North America downstream update

BP

BP is hoping to sell its Texas City and Carson, California refineries for US$ 4 billion as it looks to sell off US$ 45 billion worth of assets. The company is looking to complete the sales by the end of 2013.

Indiana

BP Plc has restarted a tail gas unit at the Whiting refinery following a malfunction. The unit at the 405 000 bpd malfunctioned before the shutdown took place and a filing was made with the state and national pollution regulators.

Kansas

Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing (CRRM) has received a fine of nearly US$ 1 million. The fine has been imposed due to pollution issues at the plant. The US Department of Justice and the US EPA have imposed the fines. US$ 970 000 is a civil penalty, US$ 4.25 million will be spent on new pollution controls at the plant and US$ 6.5 million are attributed to operating costs to resolve air violations.

Pennsylvania

The Secretary of Economic development in the state has announced his confidence that tow of the three Philadelphia refineries currently in jeopardy will be battle through. The secretary believes that they will remain online in some form. Two facilities are currently the topic of purchase talks. United Refining, owner of a refinery in Western Pennsylvania, is currently in talks with Sunoco to purchase their facility.

Texas

Total SA is considering adding petrochemical production capacity to its Port Arthur refinery. It is hoped that the unit at the 174 000 bpd facility will convert low priced natural gas into more valuable chemical products.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/07032012/north_american_downstream_news/