US downstream news: 28 April 2014

Arizona

Gasoline prices are up this week due to unscheduled refinery maintenance in the region. AAA Arizona has indicated that the statewide average price is up approximately 3 cents/gal. to US$ 3.49/gal.

Arkansas

A malfunction at the Frontier Refinery at El Dorado has emitted fine particles into the atmosphere. The non-toxic particles landed on streets and cars.

California

Phillips 66 officials have announced that they will not be accepting any light curde oil from the Bakken region as part of a proposed rail project at the Nipomo Mesa refinery.

It is hoped that this should reduce concerns about potentially explosive crude oil shipments.

In a past interview, company officials said that rail shipments might include a small amount of Bakken oil from North Dakota or Canada, a plan that raised alarm among local residents.

The federal government is currently studying the characteristics of Bakken oil in order to determine the danger of moving the crude by rail.

Delaware

Approximately 150 lbs of sulfur dioxide and fuel have been released into the atmosphere at the Delaware City refinery, according to environmental officials.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control said that the release happened late Friday night andwas due to a failed control valve.

Indiana

A coast guard hearing officer is to decide whether BP will face fines, penalties or corrective action following an oil spill at Lake Michigan last month.

The Coast Guard has completed its investigation at Whiting and has forwarded its findings to the hearing officer in Washington, D.C.

Louisiana

ExxonMobil Corporation has announced that the two month overhaul of the Baton rouge refinery has been completed. All operations are currently normal and the refinery continues to meet all contractual commitments.

However, a further shutdown may be needed later in the year in order to carry out repairs in the drums of the delayed coking unit.

Mississippi

Chevron’s Pascagoula refinery has been fined US$ 24 000 for the November explosion and fire.

Tonya Graddy, a five year operator for the refinery, was killed in the incident on 15 November, when an explosion occurred in the furnace of the Cracking II Processing Unit.

Wyoming

The Williams Partners LP plant at opal remains offline following an explosion. The plant could be running again within the next week but at reduced capacity.

Edited from various sources by Emma McAleavey.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/28042014/downstream_news_432/