Exxon's Baton Rouge refinery delays shutdown
(Reuters) ExxonMobil Corp. put off plans to shut its Baton Rouge, Louisiana refinery after it managed to start a LPG processing unit in the adjoining chemical plant, sources familiar with plant operations said.
"Contrary to some reports, the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Complex is operating," company spokesman Todd Spitler said in an email. "It is our practice not to comment on specific unit operations at our facilities. We do expect to meet contractual commitments."
Normally, the 502 Mbpd Baton Rouge refinery sends LPG to the Sorrento, Louisiana Storage Facility where it is kept underground in salt dome caverns until needed. Flooding forced the closure of the facility, said the sources, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
The floods, centered on the Baton Rouge area, have claimed at least 11 lives and forced thousands of people from their homes.
Last week, Exxon shut a 110 Mbpd crude distillation unit at the refinery to reduce LPG production and the company was prepared to shut the refinery if the chemical plant unit could not be started, the sources said.
The chemical plant unit will process the LPG produced by the refinery, the sources said. The refinery's production level is down to about 60% of capacity.
In addition to the chemical plant unit shut last week, Exxon cut production on a 210 Mbpd CDU in half for maintenance planned prior to the floods, the sources said.
Two other CDUs at the refinery have a combined capacity of 180 Mbpd. The CDUs do the initial refining of crude oil coming into a refinery and provide feedstock for all other units.
Motiva Enterprises LLC's 235 Mbpd Convent, Louisiana refinery continues to operate with only essential personnel due to flooding in the area, said sources familiar with the company's operations. They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
Production at the refinery has been reduced since a 45 Mbpd heavy oil hydrocracker was shut by a large fire.
Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Richard Chang
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