Early March US downstream update

California

ExxonMobil has reported the failure of a hydrotreater and a hydrogen unit at its 149 500 bpd refinery in Torrance. The unit trips were unrelated to ongoing maintenance and have been attributed to a power loss. The company is evaluating when to restart the units.

Hawaii

Tesoro Corp. has reported a flaring at its 93 500 bpd refinery in Kapolei. The incident on March 4 was due to a compressor malfunction.

Indiana

BP Plc has reported a flaring at its 405 000 bpd refinery in Whiting. The release was due to overpressure on a unit or a relief valve release.

Minnesota

CHS Inc. has announced plans to invest US$ 26 million to expand and improve its refineries and other fuel supply infrastructure. The company plans to launch several upgrading projects over the next three years.

KiOR has signed an offtake agreement whereby Hunt Refining Company will purchase renewable gasoline and diesel blendstocks produced at KiOR’s first commercial facility in Columbus.

Oklahoma

Holly Corp. has announced details of a merger of two refineries in Tulsa. The company bought the Sunoco Inc. and Sinclair Oil Corp. refineries for approximately US$ 200 million in 2009. Holly is spending roughly US$ 100 million to integrate the refineries, connecting them via pipelines and updating the Sinclair site’s diesel hydrotreater. The capacity of the combined plant will be 125 000 bpd.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/10032011/early_march_us_downstream_update/