The Americas: Early February downstream update

Aruba
The Valero Energy Corp. owned refinery on the island is nearly at planned production rates. The 235 000 bpd facility was taken offline in July 2009 due to the financial crisis. The company is also currently seeking investment partners for the facility.

California
BP Plc filed a warning with the state pollution regulators for the Carson refinery. Flaring at the facility was scheduled to being on 27^th and end on 31^st January.

A hydrocracking unit at the ExonMobil Torrance refinery was taken offline on 31^st January for planned maintenance. The overhaul is expected to last approximately 6 weeks.

ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips have announced that they expect to spend US$ 450 million on refinery maintenance and turnarounds during 2011. This is a similar figure to 2010, however, the company will not be expecting to carry out much work during the first quarter.

Texas
On 26^th January, Western Refining Inc. began increasing production rates at its El Paso refinery. The facility has been running at reduced production as the facility was under going 15 days of maintenance work.

Utah
After an explosion in November 2009, Silver Eagle Refining have restarted a vacuum distillation unit at its Woods Cross refinery. The 10 250 bpd crude distillation unit was restarted in February 2010.

Washington
Tesoro Corp. is appealing against a US$ 2.39 million fine that was issued by the Department of Labor and Industries. The fine was imposed in October on the grounds of 39 willful and five serious violations of state workplace safety and health regulations. The fines were placed after an investigation into the Anacortes refinery explosion.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/01022011/the_americas_early_february_downstream_update/