Washington-Based Distributor Receives Distinguished Status for Excellence in Best Practices
HOUSTON (May 1, 2012) – Phillips 66 Lubricants, one of the largest finished lubricants suppliers in North America, today announced that Connell Oil Inc’s Spokane, Wash., location has achieved TOP TIER Marketer status for exceeding quality, safety and environmental operations standards—the first acknowledgement of 2012. In 2007, Connell Oil achieved TOP TIER Marketer status for its Pasco, Wash., branch and has maintained this achievement. The elite recognition is awarded to a select number of Phillips 66 Lubricants distributors that have exceeded the company’s rigorous Marketer Operations Standards practices. These standards were created to help protect the product quality of the Phillips 66 Lubricants brands and improve the efficiency of safety and environmental programs, according to Gary Balzhiser, Manager of Commercial Lubricants. Connell Oil is a full-line Phillips 66 Lubricants distributor with bulk plants located in Yakima, Sunnyside, Pasco, Connell, Ritzville and Spokane, Wash. The company began distributing Phillips 66 Lubricants products as ConocoPhillips Lubricants in 1998.
“We are thrilled to recognize another Connell Oil location for reaching TOP TIER Marketer status,”; said Balzhiser. “This is not an easy feat, and we congratulate them for continued success in achieving the high operation and quality standards of Phillips 66 Lubricants—a distinguished recognition they now have across multiple establishments.”
TOP TIER status was introduced to Phillips 66 Lubricants distributors as part of Marketer Operations Standards guidelines set by the company. The standards are based on strict American Petroleum Institute (API) recommended practices set forth to ensure oil and lubricants distributors meet all expectations for product quality control and that all lubricants operations are conducted in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner.
“We are honored to be recognized again by our supplier for our nonstop efforts to improve safety and maintain product integrity. We have a dedicated team in the Spokane location that has remained focused on product quality and safety, which are very important to us as a company,”says Brad Bell, President of Connell Oil
Phillips 66 Lubricants Marketers that receive and distribute bulk oil are eligible for TOP TIER status consideration. TOP TIER status is also required for a Marketer to be approved for blending oils, packaging grease and railroad engine oil handling.
About Connell Oil
Founded in Connell, Wash., in 1987, Connell Oil provides a variety of petroleum products and services. The company has grown across eastern Wash. and presently operates offices and facilities in Pasco, Connell, Ritzville, Spokane, Sunnyside and Yakima. Connell Oil prides itself on providing quality ConocoPhillips Lubricants products to customers with excellent service. For more information, please call (509) 535- 1534 or visit www.connelloil.com.
About Phillips 66
Headquartered in Houston, Phillips 66 is an advantaged downstream energy company, with segment-leading Refining and Marketing (R&M), Midstream and Chemicals businesses. The company’s R&M operations include 15 refineries with a net crude oil capacity of 2.2 million barrels per day, 10,000 branded marketing outlets, and 15,000 miles of pipeline systems. In Midstream, the company primarily conducts operations through its 50 percent interest in DCP Midstream, LLC, one of the largest natural gas gatherers and processors in the United States, with 7.2 billion cubic feet per day of gross natural gas processing capacity. Phillips 66’s Chemicals business is conducted through its 50 percent interest in Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, one of the world’s top producers of olefins and polyolefins with more than 30 billion pounds of net annual chemicals processing capacity across its product lines. For more information, visit www.phillips66.com.
