http://www.dailybreeze.com/business/20160713/former-exxonmobil-torrance-refinery-shuts-down-following-equipment-failures#.V4aw7AvjPOw.email
Former ExxonMobil Torrance refinery shuts down following equipment failures
By Nick Green, Daily Breeze
Posted: 07/13/16, 11:06 AM PDT | Updated: 2 hrs ago
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The former ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance shut down this week after a
cascading series of equipment failures, triggered by a software update the
day before, crippled the plant’s main gasoline production unit, the region’s
air pollution watchdog said.
The plant, called the Torrance Refining Co., is now owned by a subsidiary of
New Jersey-based independent refiner PBF Energy.
Workers at the plant are attempting to restart the fluid catalytic cracking
unit, which refines crude oil into gasoline, said officials with the South
Coast Air Quality Management District.
“The refinery reported to SCAQMD on Monday afternoon a breakdown that
started with a software upgrade and led to successive failures of the
hydrogen plant, hydrotreater, and finally resulted in a shutdown of a key
part of the facility known as the fluid catalytic cracking unit,” the
statement read in part.
“Additional air monitoring instruments for particulate matter are being
deployed at the refinery to supplement the monitors already within the
community.”
AQMD officials told residents Tuesday that the restart will occur with a
functioning electrostatic precipitator, the refinery’s main piece of
pollution-control equipment.
ExxonMobil had restarted the plant without using the ESP before the
previously announced acquisition of the plant by PBF closed escrow.
ExxonMobil had feared restarting the refinery with the ESP in place could
cause an increased risk of fire or explosion.
A February 2015 blast had literally blown apart crucial equipment used to
produce gasoline, forcing the shutdown of much of the plant, showering some
neighborhoods with industrial debris and sending pump prices skyward.
Monday’s breakdown prompted the refinery to burn off hydrocarbons via the
refinery’s flares.
That was expected to exceed AQMD emission limits. Refinery officials have
filed a variance with the independent SCAQMD Hearing Board, which sets
penalties for violations of pollution limits.
PBF officially took over the refinery’s operation July 1.
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