Late April US downstream update

Illinois

Exxon Mobil Corp. has reported that a fluid catalytic cracker at its 248 000 bpd Joliet refinery in had an operational upset on April 18. A mechanical failure caused the unit to trip, according to a filing with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Louisiana

Motiva Enterprises reported the shutdown of an unspecified unit during a turnaround at its 234 700 bpd Norco refinery on April 16. The filing said there was a release of sulfur dioxide from an incinerator stack due to this maintenance activity. Saudi Aramco’s subsidiary, Saudi Refining Inc, and Royal Dutch Shell jointly own Motiva.

Pennsylvania

Sunoco Inc. is scheduled to begin restarting a reformer following maintenance at its 355 000 bpd Philadelphia refinery on April 20.

Repairs have also been completed on a joint associated with a fluid catalytic cracker that was damaged during a flange fire on April 13, although the unit is yet to return to service.

Texas

BP Plc began restarting a gasoline producing fluid catalytic cracking unit at its 437 080 bpd refinery in Texas City on April 18. The restart of a crude distillation unit at the refinery has also been completed. Both units were shut in January for a planned turnaround.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/20042011/late_april_us_downstream_update/