HOUSTON, Aug 17, 2007 (Reuters) – Feed to a gasoline-producing fluidic catatlytic cracking unit at ConocoPhillips’ (COP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 247,000 barrel per day (bpd) refinery in Sweeny, Texas, was lost on Friday due a malfunction in another unit at the plant, according to a notice filed with state pollution regulators.
The notice filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality did not say if feed to the FCC had been restored. A Conoco representative wasn’t immediately available to discuss refinery operations.
The incident began when the refinery’s Unit 26.1 lost a breaker and several pumps late on Friday morning, according to the filing. The FCC then lost the feed charge, which caused catalyst to build up in the FCC.
A pump motor starter on Unit 26.1 failed, leading to arcing and an electrical fire. Other equipment on 26.1 then failed, setting off the plant’s safety flare, according to the notice.