US Valero shuts one of two crude units at Port Arthur refinery

08 April 2011 15:59  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS)--US-based refiner Valero has one of two crude units shut down at its 287,000 bbl/day Port Arthur refinery in Texas after a small fire, a spokesman said on Friday.

Company spokesman Bill Day said the fire was immediately extinguished but the crude unit was still down for repairs. The fire was caused by a flange leak on early Thursday morning.

The second crude unit remains in operation, so there has been no significant impact to operations, Day said.

The crude units at the Port Arthur refinery have capacities of 175,000 bbl/day and 90,000 bbl/day. Day did not specify which unit was down for repairs.

Valero’s reformers have more capacity at its Gulf coast refineries than can be produced by the crude units, market sources said.

This could lead to additional naphtha supply on sale from Valero, therefore pushing down differentials for naphtha. Naphtha has been at a discount of about 11 cents/gal under Colonial Pipeline spot 7.8 RVP (Reid vapour pressure) regular gasoline most of the week.

By: Sheena Martin
+1 713 525 2653

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