End of September: Downstream news from The Americas

Canada

Construction work is well on the way at the North West Redwater Partnership bitumen refinery. Phase one of the plant will be operational by 2016 and will convert 50 000 bpd of bitumen into ultra low sulfur diesel for domestic and export markets. The project is worth approximately US$ 6 billion.

Emergency flaring was carried out at several Edmonton refineries on Saturday 21^st September due to power problems at several facilities in the area. The Alberta Health Service issued precautionary air quality advisories to residents of the Edmonton and the surrounding area.

Colombia

On Friday 20^th September workers at the Cartagena refinery went on strike due to pay disputes. The workers are executing a US$ 6. 47 billion expansion project at the facility. Refining operations have not been impacted by the strike action.

USA

Hawaii Gas has received approval from Hawaii regulators to continue utilising crucial product from Tesoro Hawaii Corp. The product is used to produce a synthetic natural gas in Oahu.

Total Petrochemical USA Inc. has been instructed to pay Environmental Protection Agency fines of US$ 8.75 million. These fines have been imposed for Total failing to comply with terms of a 2007 settlement which resolved alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at the Port Arthur refinery in Texas.

On Sunday 22^nd September Northern Tier Energy’s St Paul Park refinery, Minnesota was affected by a fire. The fire hit the 81 5000 bpd facility’s crude oil unit. The fire lasted under 3 hours and no injuries were reported.

CITGO Petroleum Corp. will pay US$ 737 000 in fines as well as commit to take steps to reduce pollution to resolve alleged Clean Air Act Violations. Two of the companies refineries are impacted by this deal. 

Edited from various sources by Claira Lloyd.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/23092013/late_sept_americas_downstream_news685/