California
On Monday 3rd January, production was halted at the Air Products owned Carson hydrogen plant due to a failure in the electricity supply. The facility supplies the majority of refineries with hydrogen in the Los Angeles area. The plant was successfully restarted on Tuesday morning was reached full production capacity by midday on Wednesday 5th January.
Illinois
A power outage at the Citgo Petroleum Corp. owned refinery in Lemont caused the facility to release gases on 1st January. The release occurred at 6 am and was immediately reported to the National Response Centre and was rectified by 10:20 am the same day.
Texas
Conoco Phillips also reported an upset to the US National Response Centre on 1st January. The Borger refinery experienced a process upset in areas A and B of the 146 000 bpd facility. This refinery is a joint venture but the is majority owned by Conoco Phillips.
Pasadena Refining Services Inc. have been charged with 21 health and safety violations by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The facility in question is located in Pasadena and the fines will total US$ 115 650.
US Virgin Islands
Hovensa LLC made a filing with the US National Response Centre on 4th January. Sulfur dioxide was released from the company’s St. Croix refinery due to a valve malfunction. The incident happened at 6pm on the 4th and was quickly corrected.Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/06012011/us_new_year_refinery_update/