Shell reports fire, unplanned unit outage at Motiva refinery in Port Arthur
By ROSE MARTON-VITALE
NEW YORK -- Shell Oil said a unit was shut unplanned over the weekend at its joint venture Motiva refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, after a relatively brief fire at an associated heater.
A filing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or TCEQ, said the R2 heater outlet check-valve caught fire, which resulted in the shutdown of a lube hydrocracking unit at around 7:45 a.m. local time on Saturday (May 12).
"(The) Unit was shut down and depressured to (the) flare system per emergency shutdown procedures. (The) Plant emergency response team responded and extinguished the fire. (The) Unit was isolated and secured," the filing to the TCEQ said.
The extent of the damage to the unit wasn't specified in the filing. It is unclear when it will be returned to service.
A company representative wasn't immediately available to comment.
The Motiva refinery is a joint venture with Saudi Refining. Total throughput capacity is rated at 310,000 bpd.
Dow Jones Newswires
(Editor's note: Additional production is expected to start up soon at the Port Arthur refinery following a recent expansion. That production will make the Motiva refinery the largest in the US by capacity.)
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