The process of restarting their resid hydrotreater unit train 400 by BP (NYSE:BP) at their Texas City refinery started Friday, as the company had shut it down for maintenance purposes.
Resid is heavy crude oil which is processed into lighter streams by the hydrotreater unit.
The restart began at 6 PM EDT, and should be completed by that time on October 29.
The troubled refinery is able to process up to 456,000 barrels of crude oil daily.
Showing posts with label Texas City Refinery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas City Refinery. Show all posts
Friday, October 22, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
BP (NYSE:BP) May Eliminate Oversight Board
In what some view as a move which has a lot of risk for BP (NYSE:BP), they're reportedly contemplating getting rid of a safety oversight board created after the explosion at a Texas refinery in 2005.
The board is basically developed to allow concerns over safety related to BP to be reported to a third party, i.e., for whistle-blowers.
After the incident in the Gulf of Mexico, BP created an internal safety board, which evidently they appear to want to be the focus of concerns and investigations, rather than the prior board.
The first board allowed contractors and/or employees to raise concerns, most of which concerned the pipeline oil spill in Alaska in 2006.
The board is basically developed to allow concerns over safety related to BP to be reported to a third party, i.e., for whistle-blowers.
After the incident in the Gulf of Mexico, BP created an internal safety board, which evidently they appear to want to be the focus of concerns and investigations, rather than the prior board.
The first board allowed contractors and/or employees to raise concerns, most of which concerned the pipeline oil spill in Alaska in 2006.
Friday, October 1, 2010
BP (NYSE:BP) Settles with Government for $15 Million Over Texas City Refinery Pollutants
BP (NYSE:BP) reached a settlement with the U.S. government to pay a fine of $15 million for the release of pollutants at its troubled Texas City Refinery.
That was a record fine at a single facility under the Clean Water Act.
Overall BP has now paid out a hefty $137 million in combined fines related to safety violations at the refinery.
Assistant administrator for EPA’s office of enforcement and compliance assurance, Cynthia Giles, said, “Today's settlement demonstrates the agency’s continuing commitment to actively and vigorously working to hold BP accountable and to make them comply with our nation’s environmental protection laws wherever the company operates.”
Since the 2005 explosion which killed 15 people and injured over 170, BP has spent $1.4 billion in corrective measures connected to the plant, and another half billion to improve safety.
That was a record fine at a single facility under the Clean Water Act.
Overall BP has now paid out a hefty $137 million in combined fines related to safety violations at the refinery.
Assistant administrator for EPA’s office of enforcement and compliance assurance, Cynthia Giles, said, “Today's settlement demonstrates the agency’s continuing commitment to actively and vigorously working to hold BP accountable and to make them comply with our nation’s environmental protection laws wherever the company operates.”
Since the 2005 explosion which killed 15 people and injured over 170, BP has spent $1.4 billion in corrective measures connected to the plant, and another half billion to improve safety.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
BP's (NYSE:BP) Texas City Probation Will Remain in Place
The Department of Justice says it won't be revoking the probation of BP (NYSE:BP) in relationship to the 2005 Texas City explosion which claimed the lives of 15 workers.
In a March 2009 deal, BP said it would pay a $50 million fine over the accident and go through a 3-year probation for the violation of air pollution laws in the U.S. connected to the explosion.
Terms of the deal with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were they were supposed to finish the work of installing automated safety equipment and perform a review of pressure-relief valves in the refinery.
When BP missed the deadline to complete the work OSHA notified prosecutors of the situation, and the company was fined $87 million for that and other safety problems which emerged later.
The response of the prosecutors was they “might seek revocation and/or extension of probation” until they came into compliance with the agreement.
Prosecutors, after talking to all parties involved, decided to give BP another 18 months to meet the required demands.
In a March 2009 deal, BP said it would pay a $50 million fine over the accident and go through a 3-year probation for the violation of air pollution laws in the U.S. connected to the explosion.
Terms of the deal with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were they were supposed to finish the work of installing automated safety equipment and perform a review of pressure-relief valves in the refinery.
When BP missed the deadline to complete the work OSHA notified prosecutors of the situation, and the company was fined $87 million for that and other safety problems which emerged later.
The response of the prosecutors was they “might seek revocation and/or extension of probation” until they came into compliance with the agreement.
Prosecutors, after talking to all parties involved, decided to give BP another 18 months to meet the required demands.
Monday, September 27, 2010
BP (NYSE:BP) Denies Texas City Refinery Leaking Gas
BP (NYSE:BP) had denied a claim by a Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee that a unit at its Texas City refinery is leaking gas. They claim the assertions by the lawyer that it represents an "extreme hazard" are inaccurate, although they didn't deny refinery's Pipestill 3A unit was leaking.
A letter from a lawyer to the company demanded they shut down the unit, or he'll petition a court to force them to do it.
BP noted the lawyer also sent out a press release at the same time contacting them.
"There is no need for Mr. Buzbee to be involved in this matter and no need for him to go to court," BP spokesman Michael Marr said in an e-mail to the Houston Chronicle. "Galveston County citizens and community leaders should be skeptical of claims by a lawyer with a presumed financial motive to make them. The fact that Mr. Buzbee sent his letter to the press at the same time as he sent it to BP suggests that publicity may be another goal."
Marr added that BP has contacted numerous government agencies about the equipment mentioned by Buzbee, including the the Texas attorney general, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Galveston County district attorney, the county health district, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Consequently, BP said it's none of Buzbee's business.
A letter from a lawyer to the company demanded they shut down the unit, or he'll petition a court to force them to do it.
BP noted the lawyer also sent out a press release at the same time contacting them.
"There is no need for Mr. Buzbee to be involved in this matter and no need for him to go to court," BP spokesman Michael Marr said in an e-mail to the Houston Chronicle. "Galveston County citizens and community leaders should be skeptical of claims by a lawyer with a presumed financial motive to make them. The fact that Mr. Buzbee sent his letter to the press at the same time as he sent it to BP suggests that publicity may be another goal."
Marr added that BP has contacted numerous government agencies about the equipment mentioned by Buzbee, including the the Texas attorney general, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Galveston County district attorney, the county health district, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Consequently, BP said it's none of Buzbee's business.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
BP (NYSE:BP) HOlds Safety Review at Texas City Plant
After two workers were burned from the release of steam at the troubled Texas City plant of BP (NYSE:BP), safety reviews have been and are being conducted in response to the accident.
This is the same plant which had an explosion in 2005 which killed 15 people and left over 170 injured. It's also the plant which is being investigated for benzene release at this time and is being sued in a class action.
The majority of workers at the plant spent most the of Wednesday work day in safety meetings, according to BP spokesman Michael Marr. In spite of the accident, no units at the facility were shut down, added Marr.
One of the injured reportedly had 30 percent of his body covered in burns, and was transported to a regional hospital in Galveston.
Reviews are part of BP's response to increase safety at the plant after the 2005 explosion, deaths and injuries.
This is the same plant which had an explosion in 2005 which killed 15 people and left over 170 injured. It's also the plant which is being investigated for benzene release at this time and is being sued in a class action.
The majority of workers at the plant spent most the of Wednesday work day in safety meetings, according to BP spokesman Michael Marr. In spite of the accident, no units at the facility were shut down, added Marr.
One of the injured reportedly had 30 percent of his body covered in burns, and was transported to a regional hospital in Galveston.
Reviews are part of BP's response to increase safety at the plant after the 2005 explosion, deaths and injuries.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Two BP (NYSE:BP) Workers Burned at Texas City Refinery
A pair of BP (NYSE:BP) workers from the Texas City refinery suffered burns while working at the facility.
While working on a crude unit at the refinery, they were burned by steam, one with up to 30 percent of his body burned. He was transported to a burn unit at a Galveston hospital, while the other was taken to a local hospital.
According to Texas City Fire Chief Brud Gorman, the most injured worker suffered burns to his left arm and leg, as well as to his torso.
The Texas City refinery continues to be one of the more difficult challenges for BP, as they lost 15 workers in an explosion in 2005, which also hurt 180 other workers.
They also are now under investigation concerning the alleged release of poisonous chemicals into the area, including benzene. That has resulted in a class action lawsuit against the company.
While working on a crude unit at the refinery, they were burned by steam, one with up to 30 percent of his body burned. He was transported to a burn unit at a Galveston hospital, while the other was taken to a local hospital.
According to Texas City Fire Chief Brud Gorman, the most injured worker suffered burns to his left arm and leg, as well as to his torso.
The Texas City refinery continues to be one of the more difficult challenges for BP, as they lost 15 workers in an explosion in 2005, which also hurt 180 other workers.
They also are now under investigation concerning the alleged release of poisonous chemicals into the area, including benzene. That has resulted in a class action lawsuit against the company.
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