US ExxonMobil Baton Rouge refinery fire may affect some chemicals

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The Wednesday fire at ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge refinery in Louisiana may affect some chemicals produced at the nearby petrochemical plant.

While the fire was contained to the area in which it occurred at the refinery portion of the site and has been extinguished, sources said some piping damage could affect the chemical complex.

A butadiene (BD) pipeline is damaged and will take a couple of weeks to repair, sources said.

Additionally, market sources expect the cracker to run at reduced rates as feedstock access was affected.

“Operations continue at the Baton Rouge refinery and chemical plant,” an ExxonMobil spokesperson said.

The company declined to comment on the operational status of specific units but said it continues to meet contractual commitments.

ExxonMobil’s refinery and chemical site also has a 1m tonne/year cracker and 170,000 tonne/year butadiene (BD) unit.

Additional reporting by Michael Sims