End of October: Downstream news from the Americas

Brazil

Rio de Jameiro’s state government are making moves to seize land belonging to Rafinaria de Petroleos de Manguinhos SA. The authorities plan to build housing on the land once it is in their possession to help ease overcrowding in nearby slums.

Indiana

On 18^th October BP Plc shut the smallest crude distillation unit at the Whiting refinery, even though it has only just come back online after a four week stint of planned maintenance. The facility has three crude distillation units in total.

Oklahoma

Another man has died as a result of the boiler explosion at the Wynnewood Refining Co. facility owned by CVR Energy Inc. The explosion happened on 28^th September.

Venezuela

During a thunderstorm on Saturday 13^th October, a lightening bolt hit the PDVSA owned Bajo Grande, Parada refinery and caused a fire to break out. The fire affected the facility’s extraction plant.

Wyoming

A penalty of US$ 378 000 is going to be paid by Sinclair Wyoming Refining Company to update process equipment and test pressure vessels and piping. This is part of a Clean Air Act settlement after allegations being made against the Sinclair refinery with regards to the usage of hazardous substances.

Written by Claira Lloyd, Editor of Hydrocarbon Engineering.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/19102012/end_october_americas/