US new year update

California

On Monday 3^rd 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 5^th January.

Illinois

A power outage at the Citgo Petroleum Corp. owned refinery in Lemont caused the facility to release gases on 1^st 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 1^st 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 4^th January. Sulfur dioxide was released from the company’s St. Croix refinery due to a valve malfunction. The incident happened at 6pm on the 4^th and was quickly corrected.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/06012011/us_new_year_refinery_update/