[familyop]

"How in the world does that become an added cost?"

U.S. refineries that don't already have contracts for splitting the product from the oil fields but had planned to do so would have to compete with foreign buyers.

"Many of our refineries cannot even efficiently process that stuff. It is too light and there are limits too how much of it can be blended in."

There are some splitters running, and more refiners were planning to build them. It's not relatively expensive to do so, but competing with foreign buyers would be expensive.

On the other hand, if it were focused on helping Europe with its Russian problem and refused to Asia with its SCO buildup, then it might be worthwhile. We don't see a whole lot of patriotic duty from many contemporary government-linked constituents, though.

[thackney]

This is not crude oil. This is condensate, natural gas liquids.

[thackney]

and more refiners were planning to build them

Would you show me a link for a planned expansion at any refinery to process natural gas liquids? This is nearly always done at a gas processing plant, or a natural gas liquids plant like the one I do work at in Mont Belvieu.