Valero Port Arthur Reports Power Outage, Unit Upsets


   
Barani Krishnan
DTN Refined Fuels Market Reporter

   DAVENPORT, FL (DTN) -- Valero Energy reported a 24-hour emissions event at 
its 360,000 bpd Port Arthur refinery in Texas after a partial third-party power 
outage caused by Tropical Storm Edouard resulted in several process upsets, 
according to a filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

   The event occurred from 4:02 p.m. CT Tuesday (9/1) through 4:02 p.m. 
Wednesday (9/2), with material routed to Flare 23 and Flare 26 to minimize 
emissions.

   Affected units included a crude distillation unit, two delayed cokers, a 
diesel hydrotreater, two hydrocracking units and a saturated gas recovery unit, 
according to the filing.

   Estimated sulfur dioxide emissions totaled 16,704.63 pounds from Flare 23 
and 2,928.03 pounds from Flare 26. The filing also reported emissions of 
hydrogen sulfide, propane, butane, propylene and other compounds.

   Valero said the refinery immediately began making process adjustments to 
stabilize operations and stop the flaring.

   The Port Arthur refinery primarily produces gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and 
other refined products.

   DTN reached out to Valero Energy for additional details but did not get an 
immediate response.




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