commercially priced and traded.
The course covers all important benchmark crudes and other key grades openly traded in global markets, with a primary focus on the Brent crude complex — including physical, futures and forward markets, hedging and risk management. It also addresses marketing, supply and trading including marine transportation and freight economics. Special emphasis is placed on West African (WAF) crudes, including the daily assessments published by Platts, and their comparative advantages or disadvantages relative to other regional markets. Topics span production, separation, storage, processing, evaluation, pricing, competitive analysis, sales, supply, trading and contract negotiations.
Delivered by Syed, a former Senior Marketing Manager in International Operations at Saudi Aramco with over 35 years of experience in crude oil sales, supply, trading, refinery economics and contract negotiations. Sessions are held in Singapore and Rio de Janeiro in 2026.
Programme Content
Key Topics
01
Crude Oil Characteristics & Evaluation
Overview of crude oil production and global supply/demand
Crude oil types and key physical characteristics
Significance of light/heavy and sweet/sour crude differentials
Crude oil evaluation and assessment methods; assay data interpretation
The 3-2-1 crack spread and understanding refined products
02
Refinery Economics & Crude Oil Pricing
Refinery configurations and crude oil value to different refinery types
Refinery margins, product yields and optimisation
Physical markets, regional hubs and the role of exchanges and benchmarks
Understanding the Brent and North Sea crude markets
US domestic and Canadian crude market dynamics; other key benchmarks
03
Trading, Hedging, Freight & Contracts
Physical, forward and futures markets; price exposure and hedging
International crude oil trading and specifics of physical trading
Marine freight economics, backhaul supply and crude processing deals
Crude oil contract negotiations: types, legal and commercial implications
Regional market dynamics and the role of OPEC and geopolitics
04
Global Downstream, Petrochemicals & West African Crude
Global downstream overview: refinery operations and configuration impact
Products specification, blending (gasoline, gas oil, fuel oil) and GPW
Introduction to petrochemicals and commercial refining planning
West African (WAF) crude: Platts assessment methodology and comparative advantage
Risk assessment in marketing crude and gas; how markets respond to news
Learning Outcomes
What You Will Learn
By the end of this masterclass, you will be able to:
01Describe the main stages of crude oil production and how crude moves into refining and markets
02Distinguish key crude oil types and characteristics, including the significance of light vs heavy and sweet vs sour grades
03Apply practical crude oil evaluation and assessment methods to compare grades and understand yield and margin implications
04Analyse crude oil pricing and competitive differentials between benchmark and regional grades
05Explain the role of the Brent market and other key benchmarks in global crude valuation
06Understand how physical, futures and forward markets operate and interact in crude oil trading
07Plan and discuss crude oil sales, supply, trading and contract negotiations with greater commercial insight
08Develop simple operating and business plans for crude supply to refineries, aligning crude selection, pricing and trading strategies with commercial objectives
Dates & Pricing
Sessions & Fees
All sessions are held at five-star hotel venues. Classroom only — no virtual option.
Dates
Location
Format
Fee
6–10 Jul 2026
Singapore
Classroom
£3,900 (no VAT)
2–6 Nov 2026
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Classroom
£3,900 (no VAT)
Target Audience
Who Should Attend
This masterclass is designed for professionals working across oil marketing, trading, refining and finance globally.
Oil Marketing & Trading Professionals
Crude oil marketers, traders and supply managers handling pricing and contracts
Refinery & Planning Teams
Refinery planners and engineers assessing crude selection and margin optimisation
Oil & Gas Engineers
Technical professionals seeking commercial knowledge of crude oil markets
Finance & Banking Professionals
Analysts and bankers requiring knowledge of crude oil valuation and pricing
Government & Regulatory Officials
Officials overseeing oil sector commercial operations and fiscal matters
New Entrants to the Industry
Professionals new to crude oil trading, shipping or petroleum markets
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who delivers this course? +
The course is delivered by Syed, a former Senior Marketing Manager in International Operations at Saudi Aramco Corporate HQ with over 35 years of experience in crude oil sales, supply, trading, refinery economics, contract negotiations and logistics.
Where and when are the 2026 sessions? +
2 sessions: 6–10 July in Singapore; and 2–6 November in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
What is the course fee? +
Classroom fee is £3,900 per delegate for this 5-day course. No VAT applies to either the Singapore or Rio de Janeiro sessions.
Is a virtual option available? +
No — this course is delivered classroom-only at five-star hotel venues to support the hands-on case studies and trading simulations.
Can this be delivered in-house? +
Yes. Contact j.rogus@londonpetroacademy.co.uk for a tailored in-house proposal.
All London Petro Academy courses are available as fully customised in-house programmes delivered at your premises — Dubai, Houston, London, Kuala Lumpur or any location worldwide.
