Valero McKee Refinery Reports FCCU Opacity Event


   
Miguel E. Andujar
DTN Refined Fuels Market Reporter

   DAVENPORT, FL (DTN) -- Valero Energy Partners' 200,000 bpd McKee refinery in 
Sunray, Texas, experienced an excess opacity event after a safety system was 
activated at the fluid catalytic cracking unit, or FCCU, according to a filing 
with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

   The event occurred Thursday (9/24) from 7:24 p.m. to 9:18 p.m. CT and was 
reported Friday (9/25). Opacity at the FCCU stack reached 96.94%, above the 
permitted limit of 35%.

   According to the filing, the FCCU's Safety Instrumented System activated as 
designed and de-energized the unit's electrostatic precipitator, or ESP, which 
controls particulate emissions from the FCCU stack.

   The FCCU is a key gasoline-producing unit, converting heavier refinery 
streams into gasoline blendstocks and other lighter products, making its 
operations particularly relevant to regional gasoline supply. The filing did 
not indicate whether FCCU production was affected.

   The McKee refinery primarily produces gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

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

    




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