Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery Reports FCCU3 Flare


   
Miguel E. Andujar
DTN Refined Fuels Market Reporter

   DAVENPORT, FL (DTN) -- Marathon Petroleum reported Tuesday (6/16) a 23-hour 
flaring event at the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit No. 3 (FCCU3) of its 631,000 
bpd Galveston Bay Refinery in Texas City, according to a filing with the Texas 
Commission on Environmental Quality. The refinery, the largest in the United 
States, primarily produces gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

   The flaring began Monday (6/15) at 1:30 p.m. and ended Tuesday (6/16) at 
12:30 p.m. CT.

   According to the filing, FCCU3 experienced an unplanned shutdown that 
triggered flaring. FCC units are primarily used to convert heavier refinery 
streams into gasoline and other lighter products. Reported emissions included 
approximately 21,789 pounds of sulfur dioxide across multiple units and flare 
systems, including about 21,630 pounds from Flare 3 alone. Additional emissions 
included approximately 19,044 pounds of carbon monoxide, 9,689 pounds of 
pentane plus, 2,548 pounds of nitrogen oxides, 1,963 pounds of butane and 1,646 
pounds of propane.

   Operations personnel responded to safely shut down the unit and reduce 
flaring. Startup procedures were implemented to return the unit to normal 
operating conditions, with startup activities still ongoing at the time of the 
report, Marathon stated.

   Marathon did not immediately respond to DTN's request for additional 
details. 

    

    




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