Total Port Arthur, Texas, refinery moves overhaul to fall -sources
Total decided to move the overhaul from an April start to September in the hope demand will increase and more people will have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the sources
HOUSTON: Total SE rescheduled a planned overhaul involving the large crude distillation unit (CDU) at its 225,500 barrel-per-day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, refinery from this spring to the fall, said sources familiar the company’s plans on Wednesday.
The 150,000-bpd ACU-1 CDU, the 60,000-bpd vacuum distillation unit (VDU), 60,000-bpd coker, 30,000-bpd diesel hydrotreater (DHT 3), and a naphtha hydrotreater in the coker complex will be shut in September for the overhaul, the sources said.
Total spokeswoman Marie Maitre declined comment.
Total decided to move the overhaul from an April start to September in the hope demand will increase and more people will have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the sources.
The overhaul is scheduled to run from September into October, the sources said.
CDUs break down crude oil into hydrocarbon feedstocks for all other production units at the refinery.
VDUs refine residual crude oil from the CDU at vacuum pressure, increasing the yield from a barrel of crude. CDUs operate at atmospheric pressure.
Cokers convert residual crude oil from distillation units into either feedstocks for motor fuels or petroleum coke, a coal substitute.
Hydrotreaters remove sulfur from motor fuels in compliance with U.S. environmental rules.