Valero Reports Flare at Port Arthur Refinery on Dec. 9


   
Barani Krishnan
DTN Refined Fuels Market Reporter

   SECAUCUS, NJ (DTN) - Valero reported a six-hour flaring event at its 435,000 
bpd Port Arthur, Texas, refinery on Tuesday (12/9) morning due to a process 
upset at its delayed coking unit, according to a Texas Commission on 
Environmental Quality filing.

   The flaring event, which began at 1:00 am CT on Tuesday  and ended at 7:00 
a.m. the same day, was triggered by a process upset unexpectedly occurring at 
the delayed coking unit related to the refinery's Compressor C-151, Valero said.

   As a result, Valero said the "management of material at the control device 
(Flare 26)" was activated "in order to minimize emissions".

   Estimated emissions per hour reported during the flaring event included 
260.1 lb of hydrogen sulfide and 23,958.44 lb of sulfur dioxide, along with 
283.8 lb of unspecified volatile organic compounds.

   Process adjustments were made "to bring C-151 back online and stop the 
flaring", Valero's filing stated.

   Valero reported several unit malfunctions at its Port Arthur refinery in 
late October, resulting in temporary shutdown of the units.

    




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