California

ConocoPhillips reported flaring of approximately 500 pounds of sulfur dioxide at its 128 000 bpd Rodeo facility on May 16. The flaring was reportedly the result of scheduled maintenance at the plant, which is located along the San Pablo Bay.

Louisiana

Eight large Louisiana refineries (constituting 12% of US refining capacity) appear to be at lower risk of flooding after US Army engineers opened a key floodgate on May 14 – 15. The Morganza Spillway was opened to channel water away from the Mississippi River and into the Atchafalaya River basin.

Opening the spillway put Alon USA Energy's 80 000 bpd Krotz Springs refinery in the path of flood waters, which are expected to pour down the Atchafalaya River Basin submerging the area in 20 ft of water. In an attempt to protect the town refinery employees, Louisiana National Guard troops and Krotz Springs residents have laboured to build levees.

Exxon Mobil Corp. cut production at its 504 000 bpd refinery in Baton Rouge by 50 000 barrels a day on May 13 as the swollen Mississippi River hindered the company’s ability to bring in crude oil. Exxon could be forced to reduce production by an additional 50 000 bpd if the situation deteriorates further.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc said on May 16 that it was preparing its Morgan City terminal at the south end of the Atchafalaya River for flooding.

Exxon Mobil Corp's joint venture (with PDVSA) 192 500 bpd refinery in Chalmette reported a unit malfunction late on May 13. A filing with the US National Response Centre did not identify the unit, but said hydrogen sulfide, compressed flammable gas and nitrogen dioxide were released in the malfunction.

Tennessee

Floodwaters are reportedly receding from around Valero Energy Corp's 180 000 bpd Memphis refinery, which continued to be operational during the height of flooding on the upper Mississippi last week.

Texas

ConocoPhillips restarted their 247 000 bpd Sweeny refinery on May 10 following a late morning power outage that resulted in the shutdown of several refinery units and activation of the refinery's flare system. There were no injuries or offsite impacts associated with the incident.

Citgo Petroleum Corp said on May 10 it shut an unspecified unit at its refinery in Corpus Christi after the discovery of a hydrocarbon vapour leak during routine maintenance. The refinery reportedly shut a process unit following the leak, from which no injuries were reported.