[HOUSTON] Exxon Mobil restarted the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit on Thursday (Oct 9) at its 612,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Beaumont, Texas, people familiar with plant operations said.
The 120,000-bpd FCCU was shut on Tuesday night by a malfunction, according to a notice the company filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Exxon spokesperson Kelly Davila declined to comment on Friday on the operation of specific units at the Beaumont refinery.
“Operations (at the refinery) are normal and we expect to meet customer commitments,” Davila said.
The FCCU shut down following the malfunction shortly after 9:30 pm CDT on Tuesday (0230 GMT Wednesday).
The TCEQ notice said Exxon expected flaring to continue for about 24 hours after the malfunction.
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Refineries use their safety flare systems to burn off hydrocarbons that cannot be processed normally.
FCCUs use a fine powder catalyst under high heat and pressure to convert gas oil into unfinished gasoline. REUTERS
