Hard freeze to hit chem plants on US Gulf Coast, threatens operations

Al Greenwood

20-Jan-2025

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Temperatures along the US Gulf Coast should fall well below freezing later in the week and remain there for a prolonged stretch, threatening operations at chemical plants and refineries.

Temperatures already reached freezing on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures should fall further Monday night, with a chance of rain, sleet and snow.

Houston could get snow on Tuesday before temperatures plunge to 18 degrees Fahrenheit (-8 degrees Celsius). Temperatures will fall below freezing on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

GULF COAST PLANTS WERE NOT BUILT FOR COLD
Until recently, temperatures rarely fell below freezing along the Gulf Coast, so it was unlikely that chemical companies designed their plants to be more resilient during frigid weather.

Since 2021, freezes have become annual events along the Gulf Coast, and companies have started taking precautions. Dow escaped the freeze of December 2022 largely unscathed.

However, during that same 2022 cold spell, TotalEnergies did shut down its polypropylene (PP) operations in La Porte, Texas, even though it took all possible precautions to prepare for the cold weather.

THREAT OF POWER OUTAGES AND GAS OUTAGES
Even if plants avoid damage from cold weather, they could still shut down if they lose power or natural gas.

If the forecasts for sleet and snow hold true, then this could cause powerlines to snap.

Spikes in demand for heating can overwhelm the power grid in Texas, leading to widespread blackouts. Chemical plants and refineries rely on electricity to power motors and pumps.

As of Monday, power supply should be sufficient to meet demand through 26 January, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which manages the flow of electricity in most of the state. The following chart shows ERCOT’s power forecast.

Source: ERCOT

For natural gas, cold temperatures can cause freeze-offs, during which water or hydrates freeze and create blockages.

One such freeze-off caused on Monday a shutdown of a scrubber at an amine treater in Winkler county in west Texas, according to a filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Low temperatures could disrupt operations at the plants that process natural gas.

Since 2021, cold weather has disrupted US natural gas production during every winter, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

PROLONGED STRETCH OF FREEZING TEMPERATURES
The following table shows the weather forecast for the Houston Hobby Airport. Figures are listed in Fahrenheit and Celsius.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
High 39 (4) 33 (1) 37 (3) 47 (8) 52 (11)
Low 28 (-2) 18 (-8) 24 (-4) 29 (-2) 40 (4)

Source: National Weather Service

(Thumbnail shows ice that was caused by low temperatures. Image by David J Phillip/AP/Shutterstock)

(recast paragraph 6 with context)

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