The Americas: Downstream oil and gas news

BP

The Environmental Protection Agency has started an investigation into the release of Benzene at BP’s Texas City refinery. The release happened between 6^th April and 16^th May this year. The release occurred during the malfunction of the facility’s ultracracker and BP have reported that approximately 500 000 lbs of pollutants were emitted including approximately 17 000 lbs of benzene.

Kansas

Three sulfur recovery units have been restarted at the El Dorado, Kansas refinery owned by Frontier Oil Corp. The units were shutdown after a malfunction. The El Dorado facility has a capacity of 130 000 bpd.

Louisiana

The gasoline producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit at the Meraux refinery is now back online. The Murphy Oil Corp. facility cut production to 90 000 bps whilst the facility was taken offline for repairs to be carried out.

Michigan

From 13^th – 17^th October Marathon Oil Corp. will shutdown all process units at its Detroit refinery. This closure will last approximately one month and is for planned maintenance.

New Mexico

Navajo Refining Company has been fined US$ 707 000. The fine has been appointed because safety problems at the Artesia facility have not been rectified since an explosion and fire on March 2^nd this year.

Quebec

Shell Canada is now allowed to begin dismantling its Montreal refinery. This is the oldest refinery in Canada. Work to convert the refinery in to a storage terminal has been on hold due to an interim injunction since July.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/20092010/the_americas_downstream_oil_and_gas_news/